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VOLUNTEER WITH
ANIMALS & WILDLIFE
ANIMAL CARE VOLUNTEER PROJECTS ABROAD
Maximo Nivel’s Animal Care programs are available in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru. In Latin America, animals are not viewed as family members, nor is there a well-developed culture of animal rights. Overall, there is a lack education and understanding of animals and their unique needs. Side streets are frequently filled with small packs of abandoned dogs and cats who suffer from hunger, abuse, and health issues. The lack of spaying and neutering also means these animals breed quickly. Exotic species are sometimes illegally captured and kept as pets; and farm animals are often neglected due to poverty and a lack of resources. Proper veterinary training and care is not always easy to find.
Grassroots organizations work to save and rehabilitate a wide range of animals. These project sites focus on providing medical care, education, and various other services to protect innocent animals. They help pets get adopted and placed in loving homes; they make sure wild animals are rehabilitated and when possible released back into their natural habitat; and they advocate for the proper care of farm animals and safe pastures where they can live and roam. Volunteer placements are available at a number of these specialized facilities, including dog and cat shelters, wildlife rescue centers, sustainable farms, and even a university-run zoo. Some animal care projects are only available on a limited basis, so please mention your preference when applying.
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Why I Maximo Nivel
We had a wonderful family volunteering experience with Maximo Nivel in Cusco – one week of construction and one week of working at the dog shelter. Both were very positive experiences for parents and teenagers alike. We can´t say enough about the helpfulness and friendliness of the Maximo Nivel staff, they went out of their way to help us find our feet in Cusco and make sure we had everything we needed. The evening activities were also fun, we particularly enjoyed the Salsa lessons and craft sessions. Our home-stay was also great, we had several interesting conversations with the family and learned a lot of Spanish in the process. We also enjoyed meeting and interacting with other volunteers.
DOG & CAT SHELTERS
COSTA RICA – GUATEMALA – PERU
Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru have significant problems with stray cats and street dogs. Without loving homes, these animals go hungry, their health suffers, and they can create safety issues for the public. As there is very little government funding to help solve this problem, small grassroots organizations take the lead in rescuing these lonely and suffering animals.
As an international volunteer, you get involved with all kinds of work—assisting with veterinary care, cleaning cages, grooming, basic obedience training, and playing with the animals. You may also help with spay/neuter programs, educational outreach, and fundraising events. Note, the volunteer placements in Peru house between 50 to 100 dogs; and the shelters in Costa Rica and Guatemala usually house over 50 dogs and cats. All animal care projects depend heavily on the help of volunteers who truly love animals!
UNIVERSITY ZOO
PERU
The national university based in Cusco, Peru leads a very unique rescue and rehabilitation program for animals that have been confiscated from people who illegally own exotic pets. The zoo project cares for a wide range of animals including endangered species, domestic animals, and native Andean wildlife. The mission is to rehabilitate and then release these animals back into their natural habitat if possible.
The zoo also leads education programs to help spark a life-long love for animals in children. As an international volunteer your work is focused around the day-to-day maintenance of the zoo, including animal feeding, cage cleaning, light construction work, and some conservation work. You may also help host daily visitors who tour the facility. University professors and students from the Zoology and Biology faculties are often onsite working with volunteers.
EXOTIC ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER
GUATEMALA
The Amphibian and Reptile Rescue Center in Antigua, Guatemala focuses on the 3 R’s of conservation: Rescue, Recovery, and Relocation. The primary mission of the rescue center is to nurse a wide variety of amphibian and reptile species back to health and then release them into the wild where they belong. The organization also gets involved with educating the public about the protection and proper respect for wildlife.
As an international volunteer, you work next to veterinarians and other animal care professionals to help with the general maintenance of the rescue center, feeding, and cage cleaning. You may also get involved with hosting guests and groups at the center. This is a perfect project if you are interested in learning about the amazing animals that occupy the beautiful land of Guatemala!
HORSE CARE & REHABILITATION
COSTA RICA – GUATEMALA
The equine care and rehabilitation centers in Antigua, Guatemala and San Jose, Costa Rica are projects with a fundamental purpose—to care and treat horses, donkeys, and mules with respect and love, and to make sure they live long and healthy lives. In Guatemala volunteers work in a horse rescue and rehabilitation center, while in Costa Rica volunteers help caring for the horses used for Equine Assisted Therapy, a form of therapy with horses to help people overcome physical, emotional, and psychological challenges.
ALPACA FARM
PERU
The alpaca project in Cusco, Peru is based on a private farm in the village of Huayllarcocha, approximately 30 minutes outside of Cusco. The mission of this family-run operation is to carefully tend to and care for both alpacas and llamas. The farm also produces amazing traditional Peruvian textiles from alpaca and llama wool and the family uses traditional methods of shearing, worsting, dyeing, and weaving. The project’s secondary mission is to educate both tourists and local people about these unique camelid creatures (related to camels) that are native to Peru.
As an international volunteer, you work closely with the animals, cleaning and maintaining their pens and corrals and helping with feeding. Other volunteer activities include light construction, caring for sick animals, and helping with the weaving. It is important to understand alpacas and llamas are active and sometimes moody, so the work can be challenging—this makes the alpaca project especially good for volunteers who bring lots of positive energy and initiative! This placement is best for people who are comfortable around animals.
WHY VOLUNTEER WITH
MAXIMO NIVEL?
Maximo Nivel has been offering volunteer abroad programs since 2003. We are a locally-based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Our volunteer program fees are affordable and transparent.
- New volunteer programs start every Monday year-round
- Professional Field Managers
- Volunteer programs available from 1-52 weeks
- All-inclusive—accommodations, meals, and many extras
- 24/7 in-country support
- Academic credit available
- No Registration or processing fees
- All-inclusive program fees from $735
We bring structure and organization to your volunteer program, and we match you with the best project according to your personal goals and the positive impact you want to have. Schedule a call with a program advisor today!
EARN ACADEMIC CREDIT
FOR VOLUNTEER ABROAD & SERVICE LEARNING
Maximo Nivel is one of the few organizations in the world to offer academic credit for volunteer abroad and service learning programs. Our School of Record issues official transcripts and academic credit for your program. Get the credit you earn!
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