Mexico – Animal Rescue and Veterinary Assistance

The Yucatan Peninsula is a region in Mexico that is steeped in great natural beauty and ancient history. It is considered to be in the outer tropics and is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and other wildlife. Gorgeous, white sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico surround its coastline.

The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for being home to the indigenous Mayan people until the 16th century. Still today you can visit the ancient ruins of the Mayans in various areas throughout the peninsula.

Playa del Carmen is a popular touristic city, and people from different nationalities and different states in Mexico have moved there looking for a better life. This has made it one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America.

On your arrival day (Friday) you will stay at a local hotel, and then on the next day (Saturday) you will move into the accommodations and receive an orientation, join a welcome meeting, and hear a brief introduction to the project. Further training will be provided during your first week in Playa del Carmen and some of it will be provided as needed, depending on the current activities at the project and on your past experience.

Tasks and activities on the project are wide-ranging and depend on the needs at any time and any specific skills you might be able to bring. You should be prepared for some degree of change in the field.

Some of your tasks may include:

• handling dogs and cats
  assisting in the preparation for daily neutering and spaying surgeries (always lead by local vets)
• assisting in the recovery area by playing and taking care of the animals, cutting their nails, cleaning their ears and removing ticks
• doing surveys or implementing animal welfare workshops in the community
• supporting animal welfare awareness and humanitarian treatment in hotels and local communities
• helping out in different fundraising activities
• increasing awareness on cat and dog population control in different areas focusing on disadvantaged communities

You will work on the project 5 days a week, spending the majority of the time fully immersed in project life. You will have two days off every week (those days might vary depending on activities on the ground).

Remember – working with animals can be physically and emotionally demanding, however, this is a very rewarding project. Also, your schedule is likely to have a good balance between work and downtime, with opportunities to enjoy the city and the surrounding area.

Internet: Internet is available at cafes in town (for an additional fee).

Laundry: Laundry facilities are available in town.

Accommodations: Volunteers stay in shared rooms in either an apartment or a house.

Food: All meals during the working week are prepared by the volunteers (in groups). Groceries are included in this program.During the weekends volunteers are free to organize your schedule and cook at your leisure.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Minimum age 18 years old
• Police clearance
• Advanced Spanish required – if a beginner or intermediate speaker, must add on 20 hours of Spanish class at the beginning of the program (for an additional fee).
• Ability to work in a team

All of the necessary training will be given before the project work begins. Your activities at the project will, of course, depend on the need and requirements in the field, and on your past experience. If you do have relevant skills, please let us know after you register.

The Yucatan Peninsula is full of amazing travel and adventure opportunities. From the beautiful waters and white sandy beaches, to the astounding untouched Mayan ruins, scuba diving in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest reef in the world, or snorkel with whale sharks, the opportunities are endless.

From the project location in the northeastern part of the peninsula, you can easily access and day trip to relax on the white sandy beaches and swim in the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Also, the city of Cancun is only 35km away and easily accessible with public buses that run between all major towns. For more adventurous weekend trips the famous Mayan ruins in Tulum or Coba are only 5 hours.

For those who are interested in sea life the options for snorkeling and scuba diving are numerous. Snorkel with varying sized turtles in Akumal Bay or with whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, that migrate up near Cozumel between June and September. Scuba dive in one of the worlds top ten dive sites in Cozumel. For a totally different experience, snorkel or dive in the cenotes of the Yucatan, a unique system of underground rivers that flow beneath the entire peninsula.

Visit Merida, the cultural capital of the Yucatan, boasting many museums, galleries, restaurants and shops. Merida is also home to one of the best known and well restored Mayan ruin sites, Chichen Itza, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. Merida enjoys one of Mexico’s largest historic centers and contains beautiful old colonial buildings and the oldest cathedrals on the continent.

If you have the time for more travel after the program, the rest of Mexico offers a variety of experiences. Surf on the Pacific coast in Puerto Escondido, one of the world’s best surf beaches! Or visit the colonial town of Oaxaca to see some of the country’s most spectacular architecture and home to many archeological sites including the Zapotec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those wishing for some city life a visit to the ever bustling Mexico city is a must.

Program Add-Ons (Not Included):

Take your volunteering experience one step further!

• Study Spanish while you’re volunteering and take your language skills to the next level.
• You can never be too prepared. Join the EFR training and get certified in First Aid and CPR for adults and children.