VOLUNTEER – Happy Dogs Koh Chang- animal welfare and shelter care Thailand

Be a part of our rescue team!

Do you love dogs and would like to help us care for them? Come volunteer with us for a few weeks or during your holidays!

Volunteer with a bunch of up to 30 dogs in either our Safe house or in the sanctuary here on the beautiful island of Koh Chang, Thailand. Volunteers will have a great opportunity to gain experience in caring for dogs, learning more about dogs living in big packs, their behaviour, treatments of various illnesses, walk the dogs on the beach, socialize them, yet by just simply caring for them and loving them.

We want you if you are either a vet student, nurse, pet sitter and simply anyone who has experience with the care of dogs and is a genuine dog person. As your host we will take good care of you in terms of free accommodation with complimentary water, coffee, tea and fruits. You may want to take advantage of free shared scooters, a scooter with side car and a mountain bike to explore our beautiful island Koh Chang during your time off.

Caring for our dogs at both our 2 shelters; The Sanctuary and The Safe House is just 50% of what we are doing in terms of rescue and care. The other 50% is stray street work (we currently care for 200+ strays daily), community work such as free rabies vaccinations, spay/neuter but also helping locals with their pets in any possible way.

We are just 2 rescuers and it is full-time job for both of us, therefore we need help from animal lovers such as yourself. Volunteering with Happy Dogs Koh Chang most certainly gives you the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of countless animals.

Daily tasks include but are not limited to:

walking dogs
feeding dogs twice a day
taking care of the sick
nursing puppies
Bathing and de-ticking, some grooming
cleaning cages, runs and other areas
some gardening
keeping the entire space neat and clean
socializing and playing with the dogs

Due to the nature of the rescue work no two experiences are ever the same. We try to manage expectations by giving you as much information as possible up front. We find that the vast majority of our volunteers have an amazing and life-changing experience.

The minimum commitment is 4 weeks, maximum stay is 3 months depending on the VISA you are on and which may be extended depending on availability and sustainability. Volunteers work in the shelters from 8am to 6pm each day, usually in 2 split shifts, each shift lasts for 5 to 6 hours and is usually shared by 2 to 4 people in one. Depending on the number of volunteers you’ll have 1 or 2 days off per week.

Age requirement: From 25 year of age only please

You will need to be in good physical condition since working in a hot and humid environment is not for everyone. You should have experience with dog care, at least should have lived with pets and understand how dogs tick.

We expect common sense, willingness to work alone but also in a team, you should be enthusiastic and committed. Extra hours may be requested if we are short of people. Please understand that the work with animals at a rescue can be emotionally draining at times, please be prepared for this.

Volunteering can be a challenging process that involves many unpredictable factors. You may find it emotional and it is for granted that your experience will leave a lasting impression on you. Due to the nature of our work, and after a brief training you’ll be asked to be initiative, not just wait for things to happen.

You won’t be given directions but need to be flexible and try to adapt to the local environment and give a hand where it is needed.

Volunteering with us is most certainly not a holiday, but you will have plenty of free time to relax and to explore the beauties of our awesome island and the national park we are living in. The contribution you are making through the time and money you are committing is making a huge difference to so many lives.

What you will need:

Passport valid for the duration of your stay
Visa (on arrival) or obtained prior to your travel if you plan to stay longer than 30 days
Insurance (covering your placement time and any planned independent travel).
Transport to Koh Chang
Any additional costs such as trips, snacks, entertainment (allow a few hundred Baht per day depending on lifestyle).

Make sure the usual vaccinations are Up-To-Date, Rabies shot is not necessary; Koh Chang is rabies free since 2004. But we recommend to update your tetanus jab.

What to Bring:

Hat, Sunscreen, Sandals/Flip Flops, Shoes for walking, Towels, Camera, Bug Repellent, Flashlight, Earplugs, Refillable Water Bottle. Rain cloth and boots for rainy season: June – October.