If you love animals and have always wanted to get up close and personal with them, now’s your chance. Cotton Branch Farm Sanctuary is looking for volunteers to work as “piggy cuddlers” to help socialize their 100 rescue pigs so they can eventually be adopted out to loving homes. Think you’re up to the task? Here’s what you need to know.
- Being a piggy cuddler is a pretty cushy job. According to the job description listed on Cotton Branch’s Facebook page, socializing the pigs includes everything from “belly scratches, cookies, sitting with, and even just talking to” the animals and frankly, I’ve never wanted to do anything more.
- It’s not all that time-consuming either. If you live close to the Leesville, South Carolina farm, you don’t have to dedicate your whole life to being a piggy cuddler. In fact, Josh Carpenter-Costner, Cotton Sanctuary’s executive director, says that if you “spend an hour at a time with them three times a week, within a month they’re generally ready to be adopted.” That’s not too much of a commitment!
- The response so far has been overwhelming. Since the January 23 posting, an incredible number of applications have come into Cotton Branch from people who want to become piggy cuddlers. While the farm is full-up through March, they do have a full schedule of volunteer opportunities listed and slots are still available so everyone gets a turn.
- There are other ways to get involved at the farm as well. While becoming a piggy cuddler is everyone’s dream, there are other things you can do at Cotton Branch if you really want to help out and make a difference. You can check out the opportunities listed on the farm’s website so you can get more involved. They do everything from guided tours to vegan potlucks and more, and it sounds like a lot of fun.
