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Volunteer in a Dog Care Project
Volunteer in a Dog Care Project

Galle, Sri Lanka

Volunteer in a Dog Care Project

Trip Highlights

  • 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.

Overview

Overview

Join the Dog Care Volunteering 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. There are hundreds of thousands of stray dogs in the country who suffer from hunger and untreated diseases, beaten to death, and extremely mistreated by humans due to lack of sensitivity.

Most of these dogs live on the streets, and many are in an appalling state. Unsprayed females produce several litters of puppies every year, many of which are simply abandoned in front of temples or thrown in the drains, etc. Being a volunteer for this program, you'll get the opportunity of hands-on work with dogs that needs attention and care, while collaborating with a highly efficient team. 

The main motivation behind this project is to provide a high level of care to the most neglected and vulnerable street dogs of southern Sri Lanka, so they have the best possible chance to survive and thrive despite the difficult odds they face.

Volunteers in the project work with a well regarded charity which care for approximately 2,000 dogs in their facility which is the largest animal care facility in all of Sri Lanka. The dogs are divided in two adjacent units which house approximately 1,000 dogs each. The dogs are cared for in a beautiful, free-roaming sanctuary which provides a safe-haven for sick, disabled, and vulnerable strays. There is also an on-site veterinary clinic with resident local vets providing life-saving treatment and care.


Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program and should be prepared to work outdoors and get their hands dirty. Participants in the program should have a keen interest and love for animals and dogs in particular.Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

 


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers spend most of their project time at the dog care facility doing hands-on work with dogs that need the attention and care. They also assist in various activities around the facilities, including local beaches and streets, to assist with the care work and day-to-day operations as needed.

The type of tasks volunteers can expect to undertake include:

  • High level of engagement with dogs and dog activities (playing, cuddling, etc.)
  •  Assisting during mealtime feedings
  •  Working with injured and disabled dogs and using a range of rehabilitation techniques such as hydrotherapy, wheelchair therapy and more (involves weekly trips to the local beach for these activities)
  •  Cleaning the general areas to maintain hygiene
  •  Helping with socializing certain dogs
  •  Puppy care
  •  Basic wound cleaning if necessary
  •  Occasionally assisting with building various tools for the betterment of the dogs’ experience (e.g., building small sheds, utility tools, toys, etc.)
  •  Other day-to-day tasks as appropriate

Please note that the above set of tasks represent the range of tasks past volunteers have undertaken over time. The actual set of tasks performed at any given time are dependent on the needs on the ground in those periods and are determined by the management of the dog sanctuary. Being a real-world project, the tasks can also evolve from time to time as per the needs and goals of the project.


Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

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: Neighbourhood 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


Living

Living

At Volunteering Solutions we ensure that all our international volunteers are provided the utmost comfort so that they can have a home away from home experience while working with us. We ensure that your stay, meals and other personal requirements are looked after well. 

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 hrs. Participants are also dropped off to the airport upon completion of the program during the scheduled airport drop hrs. 

Note : Airport Transfers are provided at extra charges of USD $37 each way for a shared transfer during scheduled pickup hours on Saturday.There will be 2 shared airport transfers every Saturday (Morning and afternoon/evening) from airport to Galle and vice versa for return departures.​ A private transfer will cost USD 100.

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 metres 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 also provided accommodation in nearby guesthouses in case of low capacity in the volunteer houses or non availability of private rooms.

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.

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. We have two lady chefs (a head chef and an assistant) from our 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.

During Free Time

There is plenty to do during the freetime 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

Dates

Dates

2024

2025

January

06

13

20

27

February

03

10

17

24

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

30

December

07

14

21

28

January

04

11

18

25

February

01

08

15

22

March

01

08

15

22

29

April

05

12

19

26

May

03

10

17

24

31

June

07

14

21

28

July

05

12

19

26

August

02

09

16

23

30

September

06

13

20

27

October

04

11

18

25

November

01

08

15

22

29

December

06

13

20

27

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

Filling Fast


Costs

Costs

1 Week $735
2 Weeks $890
3 Weeks $1045
4 Weeks $1200
5 Weeks $1355
6 Weeks $1510
7 Weeks $1665
8 Weeks $1820
Extra Week $195

Please Note: -An application fee of $249 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

  • 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
  • Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
  • ​Dedicated volunteer housing with WiFi (shared rooms)
  • 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 Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

  • Visa Fee
  • International Airfare
  • Scheduled Airport Transfers from Colombo Airport (available at extra charges)
  • Vaccinations
  • Any personal expenses
  • Additional Local Excursions and Trips

Reviews

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

FAQ's Application and Program Details

Flights and Visa

Health and Safety

Accommodation and Living

Connect with Past Volunteers

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