Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Sep 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
35
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Email verified
Badges (5)
Details
Description
We are a Dog Sanctuary in Koycegiz, Mugla where we care and rehome Stray and unwanted dogs, we feed them, clean and maintain there living areas, attend to there medical needs and show them love and affection enabling them to go on to be adopted to loving homes.
We always need volunteers to help maintain the living areas and grounds, with some light building work and help with feeding, cleaning and administration of healthcare to the dogs
I am the founder of Dog Shelter volunteering 4 days a week to ensue our dogs are cared for correctly and that there needs are met, ı started the shelter with 5 dogs some 10 years ago and with the help of like minded volunteers helping me care for now over 500 Dogs.
Our Shelter ıs set just on the outskirts of a typical turkish village called koycegiz which ıs beautiful and has one of the largest lake in the mugla region which connects to Dalyan and the ocean
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Events & social
Movies & TV
Photography
Pets
Charity work
Gardening
Cooking & food
Animals
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Learning and understanding Dogs, maintenance, health care
We welcome all volunteers and any ideas they have to improve the conditions at the shelter.
Our Shelter is forever improving but very basic and rugged, our facilities aren't the best but our dogs are well cared for and loved.
You will be helping with the day to day cleaning of the shelter with lots of kisses and cuddles from the dogs, if you are wary of dogs this is not the place for you.
Working amongst different nationalities enabling to broaden or learn, English, Turkish or German.
You will also gain an insight into Turkish culture and there mentality.
Koycegiz is an authentic town resting peacefully on the banks of the Koycegiz Lake from where it takes its name. Koycegiz has retained much of its quiet charm and is rich in citrus fruits and olive groves. There are many delicious fish restaurants and tea houses to be found in Koycegiz, along with a regular market selling local handicrafts, locally grown produce.
Sailing boats and traditional wooden gullets cruise the Lake, which is home to many interesting species of sea and wildlife, and is set against a backdrop of delightful pine-clad mountains. A handful of small bars provide the local nightlife.
Help
No skills are necessary but obviously the love of dogs is required as we have a lot, over 500 can be very overwhelming so you need to be comfortable working around dogs, none of our dogs are aggressive towards himans they just want love and attention.
Other tasks : feeding the animals and a lot of cleaning to ensure the dogs have a clean living area.
The work on some days can be hard and sometimes overwhelming, please remember we do this on a daily basis but we do it as our dogs in our shelter need us.
It's better if you are used to be with animals but it's not an obligation, our animals are very nice and not dangerous at all !
We except people who are ready to involve themselves physically and especially psychologically. We need people who really love animals and are ready to dedicate themselves to them for a while.
Our conditions are not ideal, our shelter is basic and in need of a lot of work which we can't do without volunteers helping with the daily tasks as well as helping improve our conditions.
As we are on land with trees and bushes and below water level it gets very dusty in the summer and muddy and wet in the winter.
Our shelter is very very basic as are the living conditions
Do not come to our shelter if you have cleanliness issues.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Turkish: Beginner
Accommodation
Our home is for workers and volunteers and is newly set up so our facilities are basic. There are 2 twin bedrooms and a salon/lounge which has a sofa bed if needed, there is a separate kitchen and outside space which is shared with our foster Dogs.
You will be expected to look after the home, it's foster pets and cook and clean for yourselves.
Only basic food items such as tea coffee, water , milk ,bread,eggs , cheese some vegetables and salad items are supplied, you will need to prepare these yourself. Our shelter runs entirely on donations and we struggle with costs weekly so be prepared.
What else ...
Koycegiz is a beautiful town with lots to do, swimming in the local lake with a beach.
Nearby is Dalyan, Ikincik Beach is located by road.
Market Day in Koycegiz is Monday
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
Please Note your pet can only have limited access to the house,
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Nero
Ampi
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (24)
Had a great time
Helped with the dog care
It was a great experience
Got to bond with some of the dogs 🐶 wanted to take Jillian with me 🐕
went into town every day
the city is calm with beautiful coast
Great place and glad to be part of a big job 🙌🏼
Thanks so much Sarah and Katherine 🙏🏻 Food was excellent
I hope… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(4.5)
Had a great time
Helped with the dog care
It was a great experience
Got to bond with some of the dogs 🐶 wanted to take Jillian with me 🐕
went into town every day
the city is calm with beautiful coast
Great place and glad to be part of a big job 🙌🏼
Thanks so much Sarah and Katherine 🙏🏻 Food was excellent
I hope… read more
Huge respect to the people who spend their energy, lives & time in caring and rehabilitating animals at Koycegiz shelter.
I have learned so much about cats, dogs and even myself during this experience.
I wish the best of luck with the new year and would recommend this place to anyone who… read more
i stay in this host for 10 days and my english wasn't good but they were very friendly and it's lovely place
dogs are nice and the shelters are nice to them, I'm happy for my choice and thank you sara and Katerina and ash and beteny
you guys are so lovely and i will miss you
hope and wish best for… read more
Take a mack, because you… read more
No task was too hard, turned his hand to anything we asked of him
Would highly recommend him to any host.
I would recommend this couple to any host.
Thank you it was a pleasure
Somebody could say, that the work there is really hard, but if you enjoy it you never notice… read more
The shelter was located in Koycegiz, it has a lake, a forest and a waterfall. I loved my runs along the lake!
The dogs were incredibly friendly and loving, my favorite part was the greeting in the morning when we arrive to the shelter and all the dogs are waiting… read more
WORK:
-Picking up poo
-Scrubbing/refilling bowls
-Mopping the floor
-Washing the dogs (sometimes)
-Giving medication (sometimes)
Everyone was assigned their daily tasks on the rota which varied each day making work organised and different.
STAFF:
The staff were so much fun! During… read more
THE WORK
As described in the offer, yes, it's very very demanding (physically and emotionnaly). We had to deal with tons of shit, to wash and fill the bowls, to clean everywhere... And not enough time to cuddle. We were working 5 days / week… read more
Emre got on well with all our other volunteers and workers and helped in anyway he could
I would highly recommend Emre and… read more
I would recommend them to any host's as they are hard working, polite and respectful, an absolute, Thank You
We are surrounded by dogs at work and can play during breaks.
We love animals, so this environment was so exciting and nice.
At the host's house we spent like our… read more
Theresa got on with her fellow workaways staying at the host and shared household duties and cooking.
Absolute Delight to have you working with us. Thank You
Working hours aren't too long and if you have any issue with them you can always ask Sarah. She… read more
Sarah took pride in her tasks and always around to help when needed.
Sarah had her own tasks each day and cared for the pups and the sick extremely well and showed them and our other dogs so much respect and love.
True… read more
Each… read more
In summer , working under the heat could be a bit challenging as well as cleaning the puppy area thoroughly in order to prevent the puppies from getting sick , so , in another word, don't expect this to be the most comfortable heaven to work at… read more
Such a fun girl, always happy,
No task too difficult
Loved being around the dogs and they loved her
Thank you for helping us at the shelter
Elie is a… read more
We worked during the opening hours of the shelter, that is from 9am to 4 pm. Although the work can sometimes be hard, mainly cleaning and taking care of puppies and the quaranteen area, and some maintenance work, the work is very… read more
