Thailand

Street dogs project in Thailand

Directly at the sea
contact with dogs
Excursion included

This volunteer program offers animal lovers the opportunity to rescue dogs and cats, nurse them back to health and place them in loving new homes. The station is open to people from all walks of life, whether they are trained animal care specialists or inexperienced, but of course responsible and animal-loving people.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

from 18 years

2 - 12 weeks / from €1.590

Monday

Volunteering with stray dogs in Thailand

life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-TH275

As a volunteer
Thailand

2 - 12 weeks / from €1.590
to the cost overview

What's the matter?

Thailand faces a growing challenge with an ever increasing number of strays living on the streets in dire conditions. They roam the local neighborhoods, hotels, open fields, construction sites, markets, and temples. They reproduce at an alarming rate and most are in very poor health.

The strays live in terrible conditions and are treated with contempt and abuse. This is how stray dogs in Thailand lead a bitter existence. Because there is no breed control, the stray dog population in Thailand has increased dramatically over the past decade.

Without immediate efforts to deal with the situation, communities in Thailand will soon reach the inevitable point of an epidemic. The public is not sufficiently informed about the situation, so conditions such as disease and hunger will continue to worsen. You can help as a volunteer by supporting the veterinary clinic in its activities and by helping the dogs!

You work in a veterinary clinic that runs a non-profit organization based in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan and has two missions: Firstly, to help stray dogs and cats in need in this region through regular feeding, medical help and loving care. Second, the mission is to reduce the stray population through sterilization. Educating the population and adoptions are also part of everyday life at the clinic.

This non-profit organization was founded by a group of passionate educators and animal lovers to help combat the growing epidemic of stray animals across Thailand. From humble beginnings in October 2013 as a stray dog feeding program, the organization officially emerged in May 2014 when enthusiastic supporters generously donated funds to build kennels and equip a grassroots clinic. Funded primarily by donations and with the support of energetic volunteers and volunteers, the facility has since grown into a full-fledged animal charity that now operates 12 kennels, a playpen, a recovery area and a clinic to perform surgeries.

Your tasks as a volunteer

Your activities include cleaning the kennels, feeding, watering and administering medication to the dogs and walking to the beach. Linen training is part of this, caring care and, of course, loving care for the animals. They need your care as much as they do medical care.

With the facility taking care of more than 800 stray stray dogs in and around the areas at any one time, the field work plays an integral part in the organization's commitment to improving the situation of Thailand's animal population. The field work includes “making friends” with different canine pack groups and, in addition to administering food and vaccinations, also assessing the general well-being and overall health of the packs. Injured dogs are given medical attention and changes such as numbers are recorded.

Your first meeting will take place at 8:30 am. You discuss everything for the day and prepare the visit to the kennel. From 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. there is leash training for adoptable dogs and kennels are cleaned. From 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. you can enjoy your well-deserved coffee break together with the other participants. Afterwards you will take long walks on the beach before going to lunch.

From 13:00 p.m. to 15:00 p.m. there are afternoon activities such as bathing, feeding and administering medication. From 15:00 p.m. to 16:30 p.m. the kennels are cleaned, the dogs are walked and all necessary treatments are carried out.

Every second Friday, employees and volunteers meet for lunch together. This is an easy and pleasant way to meet outside of your daily work.

Your other responsibilities will include educating the local communities about animal care and maintaining the facility on various social media platforms. You usually have the weekends free.

Accommodation Catering

all fotos

Your accommodation in Prachuap Khiri Khan

The Volunteer House is a two-story building with a very large balcony at the front and another on each side with a view of the mountain slope. Each room has a fan, closet and chest of drawers. Bed linen, blankets, pillows and towels are provided.

Your accommodation offers hot western-style showers and toilets and washing machines. Depending on the number of volunteers at this point, you may share a room with another person. Kitchen appliances, cutlery and appliances such as a refrigerator, microwave, kettle and toaster as well as an outdoor gas stove are also available.

Free WiFi is available during the day in the veterinary clinic and in the evening / night in the Volunteer House. But keep in mind that you will be outdoors most of the time and may be out of range of the WiFi. For this it is advisable to buy a SIM card on site.

Only 150 meters from your accommodation, the path leads you to one of the best kept secrets in this area - a very magical beach! Those who know it consider it one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. With the backdrop of a large golden Buddha, you couldn't ask for a better place to start and end the day!

Location

Prachuap Khiri Khan

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province is located on the Gulf of Thailand and occupies the area north of the Kra Isthmus. This laid-back area entices with a Temple Mount, lively night markets and gorgeous beaches.

The climate is tropical and average temperatures between 20 and 36 °C await you. With its cosmopolitan ambience, the place is a popular holiday destination for local and international travellers. The whole region is known for its charming villages and secluded beaches. The authentic Thai village is located far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, yet close enough to enjoy city amenities.

The quiet fishing village offers the ideal mix of proximity to town and the beach. The idyllic location will definitely inspire you!

Your free time in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province is located on the Gulf of Thailand north of the Kra Isthmus. The relaxed area attracts with lively night markets, beautiful beaches and the impressive temple mountain Khao Chong Krajok, which is home to countless monkeys. Extensive national parks such as Khao Sam Roi Yot, Kui Buri and Namtok Huai Yang invite you to exciting outdoor experiences.

If you sign up for the project for four weeks or more, you will benefit from additional weekend excursions included as part of the program. For example, you will take part in a guided meditation with a monk and a Thai cooking class. In the latter, you will learn, together with the other participants, how to prepare traditional Thai dishes, which you can of course try after the course.

You will also visit the impressive Sam Roi Yot Cave Temple. Here you hike between mangrove trees and limestone cliffs up to the cave, which contains a treasure. Because inside there is a picturesque and unique temple that you can admire after your walk. A safari in the Kui Buri National Park, which is characterized by extensive green savannas, is also on the program. This gives you the opportunity to experience endangered species, especially elephants, up close.

The authentic Thai fishing village where your project is located offers the ideal mix of proximity to the city and the beach. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, but still close enough to enjoy the city's amenities. The entire region is known for its idyllic setting, dotted with charming villages and secluded beaches. Just 150 meters from your accommodation, for example, the path leads you to one of the area's best kept secrets - a beautiful beach, which for the few in the know is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the region! There is no better place to end your day.

But the endlessly long beaches are not just for relaxation - they are also ideal for kite surfing and other water sports such as snorkeling, diving and boat tours.

In addition, the temple grounds and its surroundings invite you to take long walks and offer you the opportunity to learn a lot about the religion and cultural features on site!

The area also has a lot to offer in culinary terms: At the colorful night markets you can try delicious street food and plenty of seafood, for example. Or you can visit one of the many excellent restaurants offering both Thai and Western dishes.

On-site procedure

Arrive in Bangkok

You first arrive in the capital Bangkok. To ensure onward transport, you should arrive before 14 p.m. on a Monday. A taxi or shuttle bus will then take you from Bangkok to your accommodation, the journey takes about three hours. For the return, your assignment site will also organize the transport of the volunteers back to Bangkok Airport.

Orientation program in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Orientation program in Thailand

Upon arrival at the Volunteer House, you will drive together to the local mall. Here you have the opportunity to stock up on groceries, cosmetics and everything else you need. Then you get an introduction to the program content and what you have to pay attention to in terms of house rules. The team at this institution sees itself as a family made up of permanent employees and volunteers. Of course, respectful interaction is a matter of course here.

Volunteer project in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Your first day in the project

After the orientation program, you will start your work on the project. You will first be guided by a team leader or an experienced volunteer. Over time, you can then take on more and more tasks.

Pricing

base fee

€ 1.590, -

2 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 210, - / week

up to 10 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
Non-binding flight advice
Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
RGV t-shirt

On site

Orientation program with the team on site
Support and guidance from the on-site team
RGV 24h emergency number
Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities

Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
Accommodation in Volunteer House

Two to four excursions (depending on the length of your stay)

After return

Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
Reflection course on your experiences abroad
Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion

useful additional services

not included
Services

Round trip
Private expenses on site
Excursions with microlight flights
Travel and cancellation insurance
Visa and Vaccinations
All nights outside your agreed accommodation
Public transport and extra transfers

Food and drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

"Volunteer Teaching Focused" online TEFL/TESOL course

245 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course for volunteers
Intensive online TEFL/TESOL course (120h)

460 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course
Einzelzimmer

160 €

Per week (subject to availability)
Single room for 4 weeks / subject to availability

320 €
Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

Prachuap Khiri Khan Team
site

Mike is the managing director and co-founder of the facility. He comes from marketing and program management and is now focused on achieving a sustainable future for the veterinary clinic and ensuring that the organization fulfills its mission every day.

Paang is also in the management of the veterinary clinic. She is Thai and is very committed to stray animals in Thailand. She even adopted several dogs herself!

Nachdem Rachel worked extensively with nonprofits during her university days and had a degree in international relations and business, she joined the team as a marketing coordinator in January, but has now taken on the role of senior volunteer coordinator.

After five years of hard work in the Thai Elephant Nature Park Joke in August 2018 as a volunteer supervisor to the facility. Joke spends his days working closely with the volunteers and overseeing all daily animal welfare tasks.

ghet is a veterinary assistant and worked in a veterinary clinic for two years before joining our facility. Ghet supports the veterinarians with the health care and safety of the hospital dogs and the stray dogs that come into the hospital's care.

dr aey, our resident veterinarian, has been a practicing veterinarian in Thailand for over a decade and joining the organization has allowed us to significantly increase our impact within Hua Hin.

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

Which visa do I need for Thailand?

You have several options for your visa in Thailand, depending on how long you want to stay. You will receive a free tourist visa with 30 days validity directly upon entry at the airport. You can apply for a tourist visa for a 60-day stay online in advance. This costs €35 for a single entry and €175 for multiple entries.

If you want to stay in Thailand longer, you need the Non-Immigrant-O visa, which is valid for 90 days. You can also apply for this online and the cost is €70.

What language skills do I need for the project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

A rabies vaccination is required for this project.

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

What do I have to bring?

Sturdy clothing that can get dirty and covers shoulders and knees.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Thailand? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

Info graphic about the population of street dogs in Thailand

Bath time in street dogs project in Thailand

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