Play with the piglets

A litter of six-month-old piglets at Summerland's Critteraid animal sanctuary needs some extra love and care as they grow up.

Animal director Jess Byer says these incredibly intelligent animals love socializing with humans, plus any help with maintenance of the animals is always appreciated. 

"There's always need for muckers, for keeping the barns clean, and daily cleaning, brushing and bonding with the animals," Byer said. "Just that extra special love care that we really believe all animals should have."

Byer said a volunteer position helping out with the pigs would be an ideal job for a teenager interested in learning how to interact with barn animals, and the work that goes into their care.

"We want people to work with them. We have one piglet who will actually sit for cookies, and if you work with all of them, you could actually get to the point where all of them would sit on command for a treat," she said. "We think it would be a really good job for somebody in their teens to have, because they can get the appreciation of putting in the hard work and getting a great outcome."

There are 12 pigs total at the sanctuary, including the seven piglets, all of which need care and socialization. 

To find out more information on how to volunteer, click here.