animals
sri lanka
basic english
From 3 to 12 weeks
Minimum age: 16 YO
The life of a stray dog is far from easy in Sri Lanka. The vast majority of the public’s awareness of dogs (and animals in general) is still very limited. There are hundreds of thousands of stray dogs in the country who suffer from hunger and untreated diseases, some of which are shot, beaten to death or gassed. Most 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 at the gate of the Dog Care Clinic. These puppies are usually too small to have even the slightest chance of survival unless provided with care. Most of them die of hunger or due to parasites or fall victim to animal abusers. Hence, it is of utmost importance to provide these vulnerable dogs with a level of care that gives them the best chance to survive and thrive.
The main goals of this project are to provide:
- consistent neutering programs to reduce the number of stray dogs
- mass vaccinations in to reduce diseases and to minimize the risk of rabies to both humans and animals
- treatment and care of injured and sick dogs
- increase the understanding between dogs and humans to help the locals in Sri Lanka through social adoption projects
Many people who own dogs in Sri Lanka are poor and cannot afford vets' fees, so there is a tremendous need to provide these treatments free of charge.
Volunteers will spend their entire project time at the Dog Care Clinic doing hands-on work with dogs that needs the attention and care. There are two shifts – morning and afternoon – each covering 4-5 hours (including travel time) and participantswill be allocated to either shift based on the needs on the ground at the time.
The scope of work for general dog lovers will be:
- Assisting with the daily morning feeding
- Assisting at the daily afternoon feeding
- Socializing the dogs and spending time with sick and injured dogs (this will be a key focus area)
- Brushing and checking the dogs for ticks
- Nail cutting and ear cleaning
- Helping out with cleaning the dog boxes
- Assisting with their intake of medicines
- Other day-to-day tasks as appropriate
A supplementary fee of €200 applies to participants under 18 years old. For more information, go to the youth section.
On a hill in the Unawatuna district (15 minutes drive from the centre of Galle), the volunteer house offers a breathtaking view of the beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. With a maximum capacity of 48 people, the volunteers are spread over three floors in 11 multiple rooms for 4 to 6 people, with an in-room bathroom and ocean view. For couples and families, or those requiring privacy, single, double and family rooms are available at an additional cost.
The house also has an outdoor swimming pool, 3 kitchens and 3 living rooms (one per floor), a large dining room and a private outdoor garden for relaxing moments. Volunteers will have the chance to live in a peaceful area, surrounded by lush vegetation, near a small Buddhist temple away from the main tourist areas of Galle. A small but important bonus: the beach is only a 5-minute walk away!
– From the age of 18.
– Intermediate level of English (understand instructions, able to communicate).
– Copy of passport.
