The star bought the ranch just north of L.A. about six years ago and takes in any animal in need: “We don’t turn anyone away. It’s become this magical place”
Among the menagerie at her ranch in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles, are horses, donkeys, chickens, goats, cows and pigs. All are now family for the Based on a True Story star, 38, who bought the property about six years ago and built everything from the ground up, including a petting zoo and contemporary chandeliers for the vast barn.
“Obviously I rescue dogs, and everyone knows that about me, but I’ve really expanded to farm animals and even Thoroughbreds and horses off the track,” says the actress. “Really anything with four legs is welcome here. We don’t turn anyone away. It’s become this magical place.”
Having grown up around horses, Cuoco knew she needed to acclimate her 1-year-old daughter Matilda, whom she shares with her partner, actor Tom Pelphrey, 41, to animals almost immediately after she was born.
“I’ve introduced her to every single horse. She has a pony here that is waiting for her when she is big enough to ride,” says the Flight Attendant star. “But no matter if she ends up riding or not, it’s a great place for a kid to learn responsibility, having chores, taking care of the animals and seeing how they live together.”
The ranch also offers refuge for Cuoco when she needs a buffer between herself and Hollywood. “I come out here, and there’s no phone. The animals are all running up to you,” she adds. “It feels like an honor to have this space.”
The property also helped seal the deal with Cuoco and Pelphrey, who began dating in 2022. “Well, when I cyberstalked Tom and did a deep dive on his Instagram, and every photo had this big German shepherd in it, I knew there was some sort of love there for dogs,” recalls the Oh Norman! cofounder.
After the two met, Pelphrey told the actress how much he wished he could have even more animals. “He came out to visit me right when we started dating, and I was like, ‘I want to bring you to this place.’ It’s hard to describe to someone, right? He came out here, and the look on his face when he got to meet all the animals—he said, ‘I never could have imagined this.’ ”
Six dogs later, “he knew that it was going to be a big part of our life.”
Among her favorite animals?
“Oh, my goats. They are so hysterical. Well, no, I love my two cows too, Connie and Ronnie,” Cuoco says. “The goats live with the pigs, who live with the chickens, who live with the ducks. They actually all live together with the mini horses and with our dwarf ponies as well, and it’s kind of beautiful.”
The unconditional love she receives means everything to the actress.
