The stray dog overpopulation is a growing problem in Peru as free-roaming dogs (these are dogs with owners that are often left to their own devices) roam freely throughout the day mating with the homeless strays and increasing the number of strays on the streets of Peru.
Cusco, the location of our all our community projects in Peru, is one of the biggest hotspots of stray dogs across the whole of Peru. A tourist hotspot, authorities in Cusco typically have a pessimistic outlook that the stray dogs bring illness and can be aggressive to the tourist population that brings a lot to the city. They have traditionally adopted a more brutal approach to managing the strays dog population through culling mechanisms. Previously there had been no centralised government programme in Peru to control the stray dog overpopulation so that the management process of controlling stray dog numbers was often left up to each local administration divisions.
Naturally, many disagreed with the authorities tough approach line and protests were a regular occurrence in Cusco’s main square. November 2015 represented huge progress for animal welfare workers across Peru as the Peruvian Congress approved the Animal Protection and Welfare Law. This law classifies animals as sentient beings and punishes those found guilty of animal cruelty with three to five years in prison.
These days, dog lovers within the Cusco community take more humane approaches to save Peru’s street dogs. Examples of this include mobile clinics, educational outreach campaigns in local schools and setting up dog shelters. PMGY have teamed up with a dog shelter in Cusco that takes care of dogs that have been rescued from the streets. The shelter is home to approximately 125 dogs that receive food and care on a daily basis. There are two staff members that work at the shelter on a daily basis who will be the local support for volunteers when at the project.
Dog shelters across Peru typically receive little to no government funding or assistance. Therefore volunteer support and contributions are a big help to the project that otherwise can receive limited help. Not only will your time and physical efforts at the project go a long way, but included within the programme fees is a donation that goes directly to the project that further supports the general upkeep of the day to day costs the project incurs.
So if you have a love for dogs and a willingness to get a little bit dirty, then this project is definitely for you! We have availability from 1 week upwards on the project and you will volunteer typically across the morning periods Monday to Friday. Older clothing for the project is recommended as are shoes that you do not mind getting dirty!
For our programmes in Latin America, we recommend that you speak basic to intermediate Spanish. While the programmes only require you to speak a basic level of Spanish, we find that the ability to speak a good level of Spanish will greatly enhance your overall experience. English is generally not widely spoken so if you do not speak a reasonable level of Spanish then you will find it difficult to communicate and thus may have a frustrating experience.
PMGY offer Online Spanish Lessons that you can take before your trip. These are priced at $225 for 20-hours and this provides you with the opportunity to receive one-on-one classes from a trained Spanish teacher. Classes are held via Skype and can be worked around your schedule back in your home country. We also offer a Language & Immersion Programme which you can take part in prior to your volunteer placement. This provides you with 20 hours-per-week of group Spanish lessons. Both of these options can be added during our online application process and are highly recommended if you want to make the most of your volunteer placement.
Once you are in-country then you are also able to organise additional Spanish lessons directly with our local team. Volunteer feedback suggests that it can often be tiring to complete Spanish lessons at the same time as your volunteer placement so we generally recommend the Language & Immersion Programme option.
Our dog shelter project allows volunteers to experience their love of animals during their time in Peru. Working at the centre of the project, your daily tasks will make a positive contribution to the care and wellbeing these rescued dogs receive. Here is a selection of some of the main things you can expect to get involved in during the week:
– Assisting the local staff with the care of the animals
– Feeding the dogs
– Playing and enrichment activities with select dogs
– Cleaning the shelter
– Helping with general maintenance
– Local support campaigns within Cusco
– Assisting with marketing and communications for the dog shelter association to help fundraising opportunities
– Showing off your creative side to dynamically raise awareness about animal issues in Cusco.
– For those involved in veterinary work or have relevant experience,
depending on availability it may be possible to assist in the
rehabilitation of dogs with severe trauma
ACCOMMODATION (HOMESTAY)
MEALS (BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER)
AIRPORT PICK UP (24 HOURS)
IN-COUNTRY ORIENTATION
24 HOUR IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SUPPORT
DEDICATED PMGY TRAVEL MENTOR
EMAIL & TELEPHONE SUPPORT
VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK
LIVE PRE-DEPARTURE WEBINARS
100% FINANCIAL PROTECTION
REGULAR PROGRAMME INSPECTION
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
During your time in Peru you will live in our homestay(s). The accommodation is basic but comfortable. You’ll be living with local families whom will guide you in Cusco and help to improve your knowledge of the Spanish Language! The homestay families usually have very limited English.
The homestays are located just outside of central Cusco all within 30 minutes bus of your chosen project and usually walking distance from the local teams offices. Each room has single beds, up to 3 people per room (same-sex rooms only). Volunteers are provided with bed linen and cupboard space to store clothes and accessories. All volunteers will have their own keys for the front of the building, apartment and their bedroom.
Bathrooms are shared. Each bathroom has a shower and western style toilet. The water is usually warm (although can be victim to power cuts) to ensure you keep warm in the chilly nights of Cusco! The house has Wi-Fi and a communal area for volunteers to hang out with their host families. There is also a kitchen with a refrigerator to store any items you need to keep chilled; just ask the host family for some fridge space out of respect in advance, The host families will prepare all meals across your time on the project with us (including a packed lunch if you wish).
The families of the homestay normally have a separate area within the house for their family, but they love to interact with volunteers and hear about your days. This ensures you have round the clock support and security along with the chance to improve your Spanish language skills.
Your host family location is usually linked to your project location for ease of logistics to get to and from the project. Should you have requirements to be in the same accommodation as another PMGY application then be sure to highlight this on the special requirements of your online application.
Volunteers will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day during their time with PMGY. Breakfast and dinner are served at the homestay, whereas for lunch we provide you with a packed lunch (upon request). With notice, the local team can even precook a meal for you and you can venture to the local team school headquarters and warm the meal up if you wish for your lunch.
Boiled and filtered water is also available at the homestay(s) for volunteers.
Most meals are traditional Peruvian dishes that can be carb heavy traditionally. Peruvian cuisine consists of a lot of rice or quinoa and the meat is mainly chicken. Most meals will incorporate lots of carbs and vegetables compared to the UK so please be open-minded around this! Due to the altitude, you will notice that your breakfast and dinner meals are quite small and lunch is very big. Going to sleep with a full stomach is hard on the body and at such an altitude it is difficult to digest large quantities of food. It may take you a few days for your body to accustom to this as well.
The main meats are chicken, fish and alpaca. There are a number of western restaurants around a 10-minute drive from the accommodation should you fancy picking up some home comforts. There are also some Vegan and Indian restaurants in Cusco. Our local team will tell you all about the options available to you during your in-country orientation.
Every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month
Dog Shelter Caretaker
Peru is home to a large number of stray dogs. The sad reality is that many of these dogs are homeless and thus subject to illness, hunger and even abuse.
$341/week
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