Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference? Volunteer with us! We rescue, rehabilitate, and care for animals in need.
Volunteer for animals – requirements & tasks
Become a vital part of Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. and help us transform the lives of abandoned and stray animals. At our state-of-the-art shelter in Kouvaras, Greece, you’ll be directly involved in every aspect of their care, from feeding and cleaning to providing medical attention and offering much-needed socialization.
As a volunteer, you’ll be essential to our team, enabling us to care for over 60 cats and 4 dogs on-site, as well as numerous others in foster care. Your dedication will directly support our crucial adoption, sterilisation, and community education programs, making a real difference in the lives of countless animals.
We offer structured and fulfilling volunteer opportunities with defined work hours, allowing you to contribute meaningfully while gaining invaluable experience in animal welfare and shelter management. Join us in building a brighter, more compassionate future for animals in need.
Requirements
To ensure the best possible care for our animals, we seek dedicated volunteers with the following qualities:
- Passionate about cats: Ideal candidates will have extensive experience with cat care, whether as cat owners, previous shelter volunteers, certified caretakers, animal behaviorists, veterinary professionals, or students in veterinary medicine.
- Responsible and reliable: We need mature individuals who are committed to their duties and can be counted on to follow through.
- Physically and mentally fit: The work can be demanding at times, requiring both physical stamina and emotional resilience.
- Meticulous and hardworking: Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for our animals is crucial. We need volunteers who are diligent, detail-oriented, and dedicated to upholding high sanitary standards.
- Team players with excellent communication: A positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and strong English communication skills are essential for working effectively within our team.
Bonus points if you also have:
- Photography and social media skills
- Prior experience with animal charities
- Experience in grant writing or fundraising
If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply!
Tasks & shifts
We ask our volunteers to dedicate a minimum of 5 hours per day, 5 days a week, with 2 days off. Work hours may be adjusted depending on the needs of the shelter, particularly during busy seasons.
Both our cats and human visitors deserve a clean and comfortable space. As a volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our sanctuary spotless by dedicating much of your time to cleaning and maintaining high standards of hygiene.
Daily Tasks and Shift Schedule:
Your daily tasks will vary depending on your assigned shift:
- Morning Shift (9:00 AM): Start the day by providing fresh food and water, cleaning litter boxes, and performing a thorough cleaning of the main cat living areas. Throughout your shift, you’ll be responsible for regularly monitoring the well-being of all our feline residents.
- Afternoon Shift (3:00 PM): Maintain a clean and comfortable environment by cleaning litter boxes, replenishing food, and ensuring fresh water is available. Once essential tasks are complete, you can enjoy some downtime or contribute to creative projects like crafting handmade cat toys for our Etsy shop. Of course, keeping a close eye on the cats and their well-being remains a priority.
- Evening Shift (8:00 PM): As the day winds down, provide the cats with their evening meal and conduct a final check to ensure they are safe, comfortable, and settled in for the night.
Beyond Daily Care:
In addition to daily tasks, you may be asked to assist with other important activities, such as:
- Capturing photos and videos of our cats and dogs to help promote their adoptions
- Creating toys and crafts for our charity shop
- Painting and refurbishing our wooden cat houses
- Contributing to other projects as needed, under the guidance of our shelter managers
We appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile to enhance the lives of our animals!
Volunteer for animals – what we offer
Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. provides simple and comfortable accommodation for volunteers:
- One single bedroom with a private bathroom (downstairs)
- One bunk bed in the downstairs living room (access to private/shared bathrooms)
- One double bedroom with a shared bathroom (upstairs)
- One room with bunk beds and a shared bathroom (upstairs)
- Two large sofas in the living room for extra guests if needed
Important Note: Our cats have free roam of the house, including volunteer bedrooms.
Amenities:
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Laundry room with washer and dryer
- Free Wi-Fi and TV in every room
- Balcony sitting area
- Private parking
- Three bicycles with helmets available for volunteer use
Cleanliness:
Maintaining a clean environment is crucial. All volunteers are responsible for cleaning up after themselves, keeping their bedrooms tidy, and participating in daily cleaning of the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. This ensures a healthy space for both cats and people.
Meals:
- The shelter provides basic groceries for volunteers to prepare their own breakfast and lunch.
- Vegan and vegetarian options are available.
- Dinner is not provided, but shelter managers organize a weekly shopping trip based on volunteer requests (volunteers are welcome to join).
Airport Transportation:
- We offer free airport pick-up and drop-off on your arrival and departure days.
- For arrivals and departures between 9 PM and 9 AM, volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport. We can assist with booking a taxi, but the cost is the volunteer’s responsibility.
More volunteering opportunities in Europe
- Help run a buddhist center during your gap year in France
- Volunteer work in Germany – help out on a farm
- Working holidays in Spain – volunteer at a hostel in Malaga
- Volunteer work in Italy – help with farming and gardening
- Volunteering for couples – help out on a farm stay
- Volunteer at a hostel in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Work exchange at a hostel in Palermo, Italy
- Help out in the vineyard and travel Italy on a budget
- Volunteer vacations on a farm in Puglia, Italy
- Help run a campsite in Ireland during a work exchange
Posts by us
- How to Survive Long-Term Volunteering: Packing and Living Tips
- Volunteering Abroad for Retired Professionals: Finding Purpose After Retirement
- Volunteering and Its Surprising Health Benefits
- A Journey to Finding Happiness Abroad: Why You Should Volunteer
- 6 Ways Travelling Can Boost Your Mindfulness
- How I Built a Business Without Leaving My Bedroom
