Apply Now

Help with a dog rescue in Bansko, Bulgaria

5.0
(47 reviews)47

The experience

We invite anyone with a genuine love of dogs, and the ability to show up and put in the effort, day after day!
You will help with the day to day basic tasks of cleaning the shelter, grooming/playing with/walking the dogs. If you have other skills and want to help us in other ways (eg with dog training, fundraising, adoptions etc) we are open to all offers.
Yes it's a lot to do at the shelter, but we also want it to be fun (for you and the dogs!)

What you offer

28 hours of help per week

Pet Sitting: Taking care of and looking after pets.

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

What you get

1 day off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Discounts on Restaurants: Get discounts at nearby restaurants.

Discounts on Pubs: Get discounts at nearby pubs.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English

Over 18 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We are flexible with the sessions of help - the day is split into four hour sessions and we schedule two volunteers for each. We are happy to have more people along of course, and some of our volunteers are long term stayers in Bansko who sign up to weekly sessions.
We are happy for you to do more or less single or double shifts as you choose, so if you want to work just a few hours a day or prefer to do a few longer days in a week and then have consecutive days off to go on a trip etc we will work it out. There is so much to do in and around Bansko you'll never be short of ideas!

4 weeks is the minimum stay, but preference is given to people joining us longer term - you and the dogs will get more from a longer stay, confidence and the bond strengthens between you.

Activities & Shift

You will help with
-Cleaning the pens & yard. Ensuring the cleaning equipment is kept clean
-Feeding and giving water
-Grooming the dogs
-Walking/playing with them. The dogs enjoy human contact so it’s good to spend quality time with them. We get them used to walking on a leash, ready for adoption.
-General maintenance of the yard and kennels.

You may be fostering a dog in the volunteer accomodation during your stay.

Rules

Be mindful that everyone is volunteering, even the locals, and that no one is above any tasks ... we are all expected to muck in with whatever is needed to keep these dogs happy, healthy and loved!
Communicate with us - if you're not happy about something speak up! Give us the chance to fix things if needs be, but don't be unhappy and then wish you had said something when you leave, that's no good for you or us. Likewise if you have any ideas of how things could be better we are all ears. We're all just doing the best we can, and fresh eyes offer a fresh perspective so tell us what you see