Animal saver
Coordinator | Silvia
Coordinator | Silvia
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Rescue wounded and ill animals!
Save hundreds of lives, helping catching cats and dogs for castration!
Assist our veterinarians with emergencies!
Save dogs from being catched and put to sleep by local authorities!
Make the difference at our clinic by helping our staff with heavy duties (moving heavy equipment, transporting heavy animals, uploading/downloading rice and dryfood sacks, etc.)
Takes part into rescues, in different parts of the town and of the island, is available on emergencies, is never tired, knows how to keep calm in stressful situations
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+
An animal saver is ideally someone who is confident or has experience of working with dogs. Animal savers are in charge all the day round. When they are not needed for emergencies or special one-time tasks, their main task will be to assure the best possible life conditions to our rescued dogs, working mainly at the shelter, but their mission doesn't allow to have a definite working schedule or a definite amount of free time, as they will help whenever is needed or during spaying/neutering campaigns, or in the clinic when necessary (especially on week ends, or when the staff is off or missing work).
Animal savers have no fear of difficult situations, can catch dogs with their hands and especially with their heart. Volunteers that wants to call themselves animal savers have no fear to make themselves dirty, never forgets to take a leash and a bag of dry food with them and a bottle of water with a bowl when they go out. They don't miss any occasion to catch a dog on the street and bring him/her to our clinic to be spayed/neutered as this is the easiest way to save lives, and to fight abandonment, starvation and suffering. Their help will be crucial during spaying/neutering campaigns outside the clinic.
NOTES:
- Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is per shift: one morning shift from 7AM to 1PM OR one afternoon shift from 1PM to 7PM.
- changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized
- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered
- we'll make our best to give you the morning shift on the last working day of one week and the afternoon shift of the first working day of the following week, so that you have 2 days and 2 nights off and you can visit another island if you like.
Typical day
The special mission of an animal saver doesn't allow to have a definite working schedule or a definite amount of free time. Every occasion is good to save lives or to stop suffering. In Mindelo and in the villages of Sao Vicente there are thousands of stray dogs that wait to be treated, spayed/neutered, dewormed, even in your free time!
You will have the opportunity to share or observe Simabo's wider work, for example outreach vaccination and neutering, and education sessions. This will depend upon what events are timetabled at the time of your stay so cannot be guaranteed but volunteers are welcome to observe / assist these activities.
NOTES:
- Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is per shift: one morning shift from 7AM to 1PM OR one afternoon shift from 1PM to 7PM.
- changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized
- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered
- we'll make our best to give you the morning shift on the last working day of one week and the afternoon shift of the first working day of the following week, so that you have 2 days and 2 nights off and you can visit another island if you like.
Free-time activities
The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed!
On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school.
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hiking paths are very simple to follow. Every volunteer who likes hiking can't miss visiting the neighboring island, Santo Antao, with its beautiful mountains and trekking paths.
If you are not so keen on hiking, you can rent a bicycles, electrical bicycles and scooters at local shops.
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Hiking
Sports
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
In addition to the above requirements, animal savers are expressly required to be tolerant, diplomatic, and possess a cooperative spirit (both with local staff, whose contribution is indispensable, and with other volunteers). Also, they must have a willingness to understand a different culture other than their own.
We handle both stray animals and animals with owners/guardians who have no other place to go. It is important to know how to communicate even though there may be language barriers.
We handle both stray animals and animals with owners/guardians who have no other place to go. It is important to know how to communicate even though there may be language barriers.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
from
07:00
- 22:00
What's Included
- pick up from the airport at the arrival
- accommodation in a single or double room if travelling alone or in a bigger room if travelling in group (shared bathroom).
- use of the communal kitchen at our nearby hostel
- advice to organize visits to other islands, especially Santo Antao, with hotel and ferry/flights reservations
- one tour of the island of Sao Vicente with our staff, usually with a deworming or spaying/neutering campaign
Our driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign of SIMABO with your name.
Be prepared to stay in a row for paying the "airport fee" that costs 32 euros. You can avoid this applying via Internet and paying in advance by credit card. All info to accomplish this will be provided in due time. EU citizens are not required to have/pay a visa, only non-EU citizens will have to buy one at the airport for 25 euros.
Vaccinations are not required nor recommended. There is no rabies in Cape Verde.
The rooms for the volunteers are situated in the building with the office of the association and the cats house, just one door down from our hostel, 5 minutes on foot from the beach and from the center of town. The clinic is just round the corner.
Each room has got a bathroom, outside in the corridor.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.
The nearest airport is Cesaria Evora International Airport (VXE) in Sao Vicente. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cape Verde.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cape Verde provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Cape Verde you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cape Verde.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Volunteers are accepted throughout the year depending on availability.
Usually the best months to come are from april o mid-July and form the beginning of OCtober to mid-December, because of the temperature and also because of the cost of the flights, that can be a expensive in the high season (Christmas, August).
Carnaval is a highlight of Mindelo's life, volunteers are always welcome at that time of the year.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 4 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$500
4 weeks
(max. stay)
$500
Average fees
$125
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Simabo
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Simabo during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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All program fees are charged directly by Simabo.
What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Animal saver
Takes part into rescues, in different parts of the town and of the island, is available on emergencies, is never tired, knows how to keep calm in stressful situations
$125/week
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