Volunteering

AWARE could not continue without the vital help provided by volunteers. With over 200 dogs and nearly 100 cats we always need help with anything from building dog-runs or putting up fences to bathing, brushing, or walking dogs, providing some human company for both the dogs and the cats, or helping out with our educational programs. From time to time we need help with our spay/neuter and rabies vaccination clinics, garage sales, and other fund-raising events.

Why not gain some valuable experience at the same time as doing something extremely worthwhile by helping out at AWARE?

Possible duties include:

• Dogs: bathing, brushing, obedience training, medicating, cleaning cages, walking, and socialising.

• Cats: brushing, medicating, cleaning the cages, and socialising.

• Educational programs in local schools - must be fluent in Spanish.

• Helping with spay/neuter and rabies vaccination clinics in local villages.

• Thinking up and organising fund-raising events.

• Photography.

• Sunday: Hound Heights is open to the public from 10 am to 3 pm. Volunteers can help show people around, assist parking, discourage littering, show animals to potential adopters, etc.

The more time you can commit to the better: the animals get to know you, and you get to know the animals and the routine. We ask a 2-week minimum commitment for volunteers staying on-site.

We charge US $5.00 per day per person to stay in the AWARE volunteer facilities. This helps us cover the costs of electricity, water, and gas. Food is not included. The quarters include shower, bed, drinking water, TV/VCR with a wide selection of movies, cooking facilities and refrigerator.

There is no charge for volunteering with AWARE if you provide your own accommodation. There are rooms to rent at reasonable prices in Sumpango, or you can stay in Antigua and take the bus to Hound Heights each day. (Approximately 1 hour from Antigua costing about 20.00 quetzales round trip.)
We need volunteers who are  responsible for themselves and can take initiative. Please bear in mind that the shelter is at 2000m (7000ft) above sea-level.
The Shelter is located close to the Pan-American highway in Guatemala’s Central Highlands. It is hilly terrain, and the Shelter is in woods at about 7500 feet (2300 metres).  The local village, Sumpango, is a 15-minute walk from the property with internet facilities, food market, and bank.

We always welcome qualified veterinarians wanting to help us for however much time you are willing to give us. We have a well-equipped on-site clinic with facilities for operating, (spay/neutering), and laboratory equipment for basic general diagnoses.