'In the moooood for love': Calf with heart-shaped mark on forehead melts hearts online
A nearly 2-month-old calf who has a heart-shaped mark on her forehead has been melting hearts all the way from her little farm in Oklahoma.
The calf, named Cupid by adoring fans, was born on Dec. 27 at Merchen Farms, a small family-owned operation in Wanette, Oklahoma, about 60 miles from Oklahoma City.
Casey Merchen, who is one of the farm's owners, told USA TODAY on Thursday that Cupid initially had a small, white dot on her head.
"Her mom is red angus with no visual markings, yet every year she has a baby with a white dot on its head," Merchen said. "About a week ago, while doing our nightly check, we noticed the little dot was starting to take the shape of a heart."
Social media celebrity
Falling in love with the new heart shape on the calf's forehead, Merchen Farms posted pictures of Cupid on their Facebook page, saying: "God is so fun. Çan you see it?? (She's) our sweetest little Valentine."
The name Cupid came from the ensuing comment thread, Merchen said. Following the popular post, the farm got dozens of calls, emails, "and even offers to purchase this little baby," Merchen said, adding that some people even told them that the story inspired them after the horrific shooting in Kansas City on Wednesday.
"Cupid is in the moooood for love! What a sweetie!" wrote one user. Another said: "Please, please tell me Cupid will be a pet and not someone's dinner."
"Cupid’s 'day of fame' has been so fun and quite a blessing," Merchen said. "I was telling Cupid she’d taken the internet by storm, but she didn’t seem to care too much."
Cupid was initially believed to be a bull calf but later it was realized that she is "indeed a heifer."
What will Cupid's future be?
Merchen said that after Cupid made her debut on social media, many animal rights activists reached out to them to "make sure she is placed in a sanctuary".
"We would like to be that sanctuary for Cupid and have every intention of letting her live her life out here at Merchen Farms," said Merchen.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.