Do you have a love of animals and can give good hugs? A charity sanctuary wants volunteers to give back the love to its stray, abandoned and mistreated animals.

The Happy Pants Ranch in Yelsted, between Sittingbourne and Maidstone, is looking for animal cuddlers to dish out hugs to some of the 300 rescue animals that live at the sanctuary, from cats and guinea pigs to cows and goats.

Founder Amey James said: "Cuddling the animals is just as important as keeping them cleaned and fed. A lot of them have come from negative experiences, so it's about teaching them that humans are nice and making them feel happy."

The 34-year-old added: "It's not just the animals who’ll benefit from a heart-to-heart hug.

"Cuddles are scientifically proven to help a human's physical and mental health too, from lowering blood pressure and stress levels to improving sleep, stimulating memory and reducing pain – so everyone’s a winner at the Happy Pants Ranch."

The helpers, which can lend a hand daily, weekly or monthly, would also need to help out with other tasks including feeding, cleaning, grooming and talking to the animals.

Amey said: "It's all about making sure the animals are healthy and happy.".

When asked if volunteers needed to have any particular skills for the role, she added: "They just need to have a love of animals and be able to give good hugs.

"They can start as soon as possible and I need as many as possible. I don't think I could ever have too much help on the sanctuary."

The sanctuary, which was set up about 10 years ago, became a registered charity in September.

Amey said it started unintentionally. "I've always had a love for animals," she said. "I started taking some in to help and it's just grown. It used to be a hobby but I need to have volunteers now to come and help."

For more information or to get involved, visit the Happy Pants Ranch animal sanctuary and rescue Facebook page or send an email to amey@happypants.co.uk.

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