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Our Animal Rescue Volunteer Program is a life-changing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of stray animals in need while soaking up authentic Thai culture in one of Thailand’s must-visit destinations. This is your chance to be part of a program that aims to dramatically improve the lives of animals in Thailand and tackle the issues at the root of the country’s stray animal epidemic. Join more than 500 volunteers who have made a difference in the lives of stray animals with Rescue P.A.W.S.
Animal volunteer opportunities in Thailand are plentiful, but Rescue P.A.W.S. will provide you with unmatched, hands-on experience. You will leave Rescue P.A.W.S. feeling accomplished, having experienced both the exciting but, also trying elements of stray animal care in Thailand. You will also get the opportunity to make friends from all over the world, build long-lasting relationships and become part of our close-knit family!
Operated by a small team of full- time staff, Rescue P.A.W.S. volunteers are absolutely critical to our existence. They help us to meet the physical demands of day-to-day operations and ensure that we give every dog and cat sufficient medical care and love.
The Rescue P.A.W.S. volunteer program also serves as a supplementary source of revenue as a means of funding beyond donations. Simply put, volunteers are what keep our doors open!
Through our volunteer program, animal lovers are offered an opportunity of experiencing first-hand the joys and challenges of working at an animal rescue organization, as well as learning what it takes to run an organization like this.
The Rescue P.A.W.S. volunteer program is open to people from all walks of life, be it trained animal care specialists, those all-together inexperienced or anyone seeking a meaningful travel experience – our only prerequisite is an enthusiastic passion for animals! Typically, eligibility requirements are:
As a volunteer, you will participate in a host of activities and tasks including, but not limited to:
Fieldwork – Consists of feeding runs in the local area to packs that we have befriended over time. During this time, you will learn about stray animal behavior, help us to maintain their health with necessary treatment supervised by one of our vet team, and overall, help us on our mission to sterilize as many dogs as possible in the area.
Daily Dog Care – Caring for animals includes many daily tasks. In the mornings, volunteers clean the kennels, feed the dogs and take them for beach or lake walks. Volunteers engage with our dogs in play and build relationships with them for a healthy well-being. All volunteers are expected to maintain high standards of cleaning and animal welfare. Afternoon activities change daily depending on the needs of the animals and can include feeding runs, parasite treatments for local packs, releasing dogs back to their packs, and dog training.
Health Checks and Procedures – Observe veterinary procedures and learn about basic wound care. Perform weekly bathing and de-ticking sessions to maintain the health of the animals.
Media – For those interested in marketing we have opportunities to help us promote our organization by taking photos and footage of your days as a Rescue P.A.W.S. volunteer. You will be provided with help and advice to create visually appealing content that will be used on our website and social media channels. We also encourage our volunteers to submit blog entries to our blog.
Due to the nature of our work, the minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old.
Our team invest a lot of time in training new volunteers and we want everyone to get the most out of their experience. In order to do this we need volunteers for at least 2 week.
Our volunteer program duration ranges from 2 weeks up to 3 months, with an option of further extension. While we completely understand that not everyone can commit to volunteering for long periods of time, we always encourage people to stay for a period of one month or more. This allows for everyone to get the very most out of the experience.
Rescue P.A.W.S. is located on the grounds of the Wat Khao Tao Temple. As a sign of respect we ask all volunteers to ensure that their shoulders and knees are covered at all times while on temple ground.
While packing please consider the following:
Our volunteer accommodation is a typical Thai style house that includes hot showers, western style toilets, fans and laundry facilities. The house consists of 5 twin rooms and 2 doubles. As a result, we are able to cater to couples and, during peak times, you may have to share your room with one other volunteer. Kitchen utilities are also provided. You’ll have plenty of cutlery, a refrigerator, microwave, kettle, toaster and an electric stove. The house is located a mere 150 meter walk down the road from Sai Noi Beach and offers a peaceful environment after a long day of saving lives.
Note: Separate but nearby private accommodation with air conditioning is optional at your own cost (Subject to availability).
The Rescue P.A.W.S. clinic and kennel facilities are located on the grounds of Khao Tao Temple, a Buddhist temple that borders a long stretch of beach. The temple grounds and its surroundings are conducive to the healing of animals and people alike, plus the beach and ocean are perfect for rehabilitation through hydrotherapy and daily walks. Khao Tao is an authentic Thai village about 12 kilometers south of Hua Hin, away from the hustle and bustle of a big town, but close enough to enjoy the amenities that a city offers. There is a comfortable selection of local restaurants within walking distance of the clinic that offers both Thai and western food options. The Rescue P.A.W.S. Volunteer house is a 5 to 10 minute walk around the corner from our clinic.
Some must-do activities while in the area include:
The Volunteer Program includes:
What your fee includes:
Rescue P.A.W.S.’ program fees are what make it possible to manage to our mission every day. Every last bit of the volunteer program fee goes towards creating better lives for more stray animals and achieving the mission of reducing the stray dog population in Thailand.
Rescue P.A.W.S. welcomes trained veterinarians, vet nurses and 4th year veterinary students and above. If you would like to know more about our separate veterinary volunteer program please send your resume and cover letter to us at [email protected].
If you want to become an Animal Rescue Volunteer in Thailand at Rescue P.A.W.S., contact us using the form below:
Address: 65 Khao Tao Temple, Nong Kae, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand 77110
Phone: +66 (0) 84 2012 683
Email: [email protected]
