South Carolina animal refuge seeks ‘piggy cuddlers’ to help socialize rescue pigs

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BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. — A South Carolina farm and animal sanctuary needs volunteers, and there is no heavy lifting involved, at least not yet.

Cotton Branch Farm Sanctuary recently issued a Facebook plea seeking volunteer “piggy cuddlers” to help socialize 100 rescue pigs in order to prepare them for forever homes, WCTV reported.

Joshua Carpenter Costner, the farm’s director of operations, told the TV station the pigs were among some 500 found malnourished and neglected at the home of hoarder in Kentucky.

According to WGHP, prospective pig cuddlers must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian if between the ages of 16 and 18. Cuddling typically involves feeding the pigs snacks and the occasional belly rub.

“We had one person call from New York City to find out where the nearest airport was to fly in to,” Carpenter Costner told WCTV, adding, “We’ve been getting emails and phone calls from people in Canada, Germany, U.K., people all around the U.S. Our phones, emails, and social media messages have just been blowing up.”

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