Animal Shelter Supporter

The animal shelter was launched in 2013. The need for more adequate animal care and education of the population in and around Arusha is huge!

Some of the dogs are puppies, another large number (over 10 dogs) only have two legs, are paralyzed or have other special needs. The shelter consists of a cat kennel, four dog kennels and two quarantine kennels where injured dogs and/or newcomers receive care. In addition to the two German founders (Sandra and Jens), an animal keeper from Austria and three Tanzanian employees take care of the animals. Their plans for the future are to keep expanding by renting an additional site in order to continue providing care for even more dogs as well the ability to perform spaying and neutering in-house.

Besides caring, educating, playing and walking the dogs the creativity of the volunteers is not limited. You can become active in the area of marketing and fundraising. Sometimes  there is an education program running in which interested participants can teach “animal welfare” in various schools in the area of the shelter. The organisation works together closely with the World Wide Veterinary Service and Mission Rabies and in irregular intervals vaccination and spaying and neutering campaigns are carried out, in which every helping hand is useful.
Volunteers do not need any prior experience, nevertheless basic English knowledge, openness and love of animals are required. In addition, you should not be afraid of dogs and dirt because for sure, you will become dirty!

IMPORTANT

The volunteers need to have a rabies vaccination.
The project requires a donation of 100USD for up to four weeks and 25USD for every additional week to support different expenses of the dog shelter like food, veterinary bills, staff etc.

Your work hours will be discussed individually. 

You will start your day early by taking the public transport and a typically Tanzanian motobike taxi to the project's site, with a stunning view of Mt. Meru. Please note that the shelter is located approximately 30km from the volunteer house on the outskirts of Arusha National Park. All together the travel will take about an hour and a half one way.  Due to the distance and transport costs (around €3 a day) it is possible to combine this project with another one. Then, after you arrive, you discuss with your supervisor the daily tasks. 

You will check on the dogs/cats, look after the sick ones, take the dogs on their morning walk and play with all animals. 
Depending on the days plan, you might escort dogs/cats to the veterinary in town, help with adoptions, do fundraising and marketing. 
On some special days, usually weekends, a few times per year, the shelter conducts spay and neuter clinics as well as vaccination campaigns. During those days all helping hands are needed and you will be asked to support the work. 

We offer a wide range of activities at affordable volunteer rates, such as:
1. Hiking/Walking tours to waterfalls, through forests and around a lake. 

2. Swimming in paradise-like hot springs with a glimpse of the Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

3. Cultural tours to Maasai markets and the possibility to visit different ethnic groups.

4. Coffee plantation tour to learn about the process from the bean to the finished product, including delicious tasting sessions!

5. Safaris to the National Parks of the Northern Circuit (Arusha NP, Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area). 

6. Climbing Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. 

7. FREE town tour for all our volunteers!