Animal Volunteer Abroad

No qualifications or experience is needed to perform basic duties while you volunteer with animals abroad, however more advanced placements such as to do surgeries, x rays and other technical duties require you to be qualified with adequate experience.

• Animal lovers
• Veterinarians
• Animal groomers, trainers and caretakers
• Students and vets in training
• Teens and young adults who would like to explore the veterinary field
• Couples and families, with at least 1 member willing and able to work with animals
• Corporate groups
• Business owners
• Mature volunteers
• Professionals
• High school and university groups looking to volunteer with animals

When volunteering with animals abroad, it is always encouraged that proper pre-planning is done to ensure that your project will be as impactful as possible. From the moment you are accepted into this program, you are advised to begin brainstorming on the activities you would like to do during your project. Likewise, you may also schedule an online meeting or call with your Project Advisor to discuss placements and the activities that you have planned.

Some tasks you can do on your volunteer abroad animals project include:

• Assisting with dental check-ups to check teeth and oral cavity
• Screening for common diseases
• Microchip identification and insertion
• Assist and observe in performing surgical procedures
• Work with a local team to resolve emergency cases
• Educate pet owners on proper care of pets
• Assist with lab work such as heartworm tests, blood tests, etc.
• Help with testing for parasites
• Pet maintenance services, for instance, vaccinations, bird grooming, and applying internal medicine
• Help with reproductive services, for example, spaying and neutering, artificial insemination, ultrasonography, etc.
• Donate pet carriers, toys, and equipment that you may have at home that is no longer in use
• Assist with feeding, cleaning, and exercising dogs and cats in shelters and cleaning kennels
• Visit schools and communities to raise awareness and educate children and locals on how to care for animals, and how to report animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect to the authorities
• There may be an option to adopt or purchase an animal while in Jamaica to become a lifelong member of your family to take back home!
• Help perform nose-to-tail physical check-ups, where you listen to the pets’ heart and lungs, test vision, check the ears, palpate skin, abdomen, lymph node, muscle, and joints
• Visit a local zoo to work with the zookeepers and staff while working with exotic animals

These are just some examples. Feel free to discuss any other activities you would like to engage in during your project.

On the first day of your animal volunteer work abroad project, you will be accompanied to your volunteer site by your Project Advisor. While there they will assist you, especially with getting a tour of your work environment, introducing you to the team you will be working with, providing you with a brief orientation and informing you of lunch arrangements.

During the weekends and some afternoons after your project is over, you can purchase a tour and cultural immersion adventure package. These tours are perfect to inject some fun and adventure before, during or after you start to volunteer abroad with animals in Jamaica.

Following the completion of your volunteer work abroad with animals trip, you will receive your Volunteer Certificate, signed by our Managing Director. Furthermore, we will also sign any documents that you need to certify volunteer/service hours completed on your trip.

We encourage all volunteers seeking to volunteer with animals abroad in Jamaica to collect donations and items back home that can be donated to your volunteer site. These include chewing toys, collars, leashes, medication, treats and more.

We will send you a list of needed resources for your volunteer site

• Money to purchase lunch ($3 – $5 USD per day)
• Insect repellent to prevent mosquito and bug bites
• Supplies to assist with your project
• A camera to take pictures
• Sunscreen if you intend to play in the sun or sunbathe
• A reusable water bottle
• Comfortable shoes
• Notebook or electronic device to take notes
• Cash for any shopping or excursions
• Water shoes if you plan on swimming

While you volunteer abroad with animals with us in Jamaica, you will get access to our Cultural Immersion Course online. The moment you pay the processing fee you will get access to the course online, even before you arrive in Jamaica. This course includes several videos, worksheets, and learning materials where you learn all about Jamaica’s culture, and cover topics such as our food, government, history, traditions, norms, religion, and more.

As a part of your volunteer work abroad with animals trip, you will also get access to our online course to learn how to speak, write and understand Patois (pronounced Pat-Wah), which is our local dialect.

NB: All prices below are quoted in USD and are based per person

Once you have decided to join our animal volunteer work abroad project, complete the inquiry form or contact us to let us know that you are interested in joining. We will then send you the volunteer application form for the volunteer format that you selected (online placement only or full volunteer project).

Note: By submitting your application you will NOT be making a binding commitment to join the project.

After you submit your application and your placement is approved, we will reach out to you within 24 hours via your preferred means of contact. You will get to discuss your goals, where you would like to be placed, what you want to do on your animal volunteer abroad project, and ask us questions.

Once you are accepted into the animal volunteer work abroad project, you will be required to submit your documents as soon as possible. These include:

• 2 Reference letters (1 personal, 1 professional)
• 1 recent photo id (passport, national id, school id, or driver’s license)
• 1 police report/criminal background check
• Proof of travel insurance (follow the link to purchase travel health insurance) *not needed for online projects
• Completed volunteer application form
• Qualifications (if you are seeking an advanced placement)
• Flight itinerary *not needed for online projects

Make your outstanding payments. Full volunteer projects have the option to join a 3-month payment plan. Once you are approved for the program then any processing fees will become due immediately.