English (US) ▾
Nederlands
English (UK)
Deutsch
Italiano
Português
Español
Volunteer in a Dog Care Project
Join the Dog Care Volunteer Project in Sri Lanka with Volunteering Solutions and work with one of the most reputed organizations devoted to the well-being of stray dogs in southern Sri Lanka
Save 15% on your Sri Lanka program fee For trips starting on or before 31 December 2026. Booking fee not included.
Use code SRILANKA15This program places you at a large stray-dog care facility in southern Sri Lanka, close to Galle, where you do hands-on work with dogs that need attention and care. Daily tasks include feeding, playing and cuddling with dogs, helping with rehabilitation techniques such as hydrotherapy and wheelchair therapy (including weekly beach trips), cleaning kennel and facility areas, and supporting puppy care and socialization. It suits anyone with a genuine interest in animal welfare and dogs specifically, no prior animal-care experience required.
You can join for 1–20 weeks, with new starts every week (saturdays), next departure 26 Sep 2026. You live in a shared Volunteer House in the Unawatuna neighborhood near Galle, with all meals provided, and prices start at $998 (deposit included). What sets this project apart is the scale and setup of the sanctuary itself: it is one of the largest animal care facilities in Sri Lanka, with an on-site veterinary clinic and resident vets, so your work sits alongside a full-time professional care team.
- A perfect volunteering opportunity for dog-lovers!
- Work with one of the most reputed stray-dog care units in Sri Lanka, with an experienced team of over 40 people consisting of established veterinarians, caretakers, operations personnel.
- Meet a bunch of enthusiasts traveling from different parts of the world and boost your co-working skills.
- Explore Sri Lanka like never before!
- Learn about the culture, traditions, and festivities of Sri Lanka.
Your role on this program
- Spend hands-on time with dogs through play, cuddling and general engagement
- Assist during mealtime feedings at the sanctuary
- Support rehabilitation work with injured and disabled dogs, including hydrotherapy and wheelchair therapy on weekly beach trips
- Clean kennels and general facility areas to maintain hygiene
- Help socialize dogs, particularly those being prepared for potential adoption
- Provide care for puppies at the facility
- Occasionally help build simple tools or structures for the dogs, such as sheds, utility items or toys
- Take on other day-to-day tasks as assigned by the sanctuary management
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers do not perform veterinary treatment or make clinical or medical decisions about the dogs; that work is handled by the resident local vets at the on-site clinic. Task assignment and the day-to-day running of the sanctuary are managed by the facility's own team of over 40 staff, including experienced caretakers and operations personnel, and new volunteers are paired with an experienced volunteer during their first week. Duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
-
Saturday: Arrival + House Tour
Initial Training Sessions on safety & security, as well as cultural orientation, will also be provided. (This is done either on Saturday or Sunday depending on the time of arrival) -
Sunday: Neighborhood familiarization tour
-
Monday: The first day of the project – starts with an introduction/orientation session at the project followed by the assignment of tasks for the week (new volunteers are usually paired with an experienced volunteer in their first week)
-
Tuesday – Friday: Regular volunteer work at the project site. Volunteers will be assigned work in the morning session from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.The project runs mainly in the mornings for 3-4 hours a day but the times can be altered depending on time of year and the needs of the project.
Breakfast – 07:30 am – 9:00 am
Lunch – 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Dinner – 06:00 pm -7:30 pm
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17; a parental consent form is required for participants under 18
- No prior animal-care experience needed, but a genuine interest in and love for dogs is expected
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining, and prepared to work outdoors and get hands dirty
- An open mind and flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- Travel and medical insurance is compulsory (your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges)
- Anti-rabies vaccination is strongly recommended before joining, to cover unexpected bites or injuries during daily activities
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The project is run through a well-regarded local charity that cares for a large stray-dog population at what is described as the largest animal care facility in Sri Lanka, split across two adjacent units, with an on-site veterinary clinic staffed by resident local vets. Day-to-day work is organized and supervised by the sanctuary's own team of caretakers, veterinarians and operations staff, who decide what tasks are needed at any given time and assign new volunteers alongside more experienced ones.
Your role is to add hands-on support to that existing team: feeding, cleaning, socializing dogs and assisting with rehabilitation activities such as hydrotherapy. You are not involved in veterinary decision-making or treatment, and tasks can shift from week to week depending on what the sanctuary's management identifies as priorities on the ground. It is a real, working facility rather than a fixed program, so flexibility is part of the role.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in Sri LankaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $998 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,188 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,368 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,538 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,718 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,888 | |
| 7 weeks | $2,068 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,238 | |
| Each additional week | +$250 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Dedicated volunteer housing with WiFi (shared rooms)
- Shared airport transfer on arrival at designated time windows in the morning or afternoon
- Orientation and training on arrival
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner all days
- Guaranteed project placement
- Local transportation to projects in private AC van or tuk tuk
- Experienced bilingual operations team on the ground
- Dedicated staff support from 6 am to 8 pm every day
- 24/7 local emergency support
- Weekly yoga class on rooftop terrace
- Weekly movie nights on large screen projector
- Monthly bike tour around paddy fields and local villages
- Monthly special BBQ dinner
- Travel & Medical Insurance(Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- Visa Fee
- International Airfare
- Return Airport Transfers from Galle to Colombo Airport (available at extra charges)
- Vaccinations
- Any personal expenses
- Additional Local Excursions and Trips
- Private Room Upgrade charges
- Charges for additional nights at accommodation
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfers
Volunteers are picked up from the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport Airport by a representative of the local coordinating team on the program start date during scheduled airport pickup hours. Participants are also dropped off to the airport upon completion of the program during the scheduled airport drop hours (At extra charges).Charges for the return airport drop can be paid by the participants when they are in Sri Lanka.
Note : Arrival transfer (shared) within pre-defined time windows on Saturdays included in the program price (non-transferable).There will be 2 shared airport transfers every Saturday (Morning and afternoon/evening) from airport to Galle. A private transfer is also available for USD 100 and can be arranged on Saturday or for participants arriving on any date other than the start date.
Orientation
A detailed program Orientation will be provided before you start your volunteering program.All volunteers on arrival get a welcome presentation including health and safety training, culture presentation, project specific presentation and area orientation tour. Our staff will also assist you with the lessons and planning the curriculum, as and when required. You will also have access to our in-house teaching library consisting of manuals, books, and various teaching materials to help with lesson planning and providing general guidance.
Accommodation
Volunteers joining the programs in Galle, Sri Lanka, will get to stay in the quaint Unawatuna neighborhood, overlooking the famous Unawatuna Beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Our participants stay in two volunteer houses which are located near to each other.
The Beachside house is located right across the road from Unawatuna Beach and about 100 meters from the other volunteer house. It has 12 spacious bedrooms of varying sizes with attached en suite bathrooms each with air-conditioning facilities (most rooms also have attached outdoor balconies). There is also a separate dining area, small garden, lounge, terrace and a large office with permanent staff onsite. The property is safeguarded by multiple CCTV cameras and an onsite night security team.
The other larger volunteer house has 13 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.Most of these rooms have ocean views! There’s a private 40-foot outdoor swimming pool surrounded by tropical greenery. The house also has 3 kitchens as well as 3 living/common rooms (one each per floor), a prominent dining area, and a private outdoor garden with seating/lounging areas.
The office is located on the ground floor of the house near the main entrance – this is where the local team operate from every day. The house is located in a peaceful, nature-filled neighborhood adjacent to a small Buddhist temple (nestled away from the main tourist areas). To ensure the safety and security of the participants, there are CCTV cameras installed, and an in-house security guard for night-time surveillance. Hot water and high-speed Wi-Fi are there and you can opt for air-conditioning and laundry facilities at an additional charge.
Private (single and double) room upgrades are available at additional charges. During busy months participants are also provided accommodation in nearby guesthouses in case of low capacity in the volunteer houses or non availability of private rooms. Private rooms are provided in guesthouses within walking distance to the volunteer house. Volunteers stay in the private guesthouses and walk over to the volunteer house and have meals with the other volunteers.
All participants aged 40 years and older will be provided with a private room only and will not be provided accommodation in shared dorm rooms . Additional charges for private room upgrade shall be applicable.
Meals
We provide 3 freshly cooked meals per day all week long (Monday to Sunday): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Fresh ingredients are purchased from local markets to prepare these meals. The volunteer homes have cooks from the local community who come daily to cook fresh, homely and tasty local meals for the volunteers. We can cater to a range of special diets including vegan, gluten free, nut free and lactose-intolerant diets. If there are any other allergy or food requirements mentioned to us beforehand, we always do our best to accommodate those needs. Those volunteers staying in private guesthouse rooms near the volunteer house, usually have breakfast at the guest house and walk down to the volunteer house for their lunch and dinner.
Local Transportation
Local transportation to and from the project is included every day.
During Free Time
There is plenty to do during the free time and weekends for the volunteers.The following activities are provided free of charge and included in your program fee:
-
Evening Rooftop Yoga Session (weekly)
-
Movie nights on large screen projector at the house (weekly)
-
Bike tour across paddy fields and local villages (monthly)
-
BBQ for volunteers and staff in the garden (monthly)
-
Night Fishing for anyone into fishing (on demand)
The following are popular weekend (or even daily) activities which our volunteers love to do around the area (at an additional charge):
-
Surfing lessons
-
Elephant safari
-
Whale watching(during season)
-
Rainforest hiking
-
Beach hopping
-
Local cooking class
-
Galle Walking Tour
-
Local spice market visit
-
Galle Fort visit
We also encourage you to join our specially curated 7D/6N Sri Lanka Culture & Adventure Tour which packs the best of the island’s beauty and diversity within a week.The tour can be added to your program itinerary before or after the volunteer program.
.jpg)
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Sri Lanka
Airport pickup
You are collected from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) by a shared transfer to Galle on Saturdays, within a morning or afternoon/evening window. If you arrive outside these windows, a private transfer can be arranged for USD 100.
Arrival day and house tour
On Saturday you settle in at the Volunteer House and get a tour of the property. Depending on your arrival time, initial safety, security and cultural orientation training may happen this day or the next.
Orientation and area familiarization
Sunday is a neighborhood familiarization tour, and a full welcome presentation covers health and safety, culture and a project-specific briefing before you start work.
First project day
Monday is your first day at the sanctuary, starting with an introduction session and task assignment for the week; new volunteers are typically paired with an experienced volunteer.
Ongoing daily support
The bilingual operations team works from an office inside the volunteer house, arranges transport to the project by private air-conditioned van or tuk-tuk, and provides 24/7 local emergency support throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing day to day?
You work directly with dogs at the sanctuary: feeding, playing, helping with cleaning, supporting rehabilitation activities like hydrotherapy on weekly beach trips, and assisting with puppy care and socialization, with exact tasks set by the sanctuary's management.
Do I need any experience or qualifications with animals?
No experience is required, just a genuine interest in and love for dogs, along with being fit and ready to work outdoors and get hands dirty.
What are the working hours?
Project work runs Monday to Friday, mainly in the mornings for around 3-4 hours a day (roughly 8:30am-12:30pm), though exact timing can shift with the season and project needs.
How long can I volunteer for and when can I start?
Placements run 1–20 weeks, with new starts every week (saturdays); the next start date is 26 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost, and what's included?
Prices start at $998, deposit included, and cover shared housing, all meals, a shared airport transfer within scheduled windows, orientation, guaranteed placement, local transport to the project, and 24/7 local support; the $249 deposit is refunded if no place can be offered.
Where do I stay and what do I eat?
You stay in a Volunteer House in the Unawatuna neighborhood near Galle, in shared rooms with WiFi, and get three meals a day of Sri Lankan and some Western dishes, with vegetarian options always available.
How do I get from the airport to Galle?
A shared transfer from Colombo airport to Galle is included on Saturdays within set morning or afternoon/evening windows; a private transfer outside those times costs USD 100.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
A permanent bilingual operations team is based in an office inside the volunteer house, arranges training and daily transport, and provides 24/7 local emergency support.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations or insurance?
Visa fees are your own responsibility and any vaccination guidance, including the recommended anti-rabies vaccine, should be arranged before departure; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions.
Who is this program suited for?
It suits dog lovers of any background who want hands-on animal care work without needing prior veterinary or animal-care experience.
Will I be doing veterinary or medical work with the dogs?
No, treatment and medical decisions are handled by the resident local vets at the on-site clinic; volunteers support hands-on care, feeding, cleaning and rehabilitation activities under the sanctuary team's supervision.
Is a background check needed for this program?
This placement works with dogs rather than children or vulnerable adults, so the standard childcare background check does not apply here.
Related pages
Schedule a meeting with a program advisor
We're here to help — a 20-minute one-on-one with detailed info, expert advice and application guidance.
Book a free meetingMore projects in Sri Lanka
Sports Coaching in Sri Lanka
Empower children in rural Sri Lanka through sports coaching. Help lead football, swimming, and recreational activities while encouraging…
2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in Sri Lanka
Experience the best of Sri Lanka in two unforgettable weeks — combine meaningful volunteering with an immersive journey…
Children’s Teaching Volunteer Program
Being a volunteer for the Teaching Program in Sri Lanka with Volunteering Solutions, you'll get an opportunity to…