Opportunity to help at a dog and cat shelter in a rural community near Puyo in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a small Ecuadorian NGO in Parroquia Tarqui, a tiny neighboring town of Puyo (Amazon region).
    As a group of four people (three are locals) we started our rescue project in 2019.
    We rescue dogs and cats, take care of them in a private shelter/home to support their healing and giving them the best chance to be adopted.
    It´s an important goal of our project to create awareness among the population of the importance to protect animals and to change the habit to keep animals without a proper care.
    As one of our members, Renato, is a veterinarian who runs a small clinic in Puyo we use this facility for spaying/neutering and other surgeries and treatments of the rescued dogs and cats.
    Apart from our dog shelter we also have two horses and are looking for experienced people to help us with their training.
    After years of renting we moved to our own property near Tarqui in 2023. It has been a huge improvement to own a lovely piece of land that gives us enough space not only to take care of the dogs and cats but also to start growing some of our own food.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Interests

    Interests

    Events & social
    Politics / Social justice
    Vegetarian or vegan
    Pets
    Sustainability
    Charity work
    Cooking & food
    Gardening
    Animals
    Nature
    Outdoor activities
    Hiking
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Our dogs are our connection to the land and the people. Going on walks with the pups is an opportunity to share what we do, share who you are, and get to know our neighbors. Living in a small, shared home, and working for an Ecuadorian NGO... there is a lot of opportunities to get to know ways of life and family here. You will be living in a small rural community that has many opportunities to join in a fútbol game, play with kids in town, and also be in touch with our young volunteers from the local community. There is a university with aprox. 4000 students in Puyo, so there are is a thriving night life for a small town (bars, karaoke, discotecas). There are many indigenous communities that you may get the opportunity to get to know and learn from. There are also tourist opportunities near by to learn about cacao, rainforest, and guided river tours. You also get the chance to explore the rainforest region and we can help you with a lot of information for your travels.

  • Help

    Help

    We need help with the daily care of the dogs at the shelter:

    - cleaning the refuge
    - feeding 1-3x a day
    - giving medications to dogs in recovery
    - daily walks
    - occasionally bringing dogs to the vet in Puyo
    - occasionally help with the rescue activities

    LOVE is key for their recovery!

    We prefer volunteers who stay for a minimum of four weeks as it is important for the dogs to get to know the people who take care of them (yet, this is NOT REQUIRED).

    Specific interests & needs right now:
    -- People with organizational development backgrounds to support our growth as an NGO and our fundraising.
    -- People who can help with construction work to create proper fences, roofs and beds for the dogs.
    -- People with farming skills who can help us start growing some of our own food on the shelter property.

    HORSE PEOPLE:
    We have two horses, one of them was rescued and is not always easy to handle. They both need to be trained but for this we need experienced people. As we need to avoid too many changes for them we require a minimum stay of 4 weeks to get involved with the horse training.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    Renato (our vet) is learning English and can help our volunteers to improve their Spanish.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We provide a shared house with a total number of 6 rooms (most are single, some double).
    If you are a single person, you may share the room with one other if another volunteer comes. If you are a couple or coming together as friends you will have the room to yourselves.
    The kitchen is completely equipped, and there is a washing machine.
    The grocery shopping can be done individually or organized together with the other volunteers.
    We ask the volunteers to be prepared to make their own food / cook for our little house community as we all have different schedules. But we also enjoy to cook together with or for the volunteers when we have the time!

    The house is shared among people of different ages, Ecuadorian and foreigners, normally between 3-8 people total. We share the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. An important part of staying here is also keeping the shared spaces clean and usable for all of us.
    As a matter of sustainable living our house is equipped with ecological dry toilets.

    From the center of Puyo the refuge can be easily reached by bus in approx. 15 minutes for $ 0.40, and the bus stop is just about 60m away from the house.

    In the mornings we normally drive to the shelter by car as from the house it is some km distance and the volunteers come back by bus after work.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Puyo is a relaxed jungle town in the Amazon region. You can explore interesting sights in the area that are mostly easy to reach by public bus. We are always willing to help you with the details and contacts!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Cellphone reception is poor in our area but the wi-fi connection works quite well so you can easily work online in your free time.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Vans can be parked just outside the volunteer house, power can be provided if you bring an extension cable.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We´ve had volunteers with dogs which has worked very well so far, but of course we always need some details in advance to be able to confirm as the decision depends on the pet and the situation of the shelter.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 678541585698

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