Animal sanctuaries 🐾

Explore animal sanctuary volunteering opportunities with sanctuaries, rescue centres, animal refuges and other projects caring for rescued, abandoned or rehabilitating animals.

Activities may include feeding, preparing food, cleaning enclosures, maintaining shelters, enrichment activities, general maintenance and other everyday animal-care tasks. Responsibilities vary considerably depending on the species, project and volunteer’s experience.

Some listings may be seasonal, archival or no longer active. Always check the publication date and confirm the current activities and conditions directly with the organisation before making travel plans.

How to use this page

Open the opportunity that interests you and read the complete announcement. Look for the contact details at the end of the listing to find the organisation’s website, email address or application procedure.

Before applying, confirm the animal-care duties, weekly hours, days off, supervision, accommodation, meals, minimum stay and any fees, deposits or other financial arrangements directly with the host.

Some sanctuary programmes may be fair exchanges with no mandatory participant fee, while others may request a contribution or programme fee towards accommodation, meals, animal care or other project costs. A participant fee does not automatically indicate better or worse animal welfare.

If payment is required, ask for the exact amount, what it covers and the applicable payment, cancellation and refund conditions before making a commitment.

Voluntouring does not organise placements, select participants, arrange visas or mediate between volunteers and hosts. It does not process participant payments between volunteers and host organisations. Publication on Voluntouring.org does not in itself constitute verification, endorsement or a recommendation of an organisation or programme.

Evaluating an animal sanctuary

The use of terms such as “sanctuary”, “rescue centre” or “refuge” does not by itself confirm how an organisation is managed. Before volunteering, research the project and ask about its animal welfare policies, permits, veterinary support and long-term plans for the animals.

Useful questions include whether animals are bred, sold or transferred, whether rehabilitation and release are possible, how permanent residents are cared for and whether direct visitor interaction is part of the organisation’s activities.

Be cautious with projects where animal contact is primarily used for entertainment, photographs or tourist experiences, particularly when wild or dangerous animals are involved.

Volunteer safety and animal welfare

Working with rescued animals can involve bites, scratches, kicks, zoonotic diseases, heavy lifting and unpredictable behaviour. Ask what training, protective equipment and supervision will be provided before taking responsibility for animals.

Volunteers should not diagnose illnesses, administer medication, perform veterinary procedures or handle dangerous animals beyond their training and qualifications. Veterinary and specialist animal-care decisions should remain with appropriately qualified professionals.

Related opportunities

For additional guidance, read Voluntouring’s information about safety and legality in volunteering and work exchanges.

Important: project availability, participant fees, animal-care practices and safety arrangements can change. Confirm current information directly with the organisation before making travel or financial commitments.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Browse animal sanctuary volunteering opportunities 🐾

Browse the projects below and use the “Older Posts” navigation if available to continue exploring previous opportunities. Always check the publication date before applying.

Do you represent an animal sanctuary or rescue centre looking for volunteers? You can submit your opportunity to Voluntouring.org for editorial review.

Submit an animal sanctuary opportunity