Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz wrote that "happiness is a warm puppy".
But it might also be a snuggly piglet, an inquisitive goat or a chilled out alpaca.
The youngsters at Kidz First Children's Hospital probably think so.
![Ronan Foy,4, of Mangere wasn't afraid to get up close with most of the animals that came to visit at Kids First outside Middlemore Hospital. Photo / Nick Reed](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/CLUT3XX7ZF2H7VYD4OKI5KJGKY.jpg?auth=3a401926e8e565a104716f2ecd9537ef49ec87f85c5e8ff6eb6d2425ba6ca925&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
They enjoyed a morning of pet therapy at the South Auckland hospital, spending time with cuddly new friends.