Brittany Snow dreamed of living on a farm. So what did she do? She moved to a homestead with her family so they could produce their own eggs and milk. 

But soon, Ms. Snow wanted to add to her menagerie. Welcome Buttercup, Snowflake, Cash, Peanut, Pancake, and Oreo. They’re all Nigerian dwarf goats.

The Snow family owns miniature animals because they are easier and less expensive to feed and care for. 

But did you know there are even more reasons to go mini? Lisa Moad owns miniature animals for therapeutic benefits. (Something therapeutic helps a person heal or feel better.) 

Ms. Moad takes mini horses to hospitals and nursing homes. But she had to do some training work first. She had to teach the mini animals how to move around wheelchairs and get into elevators.

“They’re docile, but they can get frightened easily, ” she says. “You just can’t walk into a hospital with a horse.”

The miniature animals help people and patients feel calm and content. They offer companionship. If you were sad and needed some comfort, would you like to spend time with a mini farm animal?

Another reason to keep a mini: You might mow your lawn less. Jamie and Jeff Campion own two Southdown Babydoll sheep. Their names are Biscuit and Buttermilk. 

“They eat the grass, so we don’t even have to buy food (for the sheep) on a weekly basis,” says Mrs. Campion.

Read Genesis 2:19. God created all the animals on Earth. He made each animal for a purpose. It’s fascinating to learn how different animals contribute to His creation.