Animal Care Volunteering in Peru
Animal care volunteering in Peru offers hands-on opportunities to support animal welfare, conservation, and ethical care while working closely with local organizations and communities. These projects focus on responsible, long-term impact rather than short-term or exploitative volunteering.
Our animal care volunteering program includes three distinct projects based in and around Cusco. Each project works with different animals and environments but shares a commitment to ethical treatment, proper care, and meaningful volunteer involvement.
Proyecto Perú is an incredible organisation. I stayed with a lovely local family for the week and got to experience Peruvian home cooking which was such a treat. Volunteering at the dog shelter during the mornings was a great way of practicing my Spanish and playing with some very cute furry friends.
Overview of Animal Care Volunteering
Animal welfare challenges in Peru vary widely depending on location, resources, and environmental pressures. Community-based animal care projects play an important role in improving living conditions for domestic animals, supporting rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and promoting responsible animal care practices.
Animal care volunteers contribute through daily care tasks, maintenance, and support activities that help organisations operate sustainably. These placements are practical, immersive, and designed for volunteers who want to make a tangible contribution while learning about animal welfare in a Peruvian context.
Projects
Dog Shelter Project
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”
Project description
The Callejeritos Dog shelter in Cusco is run by a Peruvian couple. They have been rescuing dogs for a very long time and currently take care of more than 125 dogs, cats, and even a horse. They rescue abused, mistreated, and injured dogs from the street and try to save as many as possible.
Unfortunately, in Peru not everyone takes care of their dogs, and mistreatment is common. Therefore, this dog shelter also focuses on educating people about health and sterilization. They organize campaigns and try to educate the local community about how to take care of their dogs.
Project Profile
- Minimum stay: 1 weeks
- Working hours: Monday to Friday, in the morning from 9am to 1pm or 3pm until 6pm
- Spanish: Basic
- Donation: $60 once
Tasks
- Taking care of the dogs
- Giving love and attention to the dogs
- Assist in cleaning the dog shelter
- Assist in feeding dogs
- Assist in training dogs (so they can be adopted long-term)
Good to know
You may get a little dirty, so bring old clothes and shoes.
Show love to the dogs and be patient, proactive, & take initiative!
Wildlife Rescue Center Project
Apes, bears, condors and much more..
Project description
The Wildlife Rescue Center is a family run private organization dedicated to rescuing animals which have suffered from mistreatment of any kind. These rescued animals are put under the care of the rescue center by the forest rangers, a branch of the National Police and National government. At this project, all animals have their vaccinations. The center takes care of all types of wildlife animals with the long-term objective to liberate them again into nature.
The programs running at the center at the moment include: educational programs, recovery programs for the sick and mistreated animals, and reproduction programs for endangered animal species.
Project Profile
- Minimum stay: 1 weeks
- Working hours: Monday to Friday from 9am until 1pm or 2pm until 5pm
- Spanish: Basic
- Donation: 1 or 2 weeks $75, 3 weeks $100 and 4 weeks $125
Tasks
- Taking care of animals
- Assist in cleaning
- Assist in feeding animals
- Assist in medical treatments for animals
- Assist in building new houses
- Provide tours to tourists (optional)
Good to know
You may get a little dirty, so bring old clothes and shoes.
Show love to the horses and be patient, proactive, & take initiative!
Horse Ranch Project
"He knows when you’re happy. He knows when you’re comfortable. He knows when you’re confident. And he always knows when you have carrots."
Project description
If a day at the barn sounds like a good time to you, the Horse Ranch volunteer program in nearby Urubamaba is a great option for you. As a volunteer, you will spend each morning looking after the horses, feeding them, mucking their stalls and preparing saddles. The family owned horse ranch has been running for over 30 years and gives tourists and locals a chance to explore the Sacred Valley on horseback. If you are lucky, maybe the owners will let you do a bit of riding too. Though that isn’t a part of the volunteer program.
Please note that this project is based about an hour from Cusco in the beautiful Sacred Valley. Volunteers stay with a homestay family in the town of Urubamba.
Project Profile
- Minimum stay: 1 weeks
- Working hours: Monday to Friday,from 8:30am until 3pm
- Spanish: Basic
- Donation: $60 once
Tasks
- Feeding the horses
- Cleaning the stable
- Assisting with plowing the fields
- Prepare the saddles, reins and ropes
- Give tours with the horses (depending on the experience and level of the volunteer)
Accommodation
In this program, you will stay with a host family in Urubamba. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you will have the opportunity to discover a small Peruvian town and the beautiful mountains that surround it. You will get an authentic Peruvian experience with 3 Peruvian meals a day and a friendly family to practice Spanish with and exchange your cultures.
Combination Projects
Combine Dog Shelter with Wildlife Rescue Center
2 weeks Dog Shelter + 2 weeks Wildlife Rescue Center
