Townsville residents had no problem finding Nemoo the Friesian steer over the weekend — he was relieving stress, one hug at a time, and posing for photos.
Hundreds of children and adults lined up to get a hug and a selfie with the 600-kilogram "grass puppy" at the Be Kind fundraiser at The Strand on Sunday.
Nemoo's owner and senior veterinary nurse, Trish Prendergast, said the kind-natured steer helped overcome her own battle with mental health issues several years ago.
"I used to go and sit with him in the paddock and it's this new thing that seems to be taking over the world — cow-hugging," Ms Prendergast said.
"I have also done some work with him and kids with autism, a bit of animal therapy.
"We are on a different level, we've got dogs and cats who do animal therapy but we don't really have any cows."
Ms Prendergast said Nemoo loved the affection people showed him.
"I'm quite surprised how well he has taken to travelling to places and having so much stimulation around him, with dogs barking and people talking, with music blasting all around him.
"He is not fazed by anything at all."
The steer was originally named Nemoo due to his love of water but — like the clown fish in the movie Finding Nemo who had one small fin — Nemoo lost a horn in an accident earlier this year, leaving him with one big horn.
"He got a little too excited when we came home one day and ran up to us and misjudged how close he was to the tree," Trish said.
"We had to get the vet out to cut it off.
"I felt bad because I thought I [had] jinxed him by calling him Nemoo prior to the incident — but it has mended well."
Trish's mother, Tracey Riley, said it was fabulous to see children as young as six months come and pat Nemoo.
"It's been fabulous to even see the little babies come up and point their hands and fingers at him with big smiles on their faces," Ms Riley said.
"Just seeing some of the other kids Trish works with, they really do light up when they see him. He has been a huge benefit."
