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What you offer
5h
- Hours per day
- Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.
- Pet Sitting
- Taking care of and looking after pets.
- Cleaning
- Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
- Housekeeping
- Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.
- Animal Care
- Help look after and take care of animals.
- Additional Fee
- This host charges a fee in addition to the cost of the Worldpackers annual plan.
Additional fee required
This host charges an additional fee to the cost of the Worldpackers annual plan for the sustainability of the project and the quality of the experience for volunteers. Learn more.
Amount
- € 3
Per day
Fee pays for
- Donation to project
Description
As a non-profit organization, our shelter operates with limited resources and relies heavily on donations and volunteer support. To ensure we can continue to host and accommodate volunteers safely and comfortably, we ask for a small fee. We ask that this donation is made via PayPay 1 day before the arrival .This contribution helps cover the basic maintenance costs of housing, such as utilities, cleaning supplies, and repairs.
What you get
2
- Days off per week
- Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.
- 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.
- Team Dorm
- You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.
- Fast Internet Access
- High-speed internet for you to work remotely
- Use our equipped kitchen
- Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
- Free Laundry
- You can use our laundry room freely.
- Get free drinks or beverages.
- Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.
- Certificate
- Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.
- Support
- Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.
- Verified Host
- This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.
- WP Safeguard
- Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.
- Learn more
Availability
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
- Stay at least
- 2 weeks
- Stay up to
- 4 weeks
The Experience
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 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.
Learn moreRequirements
- Intermediate English or Intermediate Portuguese
- Between 18 and 60 years old
- Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
- Travel insurance
What's not included
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Talk to those who have lived the experience
In our community, you can talk to worldpackers who have already collaborated with this host and get your questions answered directly.
You can ask things like:
- a) How was your experience with this host?
- b) How was your day-to-day routine?
- c) How much did you spend on this trip?
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Become a Verified Member and exchange ideas before your trip with other worldpackers who will be volunteering in the same place as you.
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UN Sustainable Development Goals
Join the host in pursuit of these goals and contribute to building a better and more sustainable future for all.
213 Reviews
Host & Team
Hours & Tasks
Animal Shelter
Learning & Fun
How this experience will transform you
- 187 Meeting international travelers
- 150 Get in touch with nature
- 147 Creating true social impact
- 135 Practicing English
- 113 Developing social awareness
- 77 Meeting locals
This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals
- 92 15. Life on land
- 67 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
- 58 3. Good health and well-being
- 32 5. Gender equality
- 30 10. Reduced inequalities
- 28 12. Responsible consumption and production
- 24 17. Partnerships for the goals
- 20 13. Climate action
- 18 11. Sustainable cities and communities
- 14 1. No poverty
- 13 7. Affordable and clean energy
- 2 14. Life below water
Franziska
Germany
It was such an amazing experience ! Will definitely come back. All humans, dogs and cats were so special and wonderful and have a place in my heart. Thank you for this amazing experience!
2 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Franziska volunteered at our shelter and was an absolute joy to have on the team. From the moment she arrived, she showed great enthusiasm and initiative. Her proactive attitude meant that she was always one step ahead—whether it was cleaning kennels, walking dogs, assisting with feeding times, or helping with administrative tasks.She was incredibly friendly, not just with the staff but also with the dogs, who clearly responded well to her calm and caring nature.
Fenja
Germany
My second time at ARA and it could not have been more special! Just from my point of view in 2019, ARA was already one of the best organized and the shelter welfare-orientated shelters I ever worked with. And especially now in 2025, if there is something like a dogshelter-heaven, ARA is on of the top. For solo-travelers: if you look for funny, the shelter-loving people: look no further, you found it here. For couples: one of the best experiences. Private room, dog-walking-/cleaning-shifts together in sunsets or separated for a little pause. Many friends to find but also private space. Just perfect.
5 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Fenja has been an absolute joy to have as a volunteer at our animal shelter. From the very beginning, she brought a bright and positive energy with her, always greeting both people and animals with a warm smile. Her dedication and compassion were evident in everything she did. We are also thrilled to share that Fenja is adopting one of our dogs, which speaks volumes about her love and commitment to animal welfare. It’s comforting to know that one of our beloved dogs will be adopted by her :)
Heather
United Kingdom
As always, a very special time at ARA. I can't reccomend this place enough to anyone who is new to voulenteering or an the shelter lover. It's an amazing organisation.
10 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Heather has been an outstanding member of our volunteer team, and we are so grateful for her continued dedication and compassion. She has a calm, kind presence that the dogs respond to immediately, making her a valuable part of their daily care and socialization. One of the things that stands out most about Heather is her commitment to going on extra mile.She regularly takes the dogs on additional walks, ensuring they get plenty of exercise and fresh air
Julia
Germany
This place is so special & makes nearly everyone want to come back! Its so heart warming and i absolutely can recommend volunteering at ARA!
10 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Julia is consistently proactive and dependable. She never hesitates to take initiative, whether it’s helping with extra tasks, keeping things organized, or spending extra time with the animals who need it most. She's skilled at working with dogs that are more challenging to train, and her patience and dedication have helped them become more confident.One of the things we appreciate most is Julia’s love for taking the dogs on extra walks.She goes above and beyond to help with our animals
Lara
Austria
We can't describe in words how much we loved this place! Livia and I spent two weeks at ARA and the time flew past so quickly - it defintely wasn't long enough! The dogs and cats are so adorable and special. It was so nice getting to know each of their unique personalities! It's truly impossible not to fall in love with every single one of them! The people at ARA are incredibly kind and were always ready to help whenever we needed something. All they do they do for the animals and you can really feel how much heart and soul they put into their work. Incredibly grateful for our time there!♡
11 days ago
Animal Rescue Algarve replied
Lara volunteered with us for two weeks and was an absolute joy to have at the shelter. She came with her sister, Livia, and both showed incredible dedication — even helping out on the day they were supposed to leave. Lara was kind, cheerful, and deeply caring with both the cats and dogs. Her calm and friendly presence made a real difference, and the animals clearly felt safe and loved around her. We’re so grateful for her time and energy, and she’ll always be welcome back with open arms!
About the host
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Hosted by Animal Rescue Algarve
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- 5 published videos
- This host has 5 published videos showing a little bit about their place
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