Sparkle the llama and Rosie the barn cat are quite the unlikely dynamic duo.
These best friends are so inseparable that when Sparkle and her herd were transferred to Farm Animal Rescue of Mifflinburg in September of 2015, their previous owners insisted the sanctuary take in Rosie as well.
The thought of separating these two creatures, who spend most days rubbing faces and cuddling one another, was just too much to bear.
Roy Hernesh, co-founder and Executive Director of the Farm Animal Rescue of Mifflinburg told LittleThings, “We took in the herd of 10 llamas and Rosie in September, 2015. We were told by the previous owners that the friendship just occurred naturally between them when Rosie began hanging around their barn.”
This adorable friendship is a beautiful reminder that best friends come in all different shapes and sizes.
Keep scrolling through our gallery to learn more about how Sparkle and Rosie forged their special bond.
[H/T: The Dodo]
Sparkle and Rosie are your quintessential best friends.
They are inseparable, love snuggling, and spend every day playing with one another.
What makes this duo unique? One happens to be a llama, and the other a barn cat.
Rosie and Sparkle met on a farm in Mill Hill, PA.
They were the farmers’ pets, along with nine other beautiful llamas.
While the farm’s owners loved their pets very much, they would spend the winter months away, down in Florida.
In their absence, hired farm hands would care for the animals. But over time, this proved itself to be too stressful an arrangement.
These farmers decided to relocate their 10 llamas and barn cat to a rescue sanctuary.
However, they were only interested in moving their beloved pets to an organization that would agree to keep all 11 animals together indefinitely.
Roy and Lorie Hernesh, founders of Farm Animal Rescue of Mifflinburg, quickly rose to the challenge.
This husband and wife, who have been rescuing animals since 2007, accepted all 11 of these animals into their sanctuary with open arms.
Since moving to Farm Animal Rescue of Mifflinburg, Sparkle and Rosie’s friendship has only continued to flourish.
Roy, who in addition to being the sanctuary’s co-founder is also its executive director, told LittleThings, “Rosie has definitely blossomed since coming here; she was described by her previous caregivers as aloof with people and the other animals.
“She is a real lover now — but I don't know if Rosie's development is related to Sparkle or her relationship with us.
“Sparkle has apparently always been a lover and she still is.”
Roy continued, "In the warmer weather, Rosie and Sparkle spend more time apart as Rosie likes to prowl the woods around the pasture and Sparkle likes to spend her time out in the fields.
“In cold weather, they are much more inseparable.”
Unfortunately, though, not all folks think kindly of llamas.
Roy explained, “Llamas have a reputation among some people as nasty, spitting animals — nothing could be further from the truth.
"Under most circumstances, they are wonderful, sensitive animals that spit only when threatened or seriously annoyed.”
Of his experience with the sanctuary, Roy explains, “Watching the animals we take in enjoying their lives, making new friends on the farm, and interacting with visitors and us (their caregivers) as well as each other gives us tremendous joy and makes all the work and expense worth it!”
Roy finds that he too is growing thanks to witnessing Sparkle and Rosie’s friendship.
He told LittleThings, “Sparkle and Rosie have helped to change my expectations of the relationships between species.
“We have goats and mini horses that are friends, but we were somewhat surprised to see a herd (prey species) animal like a llama not only tolerate, but apparently enjoy spending time with a carnivore/predatory animal.”
How do these adorable creatures spend the majority of their time together?
Roy explained, “Rosie enjoys rubbing on Sparkle's legs and her face when Sparkle leans down to her; she also cuddles up to her in cold weather when Sparkle is 'cushed' (llama term for laying down like a rabbit).
“Sparkle seems to enjoy Rosie's company and rubs her face on Rosie.”
Thanks to the Hernesh family's loving care and commitment to keeping these two best friends together forever, Sparkle and Rosie get to live a dream life.
While they might not be the same species, Sparkle and Rosie will likely be best of friends for many years to come.
What do you think of this beautiful friendship? Have you ever gotten the chance to hang out with a llama? Tell us your story in the comments.
Please SHARE this beautiful tale of unlikely friendship with animal lovers in your community!
