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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Life On Land

Rescue & Rehome Township Street Dogs

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Work at a pro-life animal centre that rescues, treats, sterilises and rehomes stray dogs and cats from Cape Town's poorest suburbs.
  • Split your time between two sides of the same operation: a full animal hospital treating sickness and injury, and an adoption centre finding new homes.
  • Do the hands-on work - feeding, walking, cleaning kennels, and the patient socialising that turns a frightened stray into an adoptable dog.

Highlights

  • Work at a pro-life animal centre that rescues, treats, sterilises and rehomes stray dogs and cats from Cape Town's poorest suburbs.
  • Split your time between two sides of the same operation: a full animal hospital treating sickness and injury, and an adoption centre finding new homes.
  • Do the hands-on work - feeding, walking, cleaning kennels, and the patient socialising that turns a frightened stray into an adoptable dog.
  • Observe and assist the veterinary staff, and help with fundraising drives and adoption days, which are what keep the place running.
  • Understand the scale first. The centre employs only a handful of permanent staff and depends heavily on volunteers for daily care.
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Work at a pro-life shelter with an animal hospital and adoption centre, rescuing and rehoming stray dogs and cats from Cape Town townships.

    In the suburban communities on the edge of Cape Town, where most residents live well below the poverty line, there is a large and growing stray animal problem — mostly dogs, some cats. It is not cruelty in the main; it is economics. Families who cannot reliably feed themselves cannot feed a dog, ...

    About the program

    In the suburban communities on the edge of Cape Town, where most residents live well below the poverty line, there is a large and growing stray animal problem — mostly dogs, some cats. It is not cruelty in the main; it is economics. Families who cannot reliably feed themselves cannot feed a dog, and animals get left to fend for themselves. The results are starvation, untreated disease and litters of puppies nobody can take.

    The centre this placement works with was set up in response. It is pro-life — it does not euthanise healthy animals — and it rescues, treats, sterilises and rehomes.

    Two operations under one roof

    The centre has two sides. One is a full animal hospital, treating sickness and injury and carrying out operations. The other is an adoption centre, where recovered animals wait for new homes.

    The sterilisation work matters more than it sounds. Treating a sick dog helps one dog; sterilising it addresses the reason there will be six more next year.

    What you will actually be doing

    This is a hands-on placement and the daily work is unglamorous:

    • Feeding the animals and spending time with them
    • Cleaning kennels and animal houses — a real and constant part of the job
    • Walking the dogs, which for many of them is the best part of their day
    • Observing and assisting the staff in the animal hospital
    • Helping with fundraising initiatives and adoption days
    • Administration and reception when it is needed

    The socialising is the part that changes outcomes. A stray that flinches from people will not be adopted; a dog that has learned humans are safe will. Sitting quietly with a nervous animal is not filling time, it is the work.

    Be realistic about the funding position

    The centre employs only a handful of permanent staff and depends heavily on volunteers for daily care and hands-on attention. That means your contribution genuinely counts, and it also means the place will not be as polished as a well-funded shelter in a wealthy country. Expect to be useful rather than supervised.

    Who this suits

    Animal lovers who can be around animals in poor condition without being overwhelmed. Some of what arrives here is distressing. Volunteers who can hold that alongside the fact that the centre is doing something about it have a good placement; those who cannot should choose differently.

    You need to be 18 or over, physically able to work outdoors, and comfortable getting dirty. Check your tetanus vaccination is current and talk to a travel clinic about rabies pre-exposure vaccination before you travel.

    Typical day

    Arrival — You are met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; if you are coming overland or are already in South Africa, you make your own way there.

    First Monday — Orientation ...

    Typical day

    Arrival — You are met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; if you are coming overland or are already in South Africa, you make your own way there.

    First Monday — Orientation with the local volunteer coordinator: living in Cape Town, culture and customs, safety, and a briefing on the centre and how to handle the animals.

    Monday to Friday — the working pattern:

    • Morning — Breakfast at the volunteer house, then travel out to the centre
    • At the centre — Feeding, cleaning, walking, socialising, and whatever the staff need that day. The rhythm is driven by what has come in overnight
    • Evening — Back at the house. Volunteers cook together, watch films in the lounge, or have a braai

    Getting to the centre — By minibus taxi, which is cheap, efficient and a proper Cape Town experience. Daily project transport is not included in the fee, so budget for it. The team shows you the routes at orientation.

    Days here vary more than on most placements. An intake of puppies or an emergency at the hospital reorganises everyone's plans, and volunteers who roll with that get more out of it.

    Weekends — Free. Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Robben Island, the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach penguins and the winelands are all within reach.

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive out to Cape Point, the ...

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive out to Cape Point, the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and the winelands at Stellenbosch and Franschhoek all fit into a weekend. With longer, the Garden Route east towards Knysna is one of the world's better road trips, and volunteers usually go together and split a car.

    Evenings at the volunteer house mean film nights in the lounge or a braai, which you should let a South African run rather than attempting yourself in week one.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    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.

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Passport copy, travel and medical insurance and proof of tetanus vaccination

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    No veterinary or animal-care qualification is required, though veterinary or nursing study, kennel work, rescue experience, dog training or grooming will all be used. What matters more is being calm around frightened animals, physically able to work outdoors, and steady enough to cope with animals that arrive in poor condition. Check your tetanus jab is current and talk to a travel clinic about rabies pre-exposure vaccination.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 16:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Included in the programme fee:

    • Accommodation in the volunteer house in Observatory, or with a host family
    • Meals, according to your accommodation type — confirm the detail with the team before travelling
    • Airport pickup from Cape Town International for volunteers arriving by air
    • Orientation on the first Monday with the local volunteer coordinator
    • Your placement at the animal centre and a briefing on handling the animals safely
    • 24-hour assistance and support from the in-country team
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information and a certificate of participation on request

    Not included — and two of these are easy to miss:

    • Daily transport to the centre. You travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Cheap per trip, but it adds up over several weeks
    • The return airport drop, which can be arranged at extra cost
    • International flights and visa fees
    • Vaccinations, including the rabies pre-exposure course we strongly recommend for this placement
    • Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory. Buy it through us at extra cost, or bring your own and send a copy
    • Weekend travel and personal spending

    The price shown already includes your application fee – there is nothing further to pay us on arrival. Payment can be split into interest-free instalments, with the balance due 45 days before you start.

    Airport Pickup at Cape Town International Airport

    Arrival pickup from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is included. A representative meets you and takes you by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.

    Two important limits on that:

    • The pickup is for volunteers arriving by air at Cape Town International only. If you are arriving overland, coming from elsewhere in South Africa, or are already in the country, no pickup is provided and you make your own way to the accommodation.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged for you at extra cost, payable locally.

    Send your flight details in advance so somebody is there when you land.

    Accommodation

    You stay either in the volunteer house or with a host family in a local community. Most volunteers are in the house.

    The volunteer house is a dormitory-style hostel in Observatory, a suburb about twenty minutes from central Cape Town. Rooms typically hold four to eight people. Observatory is well placed for shops, restaurants, public transport and some of the best beaches anywhere, and it is a safe area.

    The house is used exclusively by programme participants and is not open to the public. Evenings are communal — film nights in the lounge, or a braai, which is the South African barbecue and rather more of an institution than the word suggests.

    Given what you will be doing all day, keep your work clothes and shoes separate from everything else.

    Host family placements in local communities are the alternative if you would rather be immersed than sociable. Say which you prefer when you apply.

    Food & Beverages

    Meals are provided, and what is included depends on which accommodation you are in — the volunteer house and host family arrangements differ. The team confirms exactly what your placement covers before you travel, and it is worth asking directly rather than assuming.

    In the volunteer house, communal cooking is a large part of the social life. Observatory has supermarkets, markets and plenty of cheap places to eat within walking distance.

    With a host family you eat South African home cooking, which is worth experiencing properly.

    Flag allergies and dietary requirements before you arrive. Cape Town is an easy city to be vegetarian or vegan in.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Start dates — Regular start dates year-round, with orientation on the first Monday of your programme.

    Getting there — Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

    Transfers — read carefully

    • The arrival pickup from Cape Town International is included, by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.
    • Volunteers arriving overland, or already in South Africa, get no pickup and must make their own way.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged at extra cost.

    Daily project transport is not included — you travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Inexpensive per trip, but a real cost over several weeks.

    Health — take this seriously

    You will be handling rescued street animals. Make sure your tetanus vaccination is current, and speak to a travel clinic about rabies pre-exposure vaccination well ahead — the course takes several weeks. Cape Town itself is malaria-free.

    Bring closed shoes you do not mind ruining and clothes you are happy to have chewed, muddied or worse.

    Visa — Many nationalities enter South Africa visa-free as visitors for up to 90 days. Check your own country's position. Visa fees are not included.

    When to come — Summer runs roughly November to March: warm, dry, busy. Winter, June to August, is cooler and wetter but much quieter and cheaper. The centre runs year-round.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $313 per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    2 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Cape Town

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Animals  >  Street Animals in South Africa
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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