Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Jul 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
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Details
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
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
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
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
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: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Renato (our vet) is learning English and can help our volunteers to improve their Spanish.
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 ...
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
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
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
Vans can be parked just outside the volunteer house, power can be provided if you bring an extension cable.
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?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (17)
El trabajo de Inga y Renato para salvar los animales de la calle es impresionante!
Gracias… read more
Working in a shelter is not always easy, but dogs are capable to fill you with so much love.
Inga and Renato are working hard for these creatures and their passion about… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.8)
El trabajo de Inga y Renato para salvar los animales de la calle es impresionante!
Gracias… read more
Working in a shelter is not always easy, but dogs are capable to fill you with so much love.
Inga and Renato are working hard for these creatures and their passion about… read more
He did a great job both at our shelter and at the construction site where we are building our new dog shelter. Patrick worked very hard during our Saturday mingas (community work) and was truly helpful for the advance of our new project. At the same time he is fun to have around and easy to communicate with.… read more
We stayed there for a few weeks first and then when the pandemic happened and we didn't know where to go they opened their house foe us and let us stay for as long as we needed. If… read more
The work itself was simply feeding the dogs in the morning (an amusingly manic affair) and then taking them out for a walk. The sun was a bit intense. The dogs… read more
I've had a really good time there and enjoyed the work!
By the time I was there, they're were many volunteers, so the morning tasks took 1 hour sometimes! After that, it's good to take the dogs for… read more
In terms of company, we found good friends in everyone and had a lot of laughs and good times. We stayed at the house of Inga and Renato, which was a nice and comfy bamboo house 20 mins (by foot) from the shelter. From the first moment we felt at home and really… read more
The time with the dogs is wonderful, all dogs are loving little friends who want to be cuddled.
We walked the dogs, brushed them, washed them, helped feed them, cleaned the enclosures, did different jobs in and around the shelter.
Our time here was full of love, full of dogs who are… read more
It can be challenging at times. Living at the centre with all the dogs around you. You will get dirty and smelly. Some days it is hard work. And I… read more
I had a wonderful 2 weeks at this Workaway. The work was very easy. My days were filled with poop, scratches from puppies and mosquitos, and I loved every bit of it! Most of the time actually went to cuddling the dogs and playing with the puppies. It was… read more
