Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Israel or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.
Volunteer in the city that never sleeps to care for animals in need at your choice of one of two shelters! The shelters’ primary goal is to end animal homelessness and rescue animals in distress.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). Volunteers will make their own way to their hostel accommodations in Tel Aviv. Orientation, including a walking tour of Tel Aviv, is provided on this day.
Days 2-4, Monday-Thursday: Rewarding volunteer work at your choice of placement (East or South Tel Aviv). Tasks vary between the placements, but in general, volunteers will be walking the dogs and feeding all animals in the shelter. In the east Tel Aviv shelter, you will be helping to match potential adopters with the pet of their choice. To participate in behavioral training and medical rehabilitation tasks, you must sign up for the East Tel Aviv placement for a minimum duration of four weeks.
Days 5-6, Friday-Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.
Day 7, Sunday: Rewarding volunteer work at your choice of placement.
Day 8, Monday: Departure day for volunteers staying only one week. Regular workday for volunteers staying longer.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Sunday-Thursday, and having Fridays and Saturdays free. Departures are on a Monday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, travel health insurance, lunch and dinners are self-catering (budget around $15 per day), round trip airport transfers (approximately $30), local buses from hostel to project ($3 per day, 15 minutes), personal expenses.
Known as the city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv is situated on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. Famous for its bustling downtown street scene and exciting nightlife, Tel Aviv is the place to get lost in and explore. Central Tel Aviv or “the White City” hosts the world’s largest gathering of Bauhaus buildings, placing it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city is constantly running on high energy, bursting with cultural festivals, high-tech startups and busy markets. Telavivians also know how to unwind with the allure of the beautiful beaches along the seashore and their overall laid-back attitude.
Orientation (included): Orientation will take place in Tel Aviv on Sunday upon arrival.
South Tel Aviv Shelter:
Needy animals continuously outnumber the shelter’s staff members and; therefore, the organization is always looking for helping hands. Interestingly, this shelter is not only limited to house pets; it also rehabilitates and rescues farm animals, including horses, bunnies, donkeys and chickens.
As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to walk and play with the dogs as well as care for the cats. The property is extremely large and is organized in a way that animals are grouped together based on sex, size and type. The property grounds have a spacious backyard where you will be walking and playing with the dogs. In the center is a barn with mixed farm animals which is situated next to the area where you will be taking the dogs out for some exercise. At the start of your program you will have an introductory orientation focused on animal care and handling. This orientation is crucial because volunteering at this shelter requires some hands-on work and you will need to know how to deal with animals that have been deserted and neglected.
East Tel Aviv Shelter:
Animals in this shelter are limited to cats and dogs. As a volunteer in this shelter, you will be helping to match potential adopters with an animal. Many of the dogs and cats here are in need of behavioral training and medical rehabilitation. To engage in these specific training and medical tasks, you must sign up for a minimum duration of 4 weeks. The behavioral training follows a force-free model and invovles only positive reinforcement.
A typical day: The hours you volunteer are up to you, but we recommend 4-6 hours a day to make a meaningful contribution to the shelter. You can also choose between the morning, afternoon and evening shifts. Most of your time will be spent providing love and attention to the animals in the shelter. Day-to-day tasks vary because of the nature of the work. Common duties include walking the dogs and playing with the dogs and cats that require attention.
While there are typically local volunteers, this project will run with even one international volunteer as the animals need care every day.
Holidays: Please note that the months of September/October have several holidays that may affect your trip.
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
Following registration we can assist you in booking a tour for a number of incredible destinations that you can visit during your time off (additional fees apply). Visit ancient Petra and Wadi Rum on a 2-day tour or explore Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea in one day. Please note that tours are subject to change.
Thanks to Israel’s small size, you could travel from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the country in a single day. If you prefer to stay in the city, Tel Aviv will certainly keep you occupied with its lively markets, nightlife and independent cafés and eateries. If one thing is for sure, Israel has incredible hummus so make sure you head over to Abu Hassan in Jaffa for the country’s greatest hummus. If you consider yourself an art lover or just looking for a unique experience, you’ll enjoy Tel Aviv’s flourishing art scene. Go gallery hopping and be sure to put the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Dvir Gallery on your list. Don’t forget to visit the Carmel market (“shuk Ha’Carmel”) and bargain like a true Telavivian.
Check out a list of tours you can join for an additional fee, here.
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