Spring will soon be upon us, and I’m sure your thoughts are turning to planning holidays. Why not plan a week or two helping out at a shelter in Spain? The shelters rely on volunteers to help them with the daily chores of looking after dozens of dogs – in the case of Scooby Medina, hundreds of dogs and in the case of Pepis Dog Refuge, Jane and Alan daily look after nearly 80 dogs!
Free accommodation is provided in the form of caravans or rooms in the house – in the case of 112carlotagalgos it’s a portakabin. The work involves cleaning out the kennels and paddocks, feeding and exercising the dogs in the mornings; feeding, cleaning and bedding down in the evenings. Free time is in the afternoons and evenings after the animals are done. Weekends are the same as weekdays, the dogs still need to be cleaned and fed!
Don’t expect the refuge to be near shops and nightlife – but hosts are generally happy to transport you. Most volunteers prefer to enjoy relaxing in the evening with their hosts and other volunteers.
Make financial provision for either providing your own food – the accommodation usually includes kitchen with fridge and bathroom/laundry facilities – or paying a contribution to meals and drinks. Remember that the rescue associations rely on donations to keep going and the money received goes on feeding the dogs and vet bills.
Besides the refuges mentioned above, you’ll find a list of refuges on this link, scroll down till you come to ‘Spain’.
Most people find that, once they’ve ‘holidayed’ at a refuge, they return again and again.
However, some reminders before you go:-
Don’t help yourself to food and drinks from the family fridge (mostly men do this!) you have your own fridge
Don’t expect free meals – join in with the family, pay for your meals
Don’t expect weekends off
Expect to clean out dog kennels (one man arrived at a refuge with his wife and said he ‘didn’t clean up after dogs’!)
Spanish houses have metal bars at the windows (one girl left after 2 days saying she couldn’t sleep in a room with bars at the windows)
Wellington boots can be provided if the weather isn’t the usual Spanish sunshine!
The main thing to remember is VOLUNTEER AND HAVE FUN HELPING THE DOGS!