Costa Rica Health & Medical - San Rafael Animal Shelter

  Costa Rica

Durations of Program: 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Year round; monthly departures

Description: The Asociacion Humanitaria Para la Proteccion Animal de Costa Rica (AHPPA) is an association committed to the protection of animals in Costa Rica. AHPPA operates an animal shelter in San Rafael de Heredia which includes covered pens for dogs, housing facilities for cats and kittens, and an onsite veterinary clinic. AHPPA cares for injured and abandoned animals, provides low and no cost veterinary care and sterilization, and provide education on animal care and the importance of sterilization.

This placement needs volunteers to help control the huge numbers of unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs in Costa Rica. Costa Rica's former solution to animal overpopulation was to poison the animals in overcrowded areas. AHPPA's sterilization program has put a stop to this terrible practice. Through low and no cost sterilization programs and education about the importance of sterilization, AHPPA hopes to decrease the numbers of abandoned animals but they need help in order to accomplish this goal.

Highlights: Volunteers who are studying veterinary medicine will be able to assists the vets in caring for sick animals and performing sterilizations. However all volunteers are more than welcome to help out regardless of their education or experience. Some tasks include:
1. Walking the dogs
2. Grooming the animals
3. Cleaning the pens
4. Feeding the animals
5. Basic cleaning of the facilities

Qualifications: Volunteers with a background in veterinary medicine will be very helpful, but volunteers of all educational backgrounds are welcome. Volunteers must be eager to help, compassionate, and love animals. Those who get too easily attached to animals may have difficult at this placement - at times the animals are so sick they must be put down and volunteers must be able to understand and accept this.

Cost in US$: $2995 for 8 weeks; $165 for each additional week

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement: We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded: 1998