Share stories and foster a deeper understanding of different cultures in the Pelion Mountains near Volos, Greece
Last activity
: 2 May 2025
Profile information
Usually responds within 5 days
Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 734523949928
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Feedback (4)
It has been an absolute pleasure having Elena and Moritz volunteer with us at the shelter. Although they began their journey with little prior experience with dogs, they embraced the challenge with open hearts and minds. From day one, they showed a genuine willingness to learn and quickly stepped out of their comfort zone.
Over time, it was
… read more inspiring to see their growth—not only in confidence but also in their ability to connect with and handle dogs of all temperaments. Their calm and compassionate energy helped build trust with the animals, and they soon became a familiar and comforting presence in the shelter.
Beyond their work with the dogs, they were exceptional team players—always supportive, communicative, and ready to lend a hand wherever needed. Their positive attitude and teamwork made them a joy to work with .
I am really grateful for their dedication and the warmth they brought to our dog shelter. They’ve made a lasting impact, and I hope to welcome them back anytime!
We had an unforgettable time at the shelter. As we both had no experience with dogs before it was an “out of the comfort zone” but Anika as well as the other volunteers made us feel good from the first second. We took our time and from day to day we felt more confidence.
The dogs are all lovely, there are some more challenging others calm and a
… read more little bit shy (at the beginning).
There are two shifts of 3h each per day and this gives structure and also lots of free time. Four shifts per week are free.
The tasks are feeding, cleaning, walking and cuddling. We really enjoyed the walks in this beautiful surrounding in the nature and viewing the sea.
Argalasti is a beautiful small village with restaurants, bakery, supermarket and a market every Saturday morning. There are also lots of beaches and nature around. We had a car, but maybe there are also busses.
We also took the car to get to the shelter, one time we walked and it took about 15-20 minutes.
The house in which we lived was an old greek house. Due to this it was not luxery or very modern, but very cozy with the oven. And we had everything that we needed. We had always the possibility for a hot shower and to make a laundry. The kitchen was good and the living room was great for coming together. The only thing that can be optimized is that there is no fix responsible person from the project which welcomes you to the accomondation. It is done by the workawayers which are there and due to this it can happen, that you have no clean bedsheets or that your room is not tidied up for example. And also it might happen that you get different information from different people of the project regarding the house. Also you should keep in mind that you have to pay for your food and the neccesary basics (e.g. toilet paper, soap, dish washing liquid).
Overal, we are very thankful for the experience and Anika is really doing a great job.
Our experience here was a total blast, and we absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves dogs, animals, quiet life and enriching work experience.
Me and my boyfriend Elia volunteered here for 2.5 months, and the work was so fantastic and fulfilling that each time we were about to leave, we then postponed a little :)
Practical information:
… read more daily work is divided in two shifts, one in the morning (our hours were 7:30-10:30, but this can change based on the season - sometimes is earlier, sometimes is later), and one in the afternoon (15:30-18:30, as well different depending on the season).
This time planning gave us a lot of free time during the day, allowing us to freely rest, explore the area and the villages around, the nearest beaches and generally have a good mental and physical break.
During your week you will have 4 total free shifts, that you are allowed to manage as it's best for you: complete two free days, or four different shorter rest shifts. This can be different any week and always discussed both with Anika and the other volunteers firstly, in order to better manage the organisation and presence in the shelter :)
The dog shelter is located in an amazing area, a bit far from the village so not to be disturbed by traffic, cars and roads, in a very quiet and beautiful countryside full of greenery, fields and scenery paths.
Our work tasks included: feeding the dogs, cleaning and changing their water, cleaning the kennels, take care of their (eventual) medicines, take them on walks and training every day, eventually taking them to the vet, and socialising by cuddles :)
The work is both mental and physical: it's important to approach them with patience, positivity and kindness, and also to be ready for lots of walks and general physical effort (and the end of the day, body fatigue can be intense, especially in the beginning! But absolutely rewarding).
Our communication with Anika was always very effective, kind and respectful.
She is available anytime for whatever questions or issues, we never got a problem together and she would always got back to us fast, with kindness and professionalism.
Generally, the good relationship and communication with her improved and complemented our experience at the shelter!
Finally, working with the dogs has been to us an unexpected enriching environment both for personal growth and general skills development.
We were already confident with animals, but working with them on a daily basis really changed our perspective and broaden our understanding, making us feeling responsible and grateful for them in ways we couldn't imagine.
Each dog is particular, special and different, with specific characters and needs, and slowly getting to know them better rewarded us deeply and internally.
These dogs have sometimes difficult stories behind them, and it's fantastic to be part of their healing journey, to share with them the process of trust and connection building, their self-esteem and playful tendencies growing, and finally the procedure of being adopted, cared for and loved for the rest of their lifes.
Overall, we found the project an interesting and powerful experience, and we are already dreaming of coming back soon!
In the meanwhile, take care, big cuddles to all dogs, and all the best wishes and luck for everything.
Alice and Elia
Left by Workawayer (Natasha) for host
Dear Future Workawayers
I have spent 3 weeks in this well-kept, loving dog shelter in the Pellion Mountains and I can very much recommend it to everyone!
Anika has been on her feet for years to improve the dogs life in the Pellion Area and still is looking after the dogs 24/7, which is absolutely impressive! If you have some time and experience
… read more with animals on your hands, do come and help out. Your help is very much appreciated by the dogs and by Anika! All the dogs are very kind, a few need some more time to trust you, but Anika will help you grow closer to these dogs fast!
You will stay in your own place with the other workawayers in the town center and take the short trip out to the farm twice a day to take care of the dogs. Anika is very kind and understanding and always cared about her workawayers wellbeing. Our group of workawayers was out for almost a week due to a virus and Anika was very caring and concerned. Unfortunately, her days grew even longer due to these unfortunate absences, but the wellbeing of the workawayers were always most important to her, which is why she always encouraged us to take good care of ourselves first and picked up the work which needed to be done.
Oh, and last but not least - come by car so that you can bring a dog home. You will for sure fall in love with at least one of them ;)
Thank you for your hard work, Anika!Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
It has been an absolute pleasure having Elena and Moritz volunteer with us at the shelter. Although they began their journey with little prior experience with dogs, they embraced the challenge with open hearts and minds. From day one, they showed a genuine willingness to learn and quickly stepped out of their comfort zone.
Over time, it was
… read more inspiring to see their growth—not only in confidence but also in their ability to connect with and handle dogs of all temperaments. Their calm and compassionate energy helped build trust with the animals, and they soon became a familiar and comforting presence in the shelter.
Beyond their work with the dogs, they were exceptional team players—always supportive, communicative, and ready to lend a hand wherever needed. Their positive attitude and teamwork made them a joy to work with .
I am really grateful for their dedication and the warmth they brought to our dog shelter. They’ve made a lasting impact, and I hope to welcome them back anytime!
We had an unforgettable time at the shelter. As we both had no experience with dogs before it was an “out of the comfort zone” but Anika as well as the other volunteers made us feel good from the first second. We took our time and from day to day we felt more confidence.
The dogs are all lovely, there are some more challenging others calm and a
… read more little bit shy (at the beginning).
There are two shifts of 3h each per day and this gives structure and also lots of free time. Four shifts per week are free.
The tasks are feeding, cleaning, walking and cuddling. We really enjoyed the walks in this beautiful surrounding in the nature and viewing the sea.
Argalasti is a beautiful small village with restaurants, bakery, supermarket and a market every Saturday morning. There are also lots of beaches and nature around. We had a car, but maybe there are also busses.
We also took the car to get to the shelter, one time we walked and it took about 15-20 minutes.
The house in which we lived was an old greek house. Due to this it was not luxery or very modern, but very cozy with the oven. And we had everything that we needed. We had always the possibility for a hot shower and to make a laundry. The kitchen was good and the living room was great for coming together. The only thing that can be optimized is that there is no fix responsible person from the project which welcomes you to the accomondation. It is done by the workawayers which are there and due to this it can happen, that you have no clean bedsheets or that your room is not tidied up for example. And also it might happen that you get different information from different people of the project regarding the house. Also you should keep in mind that you have to pay for your food and the neccesary basics (e.g. toilet paper, soap, dish washing liquid).
Overal, we are very thankful for the experience and Anika is really doing a great job.
Our experience here was a total blast, and we absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves dogs, animals, quiet life and enriching work experience.
Me and my boyfriend Elia volunteered here for 2.5 months, and the work was so fantastic and fulfilling that each time we were about to leave, we then postponed a little :)
Practical information:
… read more daily work is divided in two shifts, one in the morning (our hours were 7:30-10:30, but this can change based on the season - sometimes is earlier, sometimes is later), and one in the afternoon (15:30-18:30, as well different depending on the season).
This time planning gave us a lot of free time during the day, allowing us to freely rest, explore the area and the villages around, the nearest beaches and generally have a good mental and physical break.
During your week you will have 4 total free shifts, that you are allowed to manage as it's best for you: complete two free days, or four different shorter rest shifts. This can be different any week and always discussed both with Anika and the other volunteers firstly, in order to better manage the organisation and presence in the shelter :)
The dog shelter is located in an amazing area, a bit far from the village so not to be disturbed by traffic, cars and roads, in a very quiet and beautiful countryside full of greenery, fields and scenery paths.
Our work tasks included: feeding the dogs, cleaning and changing their water, cleaning the kennels, take care of their (eventual) medicines, take them on walks and training every day, eventually taking them to the vet, and socialising by cuddles :)
The work is both mental and physical: it's important to approach them with patience, positivity and kindness, and also to be ready for lots of walks and general physical effort (and the end of the day, body fatigue can be intense, especially in the beginning! But absolutely rewarding).
Our communication with Anika was always very effective, kind and respectful.
She is available anytime for whatever questions or issues, we never got a problem together and she would always got back to us fast, with kindness and professionalism.
Generally, the good relationship and communication with her improved and complemented our experience at the shelter!
Finally, working with the dogs has been to us an unexpected enriching environment both for personal growth and general skills development.
We were already confident with animals, but working with them on a daily basis really changed our perspective and broaden our understanding, making us feeling responsible and grateful for them in ways we couldn't imagine.
Each dog is particular, special and different, with specific characters and needs, and slowly getting to know them better rewarded us deeply and internally.
These dogs have sometimes difficult stories behind them, and it's fantastic to be part of their healing journey, to share with them the process of trust and connection building, their self-esteem and playful tendencies growing, and finally the procedure of being adopted, cared for and loved for the rest of their lifes.
Overall, we found the project an interesting and powerful experience, and we are already dreaming of coming back soon!
In the meanwhile, take care, big cuddles to all dogs, and all the best wishes and luck for everything.
Alice and Elia
Left by Workawayer (Natasha) for host
Dear Future Workawayers
I have spent 3 weeks in this well-kept, loving dog shelter in the Pellion Mountains and I can very much recommend it to everyone!
Anika has been on her feet for years to improve the dogs life in the Pellion Area and still is looking after the dogs 24/7, which is absolutely impressive! If you have some time and experience
… read more with animals on your hands, do come and help out. Your help is very much appreciated by the dogs and by Anika! All the dogs are very kind, a few need some more time to trust you, but Anika will help you grow closer to these dogs fast!
You will stay in your own place with the other workawayers in the town center and take the short trip out to the farm twice a day to take care of the dogs. Anika is very kind and understanding and always cared about her workawayers wellbeing. Our group of workawayers was out for almost a week due to a virus and Anika was very caring and concerned. Unfortunately, her days grew even longer due to these unfortunate absences, but the wellbeing of the workawayers were always most important to her, which is why she always encouraged us to take good care of ourselves first and picked up the work which needed to be done.
Oh, and last but not least - come by car so that you can bring a dog home. You will for sure fall in love with at least one of them ;)
Thank you for your hard work, Anika!
Left by Workawayer (Adéla) for host
An unforgettable volunteer experience! 🐶
I spent 3 months here and it was one of the best experiences of my life, no wonder I'm going back soon! If you love dogs, traveling and want to experience the real Greek life, this place is perfect for you ❤️🔥
Great atmosphere, great vibe and friends for life. Also the perfect location of the shelter.
… read more Outside of shifts there was plenty of time and opportunity to learn about Greek culture, taste traditional foods and experience life in a beautiful environment. In our free time we explored the area, went to the beaches and enjoyed the sunny days.
Really a lovely time here, but I promise you won't want to go back home without wanting to adopt at least one dog, they are all so wonderful! 🐾Help with gardening , house sitting, painting and more and exchange philosophies on the island of Kos, Greece
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