Dolly Star Foundation

Equine and canine therapy has been around for some time now. Have you heard about bovine therapy though? The time is now, the Dolly Star Foundation is a nonprofit foundation and is breaking ground. This unique foundation is introducing bovine therapy, yes cow therapy. Dolly Star is in town in Chandler, Arizona and she’s a gorgeous mini white park heifer. She is a miniature stature and is a compact size which allows for flexibility and a realistic way to travel to a variety of facilities. Dolly Star has been showered with love and is trained to be the perfect companion. Dolly may be small but she sure is mighty with a heart full of love to share with everyone around. 

Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

Karin Boyle is the power-woman behind Dolly Star Foundation. Karin is an Arizona native and the daughter of a dairyman. Last year Karin’s father was facing some health challenges. Karin would visit her father and he’d always mention how much he missed being around cows like back when he was a dairyman. This gave Karin some thought and she ran with it.

Karin Boyle with Dolly Star – Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

After much research, Karin came to discover that in the Netherlands, cows are used for cuddle therapy because of their higher body temperature, lower heart rate, and their gentle nature making them the perfect candidate for a relaxing cuddle session. Cow cuddlers stimulate the social bonding hormone which is the release of oxytocin while having a relaxing experience, calming the nerves. This bonding experience has been shown to benefit the cows as well with the animals showing signs of deep relaxation. 

Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

Karin knew that not only her father would benefit from cow therapy but so many other people would too. After much time of doing research, Karin found Dolly Star and she has been busy and hard at work training Dolly. It has been discovered that mini marshmallows are one of Dolly’s favorite treats! Dolly will be six months old on February 1st and she has already brought her ‘brand’ of therapy to memory care facilities, schools and sometimes you’ll catch her at the farmers market in Gilbert, Arizona. 

Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

Dolly has a supportive team of loving individuals who volunteer their time when she ventures out in the community since it takes more than one person to do so. The Dolly Star Foundation is always looking for more individuals who might want to join the team in growing the foundation. Karin also wants to make sure that everyone who wants a visit from Dolly Star can get one. That’s why she started the Dolly Star Foundation. There is no cost for facilities to schedule a visit from Dolly, but that means that the foundation relies on the generosity of others to cover the cost of the care, training, and transport of this beautiful mini heifer. The Dolly Star Foundation cannot continue without your help. If you’re interested in helping, their number one need is a small trailer to be able to bring Dolly to the facilities, schools, and hospitals where she is needed most. If you’d like to donate please click here and thank you for your support.

Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

Photo credit: Dolly Star Foundation

About the Author:

Megan deFabry

Biography:

Howdy, I'm Megan deFabry. I grew up in Reno, Nevada, but since 2017 my heart has called Texas home. I now reside in Austin, Texas since 2020. I'm driven by my faith, cherished relationships with family and friends, and my professional ambitions. I'm passionate about digital marketing and journalism, especially the wide-open spaces of America's Western lifestyle, the grit of agriculture, the excitement of rodeo, and the heart of country music.

For nearly a decade, I've been sharing this way of life through storytelling. And like any good cowboy tale, there's a loyal sidekick, my little Dachshund, Frank, who I adopted from a shelter in New Braunfels, Texas, back in 2018. He keeps me grounded, reminding me to chase horizons and savor life's simple joys.

I graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs and a minor in Mass Communication. My major taught me to decode consumer behavior, which is crucial for marketing, while my minor sharpened my storytelling skills. Since then, I've spent years mastering SEO and content strategy, staying ahead in a fast-moving field. My work even caught the eye of Cowboy Lifestyle Network's CTO, Irish Padmore, who recognized me for contributing to his research on Consumer Behavior in the Age of AI.

Since 2018, I've been honored to work at Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Now as Editor-in-Chief writing, editing, and publishing articles that capture the cowboy spirit, crafting strategies rooted in Western values, and building real client connections. Guided by ethical journalism, I aim to tell stories that resonate and reflect the unsung heroes of the Western spirit.

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