There is no doubt that taking part in a volunteering trip through WVS is an experience you will never forget. You will visit incredible places, meet amazing people, and create lifelong memories. But most importantly, you will be changing the lives of animals in need.
One of the questions we often get asked, is why our trips cost less than other volunteering trips. There is a simple answer, and that is because we need you.
Volunteers are at the heart of WVS. Right from the beginning, we believed volunteering could make the world a better place for animals, and we still do. Many of our staff started as volunteers, and that passion for animal welfare drives us forward to make more of a difference. Our goal is to help as many animals as we can, and to do that we need to be able to send more volunteers around the world, to where they are needed most. That is why we keep our costs as low as possible. Our top priority is helping animals in places where no one else can.
A low cost doesn’t take away from the amazing experience you will have, or the support you will get from our team, including help with preparing for the trip, sorting insurance and assistance once you are there. What is does mean is that we value you and the expertise you bring, and we want to make saying yes to volunteering an easy decision.
Volunteering through WVS isn’t a holiday. That isn’t to say you won’t get to see beautiful sights, or have once in a lifetime experiences, but you will also be working to change the lives of animals in need, and that may mean treating animals who are suffering, in desperate need of care, or mistreated, and that isn’t easy. By deciding to volunteer you are doing something incredible; you are part of a global effort to ensure every animal receives the treatment and care they deserve.
So if you are looking to do something amazing, please consider signing up as a volunteer, we will support you every step of the way.
Read first-hand about the experiences of some of our volunteers...
"Over the two weeks we neutered 65 cats and in total treated 70, a very satisfying result! Being able to make a tangible difference to the welfare of the cats on the island was incredibly rewarding and reminded me of why as veterinary professionals we chose this career path in the first place: to help animals and make a difference." - Read about Dr Emily Fairhurst's experience at Paxos Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Greece.
"No two days were the same. On a given day I may have been asked to go and assist Dr. Dagmar and practice manager Rachel at Majete Wildlife park to anaesthetise some cheetahs, or to head up towards Lake Malawi to set up for a weekend neutering/outreach clinic." - Find out all about Dr Jack Phelan's trip to Malawi where he volunteered for five weeks.
“For anyone considering getting involved in a project, my advice would be to go for it! The work is very hard and at times, when you are covered in dust, sweat and a range of other unsavoury discharges, you wonder why you are there. You need to be confident with quickly drawing up medications and dealing with feral dogs and cats. You need to be prepared to work with what you have in less than ideal locations. Be adaptable; when the clippers run out of charge that’s it, move on to using shaving blades. Most importantly, remember why you are there. Your veterinary knowledge and skills can improve the well-being and quality of life for the animals you are treating, and if you are like me, seeing the animal wake up and wander off happily, makes it all worth it.” - Vet Nurse, Georgina, joined WVS for a volunteering adventure in Tanzania. Read all about it.
Become a volunteer
If you’ve been inspired to get hands-on with helping animals in need, discover our volunteer placements around the world for vets, vet nurses, students, and non-vets. View all current opportunities and read our frequently asked questions. We can't wait to have you on board!