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Animal Rescue Algarve
We are a NGO formed to help abandoned and mistreated animals in the Algarve, South of Portugal.
Our kennels are beautiful little wooden houses, fully insulated, where we pair 2 dogs maximum in each kennel so they have a peaceful place to chill and sleep. All our dogs go for walks and have fun time at our parks every day.
We have a very motivated team that genuinely love animals. This place has proven to be a healing place not only for animals but to a few good human souls too :) Our goal is to give a second chance to those abandoned dogs and cats by finding them new loving families and homes, locally and abroad :-) We also aim to educate and inform the local population about the benefits of sterilising their animals and the raise awareness about animal welfare.
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Top Host
- This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.
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About the experience in: Loulé, Portugal
United Kingdom
Well this was my first solo/ volunteer experience and it certainly won’t be my last here. I had the most amazing 2 weeks having met so many amazing people and getting to work around such sweet dogs and cats. ARA is run so well everything is just amazing, the staff are wonderful and make you feel very welcome, you have plenty of freedom between shifts to do what you please such as socialising with the dogs/ cats or exploring what’s around. Honestly I could not recommend this place more thank you so much for such a wonderful experience and I hope you would have me back at a later date ❤️
about 5 hours ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Jessica is a great volunteer! She is always proactive, reliable, and eager to help wherever she’s needed. Her positive attitude and friendly nature brighten every day—she’s consistently in a good mood and brings great energy to the team. Most importantly, Jessica has a wonderful way with our animals. She’s gentle, patient, and attentive, and it’s clear how much they respond to her care. We feel so lucky to have her as part of our volunteer community and hope she will be back.
About the experience in: Loulé, Portugal
Germany
ARA is a special place, that I was able to visit for the third time now. You really get the feeling that your work matters and helps the animals. The team of the staff does great work. A plus is of course, that you get to meet so many new friends - and if it‘s not your first time - meet so many old friends again!
1 day ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Anna has been an incredible volunteer at our shelter. From the moment she joined, she showed great initiative and was very proactive in helping with every task. She carried out all her responsibilities with care and excellence,and her friendly attitude made her a joy to work with. Her love for animals was clear every day,she went above and beyond, often spending extra time with the cats to make sure they felt cared for and comfortable. Anna is extremely responsible, dependable, and compassionate
About the experience in: Loulé, Portugal
Germany
Lovely as always, i highly recommend!
2 days ago
About the experience in: Loulé, Portugal
Germany
I had the opportunity to spend some time at ARA and I am incredibly grateful for this experience. The shelter is run with so much passion and dedication, and you can immediately feel how important the animals’ wellbeing is here.
The staff and volunteers are very friendly, supportive, and always do their best for every single animal. For me personally, it was a truly enriching time – I not only learned a lot about working with animals (to my surprise, there are even dog training sessions with a professional trainer, Hugo, twice a week), but I also met wonderful people! Thx for everything
6 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Tara volunteered at our dogs and cats shelter for two weeks, with much of her time dedicated to caring for the kittens. She was attentive to their needs, patient in handling them, and quick to notice any changes in their behavior or health. Alongside her work with the kittens, she supported the team in other daily tasks, showing reliability and a positive attitude. Her efforts made a clear difference in the well-being of the youngest animals in our care. We hope to welcome her back!
About the experience in: Loulé, Portugal
Netherlands
Amazing
7 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
We are so grateful to have Hidde back volunteering with us for the second time! From the moment he arrived, his positive attitude and warm personality made such a difference. He is always in a good mood, brings great energy to the team, and works exceptionally well. Hidde is reliable, hardworking, and a real pleasure to be around. His kindness and dedication shine through in everything he does, and we feel very lucky to have his support at the shelter.