Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
16 Mar 2026
Reply rate
96.7 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
9
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Becoming available starting April 21st 2026
I'm Julie, I run a New Orleans originated non-profit working at Lake Atitlan specifically the small towns around lake Atitlan. . It is our program that provides sterilization clinics here at the lake to cut down on the street dog population. Currently I am running one clinic a month. The volunteers here at the time of the clinic would help promote the clinics and be there the day of the clinic to lend a hand where needed. No animal medical experience is necessary as everyone will be trained to know how to work together for the clinic to ultimately run successfully.
As to the day to day here my volunteers main job is walking the dogs along with feeding them. I would also like you to tend to the plants, do some light shopping and light cleaning. Other small things do pop up but mostly it’s very simple to volunteer here. I do ask that the volunteers consider this home a shared home in that we work together to keep the main parts of the home nice and tidy.
We are located in Panajachel which is a great town as Pana is a bigger town with everything at your fingertips. I am walking distance from the big open air market where you can pretty much get everything you need from fresh produce to butchers etc. There are also several grocery stores and specialty shops that are less than a five minute walk away from our home.
Typically in the first day or so I like to take my volunteers on a little tour to the beach, the market and other shops so that you get familiar with the town.
As to visiting other towns such as San Pedro, San Marcos etc…. The launcha is a ten minute walk and it’s just a short boat ride to most other towns around the lake.
While this is a housing opportunity and meals are not included, I do enjoy cooking and sharing meals and taking turns cooking with the amazing volunteers that come from all over the world.
Please feel free to message me with any questions that I have not answered!!
I also must ask that the time that you commit to, you also honor as this is an important position working to help with these dogs. If you are not able to fully commit please don’t apply
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House & pet sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Pets
Charity work
Plant care
Cooking & food
Animals
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The lake offers amazing opportunities to experience the local culture. There's a large indigenous population here so it's an interesting place to experience modern Mayan life.
Help
Home, pet and garden care
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Full kitchen with a full size fridge, stove top and convection oven. Full size bed and sectional sofa, tv with streaming apps, full shower with hot water and two amazing young dogs, Lucy and Roux.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Roux
Roux is my personal dog and a true sweetheart. She is the calm one of the bunch and a little couch potato
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (5)
From the moment she arrived, she jumped in with both feet and such a genuine heart. For a little over two weeks, she cared for the dogs with so much love and consistency — walking them twice a day, cleaning up all the little doggie messes without hesitation, and giving each pup the attention they deserve. The dogs truly… read more
More detailed: I spent a bit more than two weeks with Julie and the dogs and it was an amazing experience. Julie's house is really nice. I had my own (very cozy and beautiful) room and it's located outside the main center, which I personally really liked.
I… read more
You don’t have a regular working schedule like at other workaways. My only “job” was walking her dog Roux. I took her on several hikes in the area so I could explore the surroundings of Lake Atitlan at the same time. I really… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
From the moment she arrived, she jumped in with both feet and such a genuine heart. For a little over two weeks, she cared for the dogs with so much love and consistency — walking them twice a day, cleaning up all the little doggie messes without hesitation, and giving each pup the attention they deserve. The dogs truly… read more
More detailed: I spent a bit more than two weeks with Julie and the dogs and it was an amazing experience. Julie's house is really nice. I had my own (very cozy and beautiful) room and it's located outside the main center, which I personally really liked.
I… read more
You don’t have a regular working schedule like at other workaways. My only “job” was walking her dog Roux. I took her on several hikes in the area so I could explore the surroundings of Lake Atitlan at the same time. I really… read more
We had our own private room and bathroom which was both comfortable and spacious. Julie's kitchen was fully equipped with… read more
Her home is very comfortable, with a private bedroom and bathroom for volunteers — it truly feels like home. This is without a… read more
Her generosity was unparalleled - she regularly gave us donations of dog harnesses/leashes and even food crops to grow in the shelter!… read more
He recently helped me rescue a sick dog from the streets and transport her to my house, where we cared for her… read more
