Volunteering with dogs & cats

Why is volunteering with dogs & cats important?

street dogs and cats

In many countries, the living situation of dogs and cats looks problematic, because they often live under harsh conditions there. Stray dogs and cats are exposed to the elements and diseases without protection. Often these animals have also been abused or abandoned, which can traumatize them. Another problem is the uncontrolled reproduction of the animals.

Overcrowded animal shelters

Animal shelters are important animal welfare institutions, but often lack the money and time to provide more than just basic care. In addition, the sanctuaries and animal shelters abroad often crowded. There are often too few employees for this. Therefore, all helping hands are welcome to enable more intensive care and better care for the animals.

Sustainable change

Even though the projects save many dogs and cats from life on the streets and you contribute to their well-being as a volunteer, something has to change in the long term. Educational work must be done to ensure that there is less animal suffering on the streets and in homes in the future. You can also actively support these campaigns.

What requirements should you bring with you?

You don't usually need any special knowledge to volunteer with cats and dogs. You will work on site with specialists and experienced helpers who will instruct you in your tasks. However, you should have a few basic requirements: First and foremost is your love for animals and the desire to care for them. You should be interested in animal welfare and be willing to lend a hand.

Of course, if you already have specific knowledge in certain areas, this only gives you advantages - maybe you have previous medical knowledge or you have worked with and trained dogs before?

What tasks await you?

There are a lot of diverse tasks in our animal welfare projects:

Direct contact with the animals

The focus of your area of ​​responsibility is usually the direct work with the dogs and cats. You take care of the four-legged friends, feed and bathe them or take them for a walk and help with their socialization. Since the animals were often abandoned or mistreated and were left to their own devices for a long time, they have to rebuild trust. Cleaning the cages and the facility is just as much a part of the job. Medical assistance may also be required in veterinary clinics.

awareness-raising and other activities

Another important aspect of volunteer work with dogs and cats is on-site educational campaigns to convey the appropriate handling of animals. These can be educational projects in kindergartens and schools, as well as online campaigns.

In addition, you will also gain insights into general office activities in many projects, participate in fundraising campaigns and help shape the organization's website.

At a glance – where can you get involved?

With Rainbow Garden Village you can support yourself in many different ways around the world dogs and cats insert. For example, get involved in the dog project on Crete, help street dogs in Chile or support animal welfare classes in Thailand!

Conclusion

Volunteering with dogs and cats is a fun way to help animal welfare and gain valuable experience in the process. In many countries there are street dogs and cats that live in harsh conditions and are in urgent need of help. As a volunteer, you can help them improve their living conditions and do educational work to bring about lasting change.

FAQ

What should I consider when volunteering with dogs?

Clarify for yourself what you want to focus on and choose the volunteer project that most closely resembles it. When making your decision, also consider that in many cases you will also be confronted with the suffering of animals. The grooming and play is one side of volunteering with dogs. On the other hand there are injuries, illnesses and abuse from which the animals suffer. However, you can be sure that the experts on site know exactly what is best for the dogs.

In which countries is volunteering with dogs possible?

Basically, volunteering with dogs is possible in many countries both inside and outside of Europe - you can see the current projects on our website.