Volunteering Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

Our organization includes 4 locations: a clinic, an office/volunteers’ house/cats shelter, a dog shelter and a hostel for backpackers.
 
Volunteers for any position will be asked to perform their tasks per shifts with a fixed timetable. When the task may need a different schedule, depending on various factors, among which availability of the local staff, special needs of the animals, check-in/out times at the hostel, shops opening times or any other need on the side of the volunteer or of the organization, a new time schedule must be agreed on.
 
We request our volunteers to contribute a fixed fee of 50 Euros plus 10 Euros per day to cover their accommodation and the transport to the shelter. They can cook their own
meals in the communal kitchen, so food won’t be a big expense (3-5
euros/day).
We are a non-profit organization and we must use our funds to feed our 120 animals every day and to pay the salaries of our 20 local employees. We thank you for your understanding.
 
  • You have to be at least 18 years old.
  • We accept couple/pairs.

SHELTER

We need volunteers to guarantee a good level of welfare to our cats and dogs in our shelters! Please come and help! Your task will be primarily to walk the dogs and to play with them, brush and cuddle them and check that they are in good health, especially the puppies. We have paid staff to clean and feed the animals,  but sometimes special care is needed.

This volunteer program is especially tailored for those of you who want to experience the love of our puppies at the shelter while working with the local staff. Walking the dogs during your working shift will allow you to build a strong relationship with our beautiful four-legged guests! Extra bonuses are a good physical exercise in the sun, a swim in the nearby beach and finally the daily rides in our pick up!

The help we need varies depending on your skills. We expect someone who is a self-starter and can work independently with a very high degree of motivation. Work is per shifts: morning from 7:30 to 12:30 or afternoon from 13 to 18. Transport to/from the shelter is provided for free when needed by the paid staff.
Most basic tasks at the shelter (cleaning, feeding) are performed by local paid staff – we have 5 dog carers. But, we always need help with delicate tasks such as playing with the dogs, walking them, brushing the cats and changing their beds, and taking care of ill animals. Notably, volunteers will (1) work in the place of paid staff when they are missing and (2) supervise the work of the local staff to ensure the highest possible welfare of the animals in our shelters. Clear instructions will be provided for accomplishing tasks and volunteers are required to perform them accurately also for safety reasons.

COMMUNICATION

The running costs that are not covered with the hostel revenues or with membership fees of the association are covered with donations from abroad, so we have a lot of fundraising and communication work as well.
All these activities are managed with a high level of computer work, so we need help also in this specific area (IT/Internet/social networks).

MAINTENANCE

We need an “all in one” help for maintenance at our shelter and also at our hostel: somebody who is able to repair a window as much as painting an old cupboard or recycle an old table or to repair a lock and a leaking tap…

Help make children aware of animal care!

We have an educational program that involves school meetings and other activities with children. So we need help with this kind of work that requires a better knowledge of the Portuguese language than the work with animals.

apply here
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