Summerland sanctuary seeking critter companions

A Summerland animal sanctuary is looking for volunteers to provide some human contact to the animals in their care.

Critteraid Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit society based out of Summerland, established in 1991 to provide a refuge for unwanted, abused, abandoned and feral cats.

The rescue facility now looks after a number of different animals on its 10-acre property, and recently Animal Director Jess Byer issued a call for volunteers to the sanctuary’s “cuddling program.”

“Just as much as they need clean bedding, clean food and clean water, these animals need companionship as well,” Byer says.

The sanctuary is striving to make it a real home for the animals, by having people coming by to provide companionship.

Byer says Critteraid is looking for people to come by the facility between 1 and 3 p.m. to be a friend to the sanctuary’s two young goats, and “be a part of their little pack.”

“The goats are six months old, very young and need to get used to human contact. Their names are Tiny Tim and Timone,” Byer says.

Volunteers can come seven days a week or less, and if goats aren’t up their alley, the sanctuary has other farm animals that are part of the program.

“All someone has to do is email us and we will find the right volunteer position for them,” Byer says.

She says the facility is an ideal place to take a stroll and enjoy a fall day.

There are semi-feral cats in the sanctuary who could also use some human contact.

“We’re just looking for someone to come out and just read to them. No touching, just sit in the room and read out loud to them. We also have pigs that like to be tucked in every night with a blanket. Volunteers could come in and watch a movie on the phone with them,” she says. “We really have so many positions. We always need cleaners and store staff. We never have enough people. We are trying to provide the best mental and physical health for our animals that we can provide. People can have a big impact, and Tiny Tim and Timone will be grateful for any new friends.”

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