Description

Veterinarian Volunteers:

Shelter vet clinic operating exclusively for their 1600 members with two full time qualified vets on duty. Voluntary position where those who have not completed their veterinarian course would work under the supervision of the shelter vets and those that are qualified would be allowed to work on daily vet work as designated by the two vets. Work would cover the following daily activities:

* Assist the veterinarians in their daily work, i.e.:
- Accompany pre and post surgical treatment of animals that have been operated on;
- Surgeries - neutering/spaying,
- Consultations of Aanifeira's animals;
- Consultations of Aanifeira members' animals;
- Participate in various tasks set out by those responsible for the clinic.

* Treat animals that have been put into special care in the nursing area i.e.:
- Preparation of medication;
- Cleaning of animals and their respective cages;
- Feeding animals;
- General care in welfare and animal health.
- Participate in the other various tasks involved in closing up the clinic as indicated

* Other duties will cover the following areas:
General animal handling and restraint / Handling injured animals / General physical & clinical examination / Collect samples (blood, urine, faeces) / Administer medication by oral SC, IM, IV Routes / General Anaesthesia / Vaccinations / Microchipping / Deworming.

Animal Care Volunteers:

We are very happy to receive student interns taking an Animal Care course. Students would work under the guidance of an Aanifeira staff member and/or experienced volunteer in the following areas:

- Exercising dogs / Basic health check-up dogs and cats / Grooming bathing for dogs / Dog clipping / Feeding cats and dogs / Health & hygiene cats and dogs.

For those students with a desire to be a vet nurse there would be the possibility of sitting in/observing with the veterinarian on consultations, etc.

Members of the Public wanting to Volunteer at a Shelter:

Members of the public with, not only a love of animals, but a background knowledge of construction, gardening, electrician, plumbing, etc. would be most welcome to help out on general duties around the shelter.

The majority of staff at the shelter speak English.

Highlights

Aanifeira is a non-profit association relying mainly on donations and therefore needs to rent an apartment for volunteers when they come here. The apartment is located in the centre of Santa Maria da Feira and in order to maintain it, we need to ask our volunteers to pay Euros 15 each per day to help cover expenses.

Transfers to and from the airport and the shelter will be provided free of charge.

Things to Do:
* Close proximity to public transport for going sightseeing.
* Espinho - 15 kms away - resort town located right on the coast.
* Porto- 35 kms from Santa Maria da Feira - Express bus takes 40 mins - Porto at dusk
* Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic buildings and outstanding monuments.
* Port wine cellars are all located in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The closest airport to Aanifeira is Porto airport (300 kms north of Lisbon) and it is serviced by many low cost airlines.

Qualifications

Aanifeira receives international volunteers for internships and they help play an important role in the running of the shelter.

International volunteers from various fields as for example:
 - Veterinarian students
 - Animal Care students
 - Members of the general public wanting to help animals

Open to 4th, 5th & 6th year students, as well fully graduated veterinarians from universities around the world. Opportunity to come for either one or two weeks or longer and working with companion animals.

Intern Types

• Animal Sciences
• Zoology & Wildlife Sciences

Languages

• English
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD19

Cost Includes:

• Housing

Program Fees Include:

Apartment hired by non-profit shelter exclusively for volunteers to stay in.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Easy going and with a spirit to help out whenever necessary at an extremely busy animal shelter housing many dogs and cats.

Age Range

19 - 45 yrs old

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 1-2

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Aanifeira - Associacao Amigos Animais Santa Maria da Feira's Mission Statement

Pledging to provide clean and safe surroundings for stray and abandoned dogs and cats with the care and attention that each animal deserves together with the necessary follow-up attention after an adoption has been made. Enhancing the human-animal bond and to teach and ensure that neutering/spaying is the foremost in animal welfare.

Year Founded

1999