There’s no denying it—Mary is one lucky girl.

Having a little lamb follow you everywhere you go, especially one whose fleece is white as snow, has got to be The. Coolest. Thing. Ever.

The cool factor is just one reason we love lambs. Just watch a flock of them in frolicking and try not to smile. It can’t be done. The little ones practically hit the ground running, too—they’re able to walk within minutes of being born—and they love their moms: Lambs stay by their mother’s side until they’re weaned at about 6 months old.

Who can blame them? Female sheep are caring mothers who form deep bonds with their babies.

But mostly, we love lambs because we love sheep.

They’re gentle, extremely intelligent animals who are capable of problem-solving, have an IQ that rivals that of cows, and are nearly as clever as pigs. They also have sharp memories, which explains why that little lamb followed Mary around: Not only can they remember around 50 individual sheep and humans for years, they can also recognize different expressions on human faces and can tell when other sheep are anxious.

Flickr: 36451417@N02

Highly independent from day one, sheep are gregarious animals. Like humans, they use different vocalizations to communicate different emotions, but sometimes, they don’t need to say anything. When they’re stressed or isolated, they show signs of depression by hanging their heads, and when they’re ill, they self-medicate by eating specific plants to cure what’s ailing them.

We aren’t the only ones who love sheep. The ancient Sumerians, who’ve been credited with developing the first form of writing, immortalized them as gods.

Flickr: kevenlaw

There’s one more reason why vegans are head over heels about sheep: They love nothing more than fresh grass and ripe berries.

Want to know more? You’re in luck! Wool-Free Week is all about sheep, and why everyone should ditch wool.

Written by Craig Shapiro