Two Blind Cows Find Sweet Friendship at New York Farm Sanctuary

— -- They've never seen each other's faces, but that hasn't stopped these two bovines from becoming best pals.

When blind rescue cows Sweety and Tricia met at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, they immediately became inseparable.

"Tricia has been with us probably seven years," recalled Susie Coston, the national shelter director for Farm Sanctuary. "In the beginning she had to be by herself or with really mild cows, otherwise they were too rough on her and she would panic because she couldn't see what was happening."

Then a protector emerged in another cow, Linda, who was stronger and befriended Tricia. But when Linda died from cancer after a few years, Tricia was left on her own once again.

"She was very depressed and bellowing all the time," said Coston. "Then we got a call about Sweety."

A rescuer had pulled the cow, who was also blind, off of a slaughter line and called the sanctuary to pick her up.

"We had to go through a whole Canadian quarantine procedure to get her," said Coston. "But on the second day after Sweety's arrival, we put her together with Tricia and they instantly bonded. They walk together everywhere, they groom each other and they sleep together. It was the best possible thing for both of them. Cows don’t like to be alone but with the blindness, it's hard for them to be around others. So it’s been really been amazing to watch."

While visitors can tour the sanctuary, they are not allowed to go inside of the grazing areas with the cows. Instead, they can view Sweety and Tricia from a fence. But oftentimes, Coston said, Tricia will stroll right up to the edge to say hello.

"Tricia is the protector, she's much more bold and definitely the stronger one of the two," said Coston. "Linda used to be the stronger one when she was alive, but now Tricia has taken on that role for Sweety. It's pretty awesome."