Help at our dog shelter and experience life in rural Sicily!

Norway

5

My time at the organization dogfarm was absolutely amazing. I felt so welcome by Nelly and Franco (the owners) and also by the other volunteers! You work with beautiful surroundings and adorable and amazing dogs! The work can be hard (steep stairs), but it's all worth it and you feel that you make an important and necessary impact to the place! During my stay we worked from 8-13, it was so nice because you still had a whole day left after work. If you had to go somewhere nearby Franco was always welcome to give you a lift. Franco and Nelly also cook delicious Sicilian specialties💛💛

over 1 year ago

Germany

5

My stay at the shelter was truly one of the best experiences I've ever had. I met a lot of lovely people and Nelly and Franco are great hosts. They really made me feel welcomed and respected. All the dogs are so kind and gentle and it was so lovely to work with each of them. You will have a lot of responsibility and keep in mind that some of the dogs may not had the best life before, so it can get difficult at times. But once you know all of them it is great working with them and it definitely will be hard leaving them.

over 1 year ago

Germany

5

My experience at Rifugio the organization was truly amazing. Nelly is a wonderful host that puts all her love and patience into the care of all the dogs. Working and spending time with the animals is always fun and you will be able to learn a lot about them. All the volunteers I met during my stay were lovely and made my weeks there very special. I hope I will be able to come back!

over 1 year ago

Canada

5

I absolutely loved my time at the shelter and would recommend this experience to anyone who loves animals and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. The shelter is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and is just a short drive away from town (Franco will take you wherever you need to go ;) The work at times will get your blood pumping but the tasks overall are simple. 3 weeks snuck up on me and I wish I could stay longer to spend more time with the dogs and the other volunteers. Nelly and the dogs need as much love & care as they can get so if you're unsure whether to apply… just do it!

over 1 year ago

Germany

5

Thank you for everything !!! ❤️❤️

over 1 year ago

Germany

4

My experience at the dog shelter was very positive. Working with the dogs was enjoyable and felt meaningful. The accommodation was cozy, and it was fun cooking and living with other international volunteers. However, only two bicycles were available in the last week, limiting mobility. Ideal for volunteers seeking relaxation, but less suited for those wanting more activities.

9 months ago

Canada

3

My experience was good as a whole but I had to shorten my stay, as I didn't feel at my place anymore. The accommodation is very basic, a bed and a curtain for privacy. We had a mice problem in the house, which was handled but made the living uncomfortable. The work itself if very physical (climbing stairs, carrying buckets and tools, walking the dogs, etc). As for the hosts, Nelly and Franco are very nice people that give back to the community with their work. All in all, it felt good to give back by caring for the dogs. Any person with a love for animals will hopefully find themselves well :)

10 months ago

United States

4

I really enjoyed this volunteering opportunity! The cons I experienced were really just due to a lack of communication, but the hosts rarely use English so i understand that. For instance, the living conditions are rugged, and I would've appreciated more emphasis on that so I could've prepared better, but I adapted quickly to it. They also take their work very seriously and have quite high standards, so they watch over you for the first few days and may send you home. I would've liked to have known this, but I really enjoyed my time, definitely do not regret it, and was sad to leave. Grazie!

10 months ago

United States

2

I really loved all of the dogs at the shelter and the volunteers I met were amazing. But I experienced many negatives. the accommodation had no windows, gets very hot, and many animals were living inside such as birds, mice, and bugs. The two hosts would talk negatively about other volunteers behind their backs. During my time, 3 volunteers were bitten by the hosts dog. Working at the shelter requires a lot of responsibility and can be very mentally draining. Me along with 4 volunteers did not get a goodbye or a thank you upon our departure. Grateful for the experience, but wouldnt return.

10 months ago

Dalma replied

Lea probably mistook our dogshelter for a party hostel or Airbnb when applying as she didn't seem interested in our dogs at all. Like she says, working at a shelter requires a lot of responsibility, which we thought should go without saying. Unfortunately for both of us, it quickly became obvious that she is not a very responsible or dedicated young person. She went out drinking a lot and staying out till the morning slept through work or did her tasks very poorly the next day.
She also wasn't good at working in a team, having a confrontational attitude and on one occasion endangering another volunteer who just arrived. We always tell volunteers staying with us what to pay attention to for the safety of everyone, but this is not always enough and accidents can happen, unfortunately. You also have to actually pay attention and do your part as well, which was not the case with Lea. We trust that people coming to us are mature enough to understand this though, as they almost always are.
If this wasn't enough, she spoke badly about us to whoever would listen and was strangely nosy, asking inappropriate questions about our private life for no apparent reason.
As for not getting a goodbye, that's a bit difficult if you leave weeks before you were originally supposed to without telling us, but we'll be sure to work on our telepathic and clairvoyant skills.

Argentina

2

I truly wished I had a different experience. The dogs are amazingly taken care of and you will be able to connect with them as much as you like. But, I do not recommend this experience. They put in charge 2 girls that were almost as new as me. They were doing their best but cried out of stress some nights trying to figure out how to get everything done in the hours that we were supposed to work. The work is hard but you dont mind it, its for the doggies. I never worked 5 hours, there was always something extra to be done and you were never asked to do it, they assumed you wanted to work extra.

about 1 year ago

Dalma replied

As our unfortunate exchange shows, if you're looking for a free holiday or a place to cuddle puppies, our shelter is not the place for you. This is quite clear from our profile, which we usually assume people who apply to help us read before applying. This, sadly was not the case for Nicole. From the beginning it was clear she was mostly looking for a free bed and did not care much about dogs, or contributing to the work we do. She even seemed surprised that the work involved in taking care of them was physical and required attention to detail.
As written in our description (and probably could even be guessed), life at a shelter can be hectic and beside the 5 hours we sometimes ask volunteers to help with ad hoc tasks like giving medicine or going to the vet. Again, since we're lucky enough to almost always host people who read our profile, this has never been a problem before.
We truly wished we had a different experience too, but spending most of your time attached to your phone, clearly not interested in doing much or building any meaningful connections with the dogs just doesn't work at a place like ours where everyone tries to give their best.

Apply Now