Our partners range in size and scope, so amenities will vary and not all opportunities will be available year-round. Some of our partners have their own volunteer applications and requirements so your placement is not guaranteed, but we will do our best to match you with the group that's the best fit. Some of our partners require LVTs with previous volunteer experience to work in their clinics directly, but there are still activities you could do as a volunteer to care for animals even if you aren’t in the clinic.
Each location is rated to indicate the level of self-sufficiency needed to travel there. Some places will provide transportation and lodging, while others require you to make all your own arrangements. Please keep this in mind when considering which group you want to visit.
USA
Mission: To protect and save the lives of Maui's animals; accepting all in need, educating the community, and inspiring respect and compassion towards all animals.
Location: Maui, HI
What to expect: High-volume s/n in shelter clinic and MASH settings.
Dates: Year-round
Self-sufficiency: High
Prefers LVTs with experience in high-volume spay/neuter in a shelter setting.
Mission: Non-profit veterinary outreach program combining community service and veterinary mentorship to bring free veterinary services to underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make regular veterinary care inaccessible.
Locations: Vary depending in scheduled clinics. Include Washington State, Arizona, North Dakota and South Dakota.
What to expect: Work with staff and student volunteers in providing quality care to animal patients and their families. Depending on interests and experience, duties may include assisting with anesthesia and recovery, humane education, receiving and examinations, triage or critical care. There are opportunities for technicians and assistants of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Self-sufficiency: Medium
Latin America
Location: Quepos, Costa Rica
Mission: To protect the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast by rehabilitating wildlife, conducting original scientific research, training volunteers, and promoting conservation.
What to expect: LVTs can work with our vet, vet tech, biologists, and other staff members and volunteers to care for animals. Duties vary depending on experience, and may include assisting in the clinic, preparing food for animals, feeding animals twice a day, recording animal behavior and health and cleaning cages.
Dates: Year round, minimum commitment of two weeks.
Self-sufficiency: Medium
Mission: To strive for the conservation, preservation, protection and research of wildlife. To rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce into their natural habitat wild animals seized from illegal traffickers. To promote and assist in the creation and management of protected habitat areas for wild animals.
Location: Peten, Guatemala
What to expect: General volunteering includes care of native animals including feeding, cleaning, and enclosure maintenance. Depending on experience there are opportunities for closer animal contact. There is also a special longer veterinary program for qualified techs, including lectures and hands-on clinical care.
Dates: Year-round, minimum commitment two weeks.
Self-sufficiency: Low
Mission: Sea turtle, caiman, and crocodile conservation, and building sustainable systems working with local residents toward marine animal welfare.
Location: Parque Hawaii
What to expect: Various activities related to marine animal conservation, including sea turtle hatchery and release of turtles, monitoring populations and their environments, and working in education with locals.
Dates: Year-round, minimum commitment two weeks
Self-sufficiency: Low
Bahamas
Mission: To carry out spay/neuter and education projects to reduce the homeless animal population and end the suffering of dogs and cats in The Bahamas.
Location: Nassau
What to expect: High-volume MASH spay/neuter and work in shelter.
Dates: Shelter is open year-round, spay/neuter clinics only certain times of year.
This position is recommended only for volunteers with high self-sufficiency who are comfortable traveling alone.
Mission: Rescue, rehabilitate and release Injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife.
Location: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
What to expect: Focus is on helping with injured and orphaned monkeys and some other wildlife. Food preparation, enclosure cleaning, laundry, animal enrichment activities, feeding and special care for injured and infant monkeys.
Dates: Year-round, minimum commitment of one month.
Self-sufficiency: Medium