Help an Animal Rescue in the South-West Algarve, Portugal!

United States

5

I had a good time at the shelter! I stayed in a camper van with another volunteer, we had our own kitchen and bathroom which was very nice! The work was good, mostly feedings, walks, and cleaning. The animals were great, I definitely fell inlove with a few! Of course working with rescued animals can be stressful at times and the noise at night can definitely be a struggle to get used to. The other volunteers made me feel comfortable and always were there if I needed help! Overall my time was nice, I stayed for 3 weeks and I think that was the perfect amount of time for me.

14 days ago

Karen replied

Thank you so much for all of your help while you were here. I wish you a happy new year and safe travels.

United Kingdom

5

I had an amazing time! The dogs are very sweet and lovely to get to know. The other volunteers and people that come to help are a delight and make the stay great. I stayed in a caravan with another volunteer with a toilet and kitchen inside, it was basic but cozy. The stoves can be a bit tricky and the oven isnt very effective, but theres a shared kitchen thats outside. There's no public transport from the shelter, walk to town is fine and pretty or you can get uber. There are bikes, not in best condition. The communication with Karen can be straightforward and to the point. Thank you for having me

19 days ago

Karen replied

Oliwia was friendly and worked well within the team. She was flexible in the tasks she did and loved working with the animals. Thank you for all of your help while you were here Oliwia. Good luck in your future travels.

Czech Republic

5

I stayed at the shelter only for 14 days, but it was an amazing experience. at first it was a bit overwhelming with all the new tasks and i was even thinking of leaving, but with the support from other volunteers i decided to stay and i'm so glad i did. the dogs are so sweet and they fill you with positive energy. tasks weren't hard and schedule was always ready for the next week. accommodation is simple, but you have there everything you need. this definitely wasn't my last stay at a dog shelter:)

21 days ago

Karen replied

Hi Tereza, I'm pleased you enjoyed yourself. I want to say that initially you did not mention anything about being overwhelmed and you seemed to be fine. Once you told me how you were feeling I immediately helped you & explained to the other volunteers that you needed help to overcome this. This happened straightaway. When I next spoke to you, you said everything was ok. I think in future, if you are feeling unhappy, say so quickly. If you don't talk to people then they don't know & can't help.

Germany

5

My experience at the shelter was really good. The other volunteers really made the time special and the work really didn't feel like work bc u are doing it for the dogs. The dogs are really lovely and open hearted to all of us. The working hours are respected but when u don't have a car it can get a bit boring around. So i recommend coming with a car. The communication with Karen was sometimes a bit hard and she can seem harsh but that's never personal towards you. All in all was it an amazing time.

about 1 month ago

United Kingdom

5

One of the best experiences ever. It's so hard to leave the dogs especially having such a strong connection with them. They are so loved and well looked after. I will definitely be coming back. There's lots of lovely things to do around and I've met people that I will be friends with forever. I highly recommend!

about 1 month ago

Karen replied

Thank you for all of your help while you were here Brooke. It was lovely to host you and you would be welcome back any time.:))

Germany

5

My time at the shelter was truely amazing and I met many wonderful people. I stayed for three month and loved every day. Karens work is truely amazing and all of the dogs are well taken care of and absolutely wonderful. Even though two caravans have their own kitchen, the common kitchen area could be a little bigger, but the other volunteer spaces are clean and spaceous. I really enjoyed my time and can definately recommend volunteering with Karen and the team. I'm looking forward to coming back soon :)

about 2 months ago

Karen replied

I hope you do come back soon, Hannah. You are always welcome. Safe travels. Karen

United Kingdom

5

I really loved my stay at the shelter. The host clearly cares deeply for the animals, and the work was rewarding, enjoyable, and very reasonable. I fell in love with all the animals and it was hard to say goodbye. It was also a great way to meet people from around the world and be part of a lovely, social community. Just be aware that accommodation is very basic and not always clean. The dogs are the priority, time and money go toward them. Communication from the host could also be a bit unclear or dismissive at times. Overall, an amazing experience, I would definitely return in future. Thank you

3 months ago

Finland

5

I really enjoyed my time at the shelter and extended my stay with 1 week. The group of volunteers was amazing, I made unforgettable memories. The dogs are lovely and not to forget the cats as well. Sometimes the host's communication felt a bit blunt and not so welcoming, other than that I really recommend the place if you are an animal lover, want to make international connections & want to connect with nature. There are beautiful beaches around that are reachable also by foot. Just heads up the living conditions and the location is pretty rural. Thank you Karen & Thomas for hosting❤️

3 months ago

Germany

5

It was a great time at the shelter. I had plenty of free time and really enjoyed the lovely work with the dogs and cats. Taking care of a little kitten was a bit stressful – but it was definitely worth it. ❤️ What could be improved is the communication at work, so that problems can be solved earlier and more easily. All in all, I visited many beautiful places in the shelter and can definitely recommend this stay.

5 months ago

Karen replied

Thank you for all your help Tabea. We do have the group chat for communication and everybody has my phone number so it is easy to communicate if there are any problems. I'm not sure how else we can improve communication-any ideas would be welcome? I'm pleased you enjoyed your time here.

Belgium

5

Working with the dogs was very rewarding and fun to experience! The other volunteer really helped me in the beginning and we also had contact outside the working hours. It was a very peaceful place to enjoy nature and long walks if you are into this. I would recommend coming by car though because otherwise you have to walk quite some distances to get to a nearby shop or beach. Eather way it was a very nice experience!

6 months ago

Karen replied

Thank you for all your help Pebbles, it is greatly appreciated.

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