Are you keen to support us with energy and empathy?

Duration of operation
Volunteering is possible for a minimum of 3 weeks, as it takes a few days to settle in at the animal shelter. A longer stay would be very welcome. We will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport and, of course, taken back again.

Requirements for a traineeship with us
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. You should be available for 4-5 hours a day, 6 days a week. Experience handling dogs is required, as we also care for some very sensitive and anxious dogs. And of course, you should not be afraid of dogs and shouldn't be discouraged if some of our charges don't immediately trust you in the first few days.
Independent work and adherence to work instructions/guidelines are prerequisites.
Many people would describe working in an animal shelter as rather unpleasant, for example, cleaning the areas, doghouses, food and water containers. However, this is one of our most important daily tasks, and therefore also one of yours if you decide to come and join us.
The ability to work in a team is a basic requirement, as is flexibility and adaptability to our summer or winter working hours, as these differ considerably due to the weather and location of our animal shelter.

Working at the animal shelter
Cleaning the areas, doghouses, blankets, food bowls, and water containers.
Helping with feeding the dogs.
Grooming the dogs by brushing and combing, cleaning their ears.
Contribute to the socialization of the dogs through petting, play activities, spending time with the animals in their enclosure, and showing general affection towards the animals.
Walks with dogs.
Take the dogs to the off-leash area and spend time there with them.
Assisting with the organization of the public volunteer days. Dividing up, dressing, and receiving dogs for walks.
Willingness to help in emergencies (e.g., trips to the vet or catching an injured animal, etc.)
Light maintenance work, e.g., installing privacy screens or sunshades, light tidying up, etc.
An important task for volunteers at our animal shelter is to socialize dogs and take them for walks to prepare them for life as family pets. It is essential for our dogs to learn to trust people in order to find homes in the near future. Especially since we also house some shy or fearful dogs, it is crucial to teach these dogs to trust people. This is usually a time-consuming and patience-intensive task.

 

Of course, you'll have free time. How you choose to spend it is entirely up to you, as is your transportation. If we have some time, we're happy to drive you somewhere once or twice, but you're primarily responsible for your own transportation during your free time. Duo is located in the countryside, and there aren't many bus connections. If, after reading this, you're interested in working at an animal shelter, we'd love to meet you!