from 868€

Outstanding 4.9rating (210)

Island Dog & Cat Shelter Assistant

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 25 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Meet our resident, adoptable animals and see how your project fee helps animals from all over Thailand.
  • You’ll meet loads of great people and we know you’ll have lots of fun, but the animals come first.
  • Enjoy a working holiday and contribute to these animals who need us.
  • Visit Kitty Cafe and enjoy delicious wraps, brownies, cupcakes or a cooling iced tea. No animal products have been used in any of the food or drink sold. All proceeds go to caring for our animals.
  • Enjoy living on an island in Thailand eating beautiful food and meeting the locals.

Especially good for

Age 25+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

This project was started in 2005 when it became apparent that dog and cat populations were spiralling out of control and cruelty to these animals was prevalent.

The Project

The project started in 2005 when it became apparent that dog and cat populations were spiralling out of control and cruelty to these animals was prevalent. One factor was that after the Tsunami during the Thai construction boom, construction workers came to the island with their dogs but ...

About the program

The Project

The project started in 2005 when it became apparent that dog and cat populations were spiralling out of control and cruelty to these animals was prevalent. One factor was that after the Tsunami during the Thai construction boom, construction workers came to the island with their dogs but left them behind when the buildings were completed. The number of tourists visiting the island and feeding these dogs increased which resulted in their survival and reproduction rates causing overpopulation.

The centre’s primary objectives are to control the population of stray animals on Koh Lanta Yai in a humane way through sterilization programs and to provide medical attention to sick and injured animals. To date, over 8,000 animals have been sterilised and treated.

The centre also aims to promote awareness and educate the local community on the importance of animal care and respect to local dog and cat populations. This assists in helping to reduce the local issues of abuse and overpopulation.

The Location

The centre operates on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta Yai, the largest of the island group on the west coast of southern Thailand. While home to many resorts, bars and restaurants, the atmosphere remains relaxed and tranquil compared to other more developed Thailand destinations.

The island itself is comprised of several stunning beaches, a large protected national park, a historic Chinese fishing village, mangroves and caves. Eating is relatively affordable and there are options for every culinary appetite. Nightlife varies from relaxed bars on the beach to occasional dance parties and live reggae music concerts. Tour operators provide easy and affordable island-hopping and diving/snorkelling trips.

While Koh Lanta Yai is home to a large melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and sea gypsies, this island folk live in peace and harmony with one another. With this kind of mix, Koh Lanta Yai is always celebrating an event of some kind, be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.

Our Volunteers

MINIMUM AGE TO VOLUNTEER IS 25. MINIMUM LENGTH OF STAY is 1 MONTH (4 weeks)

Due to a lack of funding and support, the centre relies heavily on donations and the work of volunteers to keep it operational.

You will help care for and enrich the lives of the homeless animals at the centre while educating the local community about the importance of the humane treatment of animals.

You will make a positive difference to the lives of dogs and cats, work with a dedicated and enthusiastic team and be given the opportunity to converse with the local people on this important issue.

Conditions Onsite

It can be very emotional work treating and caring for sick and abused animals so you should try to be prepared for this. Be rest assured that you are amongst like-minded people who are experiencing the same feelings and emotions as you and will be there to support you.

There is no maximum age, however, you will need to be able to stand for long periods of time, work in humidity or wet conditions, travel to and from the project and perform basic manual labour tasks. Things may be organised differently from back home and things might not always make sense. You should be open-minded, patient, willing to accept new things and be prepared to get stuck in.

The staff will do their best to inform you on what's going on and what is expected of you; however, there will be times when you must act independently and use your own initiative as there can sometimes be a lack of resources at the centre. 

The work can be physically demanding as you are on your feet for most of the time and depending upon the time of year, it can be hot and humid.

Thailand has rich, biological diversity. However, sadly increasingly, human pressures such as overexploitation, habitat loss and habitat degradation, are pushing many of Thailand creatures to the brink of extinction. In Thailand, as in every country in the world, animals are abused and exploited for profit and human gratification. There are many examples of animal exploitation for the tourist industry, such as animals performing in degrading shows and elephant riding camps. There is also a thriving illegal trade in wild animals for pets.  O2E ask that volunteers do not engage in activities that involve animal exploitation. 

Please Note

The second instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.



Typical day

You will be involved in the daily routine of the resident cats and dogs (and occasional wildlife) at the centre. This includes

  • exercising the dogs in the running areas and taking them for walks 
  • socialising and playing with the animals 
  • feeding and watering the animals
  • giving medication and care
  • treatin

Typical day

You will be involved in the daily routine of the resident cats and dogs (and occasional wildlife) at the centre. This includes

  • exercising the dogs in the running areas and taking them for walks 
  • socialising and playing with the animals 
  • feeding and watering the animals
  • giving medication and care
  • treating the ill or recovering animals
  • providing vet assistance during treatments
  • cleaning cages 
  • enclosures and recovery cages 
  • washing towels and linen 
  • engaging in fundraising activities 
  • ensuring the centre is clean and tidy and promoting the centre and its objectives to the local community.

You will spend time rounding up stray animals that would otherwise be at risk and bringing them to the centre for spaying/neutering or medical treatment. 

The dogs require a lot of exercise so you may spend time at the beach with them running and playing.

Some dogs need help to trust people again.

The centre functions primarily as a sterilization clinic and most days are organized with this as a priority. However, because it is the only animal medical response facility on the island, demand for medical attention comes in, sometimes in high numbers, and we ask that our volunteers be flexible and prepared to respond to these kinds of scenarios. This might mean overtime hours and on-call availability.

You will work 6 days a week and 6 hours a day.


Free-time activities

The island of Ko Lanta Yai has 9 gorgeous white sandy beaches, splendid scenery and coastlines boasting more than 70 small islands with forests, coral reefs and underwater life.

Most people spend one day of their holiday in Koh Lanta Yai driving around the island on a rented motorbike or car. You can ...

Free-time activities

The island of Ko Lanta Yai has 9 gorgeous white sandy beaches, splendid scenery and coastlines boasting more than 70 small islands with forests, coral reefs and underwater life.

Most people spend one day of their holiday in Koh Lanta Yai driving around the island on a rented motorbike or car. You can simply take a map and drive. Being an island, it's hard to get lost, but if you do, it will be an experience in itself. Inland, you'll find small villages that seem completely undisturbed by tourists, beaches used only by fishing boats, lush landscapes of rice paddies and plantations and great viewpoints on the way to the fascinating Old Town in the south east.

Some of the many things to do include

  • Cave exploring
  • Diving, snorkelling and kayaking
  • Visiting beaches 
  • Visit the National Park and Klong Jak waterfall
  • Thai language classes
  • Thai cookery classes 
  • Spa treatments and massage
  • Eating out
  • Enjoying the nightlife
  • Visit the surrounding islands

Renting a scooter is an easy and convenient way to get around the quiet roads on the island. The cost is about 150 THB (US$4) a day or 2500-3000 THB (US$70-90) a month. O2E strongly supports the use of helmets and long protective clothing while riding scooters to avoid serious injury. 

Please note: Thailand offers many activities that include animals. O2E recommends that volunteers refrain from riding an elephant, having your picture taken with an animal or visiting a zoo or animal entertainment venue. These activities exploit, abuse and overwork animals and many are considered illegal by the Thai Government. 

Any tour, activity or show that involves the use of animals in Thailand falls outside the O2E Policy for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Thailand offers many opportunities to see wildlife roam free in their natural habitat.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 25 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 25 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Required Documents

Proof of travel Insurance docs and Proof of vaccinations

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No specific skills are required other than a love for cats and dogs, a genuine and enthusiastic need to help them and a hard working ethic. You should be patient, caring, willing to accept new ideas and be prepared to be challenged by alternative cultural views on the treatment of animals.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers

What's included in this project?

  • Pre-departure support
  • Project Information Pack
  • Informative project orientation upon arrival including location information
  • Accommodation
  • All necessary training by staff or volunteers
  • All necessary placement equipment and materials
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • 24-hour O2E emergency phone
  • Certificate of Participation, if requested
What's not included in this project?

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals
  • Local transport to the project. O2E can arrange transfers or you can take the local bus and ferry
  • Personal spending money
  • Visas and entry permits

Accommodation

You will be staying on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta, which is based in the South West of Thailand, on the Andaman Sea and is still relatively unspoilt compared to many other islands in Thailand. But Koh Lanta has plenty to offer with SCUBA diving, snorkeling, boat trips, cave exploring, cookery classes, yoga and paddle boarding.

Food & Beverages

Meals are not included, however it is very cheap to eat out and the centre is located within 20 minutes walking distance of several restaurants, convenience stores and several locally run family restaurants. Volunteers are responsible for buying their own food and drinks and can easily self-cater as there is a fridge and cooking facilities. Drinking water is provided, as is tea, coffee and sugar.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Krabi Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Krabi Airport (KBV) in Krabi. We assist you to find cheap flights to Thailand. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Thailand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Thailand you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Thailand. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Volunteers can start this project Monday - Sunday, all year

To get there, fly to Krabi, Thailand. O2E can arrange an airport pick up for you.

Another option is an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Trang, then a bus to Koh Lanta. 

Alternatively, if you fly to Phuket you can get a bus from the airport to Koh Lanta, or take a bus to the port and get a ferry (Nov-Apr only). The journey time from Phuket is around five hours.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 868€
6 weeks 868€
7 weeks 897€
8 weeks 921€
12 weeks (max. stay) 965€
Average fees 148€/week

Program fees

148€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 25 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers

Outstanding 4.9 rating (210 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Tracy

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers is a non-profit organisation that was founded for the purpose of providing resources and financial assistance to animal welfare and conservation

Meet your organization

The O2E Founders are animal lovers and committed volunteers. They founded and established the organisation in Melbourne, Australia, having seen firsthand that volunteer recruitment agencies were not always aware if the projects they supported had the best interests of animals and environment in mind. Instead, unethical and harmful behaviour including elephant riding, unsustainable tree nursery projects and the consumption of scarce community resources by the presence of volunteers were often the result. Local wildlife communities and the animals’ environments were also clearly disadvantaged. For this reason, we created our Oceans 2 Earth Ethical Standards and the Wildlife Code and measure all potential projects by these policies prior to partnering with them.

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers offers volunteering and adventure travel experiences for ethically minded animal and conservation lovers looking for the trip of a lifetime.

In creating Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers, the O2E founders challenge and engage individuals to contribute to meaningful animal welfare and conservation projects. As wildlife carers and avid animal welfare and rights campaigners, they uphold a vision to promote ethical volunteering as an advisable travel alternative.

We believe the way to solve the issues of animal mistreatment and environmental destruction and degradation is to provide people with the opportunity to contribute and interact so that they may develop their own personal culture of responsibility and global conservation. People exposed first hand to challenging bio diverse environmental issues are more likely to draw on those experiences and continue to make a positive impact once they arrive home. 

Oceans 2 Earth recognise that individuals really can make a difference. However small the work effort is from one person, if you combine the actions of many people as a whole, the result can become quite significant. By bringing like-minded and ethically conscious animal lovers together, Oceans 2 Earth believe that there is no limit to what we can achieve. 

Our Mission

Promote environmental sustainability and to be accountable for our impact on the environment.

Take action and find solutions to improve the natural, bio-diverse way of life for all. Promote the ethical treatment and natural living ecology of all animals.

Expose and educate volunteers to the plight of animals ill-affected by conflict or interaction with man, encouraging them to take action and find solutions to these global issues. 

210 reviews · rating4.9

This is my 3rd time with O2E and I have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. Tracy in the office has always been extremely helpful and quick to answer my questions. I have done the Marine Conservation twice now and Helen and Tim are great leaders. My first Marine Conservation involved doing my Rescue ...
Oceans 2 Earth is a great organization for anyone looking to volunteer and have some fun while doing it. The program is very well organized and it is clear how you are making an impact. Helen, Amy, and Tim are all great group leaders. You are able to see all sorts of different marine life while ...
Sienna Scouter rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Helen, Amy, and Sam were wonderful project leaders. They always showed up with lots of enthusiasm and were excited to teach us throughout the day. Overall, the snorkeling activities were enjoyable and the surveys were ...
Charlotte Pierce rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

O2E has been great. O2E has been such a great experience, all the staff were so friendly and helpful. I loved learning about how we can observe and conserve the ...
Amylyn Mortimer rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Helen, Amy and Timmy were awesome! I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting and becoming friends with the members of our group. Fitzroy and Green island are absolutely beautiful. There’s a lot of down time in the afternoon to freely snorkel or walk around the islands. They were very inclusive of my ...
Emmy Christiansen rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

I have had one of the best weeks of my life. Not only Australia, but the team here has been wonderful! We learned so many interesting things about the indigenous culture. And I had never seen so many beautiful marine creatures. I’ll never forget this adventure. Thank ...

Location

Asia > South East Asia > Thailand > Koh Lanta Yai

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