Jo

I have been working as a veterinary nurse for a few years and decided that I wanted to do something more challenging! I had met Kim Cooling previously through Liz Stewart’s rescue centre, and she told me about her plans to help the suffering strays in Sri Lanka and about opening a sanctuary/ veterinary clinic in Sri Lanka.

From this point I knew this was what I wanted to do. I came out here in July 2009 to assist our Sri Lankan vet with the charities aim of setting up an outreach programme for all the poor, neglected street dogs and also to treat as many animals as possible including our many site dogs. I have seen some terrible sights and it’s hard to understand how anyone can treat animals this way, but it has also been fantastic to see some of the transformations that have taken place with the facilities we have now on the site and just a little bit of tender loving care.

It has been a HUGE learning curve for me and very interesting gaining knowledge about the exotic diseases which thankfully, we do not have in the UK.
The best thing about the work is that you never know what you might be doing today and being challenged everyday treating such a wide range of complex health problems.

I have found Sri Lanka to be a great place to live (although I do really miss the shops in the UK!!) and the locals are always very friendly.
Just recently we went out to pick up a dog with severe mange and were watched by around 30 very curious locals, all were more than happy to help us try and catch the dog and at the same time learn about what we do and how we want to help.  

I would definitely recommend a visit to us if you want to spend time helping some gorgeous, very trusting street dogs, and staying in a beautiful country.

Vaccinations

All volunteers must have the full course of rabies vaccinations-a course of 3 vaccinations, before travel. Although all our site dogs are fully vaccinated, there is contact with unvaccinated strays and rabies remains a threat in Sri Lanka.

Please consult your GP for advice on other vaccinations that may be required.

Click on the pictures above to read our first volunteers' experiences of our project in Sri Lanka

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Barbara

My husband and I went to Sri Lanka for our honeymoon in 2009. We had a lovely holiday but whilst travelling around the island I couldn't help but notice the high scale of neglect of the animals around me, in particular the stray dogs. They were everywhere - in the roads, on rubbish tips searching for food, some injured or riddled with mange. As an avid animal lover, I found these sights very distressing and was in tears on occasions. I was particularly dismayed by the indifference of the people around these suffering animals.

When I came home, the images of the animals played on my mind. Luckily after some research on the internet, I found Animal SOS Sri Lanka and contacted them offering my help in some way. It was then that I decided to return to Sri Lanka as a volunteer for the animal sanctuary in October 2009. The sanctuary cares for puppies that had been found abandoned or injured on the streets and also older dogs that would find it difficult to cope due to old injuries and disabilities. The dogs in the sanctuary are now safe for life and as you can see from the photos, are really happy and contented animals that spend most of the day playing or sunbathing!

I enjoyed the experience so much that I am going back to Sri Lanka as a volunteer for Animal SOS Sri Lanka in the New Year and plan to help with the outreach projects which involves the vaccination and spaying of animals in the community. This also includes educating people on animal care and will reduce the number of strays and the risk of rabies.

Animal SOS Sri Lanka have taken on a massive project so I know that volunteering will greatly help to ease the workload and offer practical help for the cause which is much needed. The experience was life changing and I would recommend this wonderful project to any animal lovers who want to make a difference in a place where it really counts.

Russell

In the ten minute walk to the shops, I would see two dozen or so mangy, hobbling, emaciated dogs, and every now and then a batch of new pups would spring up out of the undergrowth and the cycle of littering and suffering would start all over again before my very eyes. I did what I could, which unfortunately could only stretch as far as taking dried food out in my pockets, and giving them as much fuss as possible, but alas I was under strict instructions NOT to bring any street dogs home so I would have to say "goodbye for now" and keep on walking.
 
When my year in Sri Lanka ended, and I came back to the UK, I had trouble conveying to my friends and family just how much these innocent dogs were suffering. People would look at their own dogs - well fed, exercised and loved, and struggle to understand how human beings could allow anything like that to happen to animals in this day and age!

For a couple of months, my life got back to western normality, but every time I thought about my time on the "teardrop of the Indian ocean" the images of poor little mutts kept coming back to me.

Thankfully, a friend put me in contact with Kim Cooling and when she explained her vision for the future of animals in Sri Lanka, the decision to move here as a permanent volunteer was an easy one. Within a fortnight I was on a plane to Colombo and I can honestly say it was the best decision I’ve ever made! 

Volunteering

As a charitable organisation endeavouring to help as many suffering animals as we can, self-funded volunteers will be most welcome to work with us.

Vets and vet nurses will be particularly valued to assist in our busy clinic and also to help with our outreach sterilisation /rabies control programmes.

Anyone else with an interest in animal welfare and a desire to ease animal suffering are also very welcome. We have many sanctuary based dogs to care for and assistance with feeding, cleaning, and socialising the animals will be a considerable help. 
The work is very rewarding and our site animals are delightful as you can see from the photos.    

We may be able to provide some on-site accommodation, there are also some very cheap guest houses and surf bungalows in the region. You would be expected to fund your own meals and other expenses including your flight to Sri Lanka.

Our project is based in Midigama, a short distance inland from Ahangama, a wide stretched village on Sri Lanka’s south coast. The area, which is very popular with tourists, is famous for the stilt fishing men who can be seen early in the morning and afternoon, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches with some of the best surfing on the island.

The nearest towns are Galle to the north and Matara to the south.

Vet Students - Shereene and Kate

We are fourth year veterinary medicine students from the UK and in December 2009 as part of our clinical work experience, chose to come and work with the Animal SOS vets in Sri Lanka – a little more of an exotic location than the UK!

The Animal SOS team were extremely welcoming and friendly, so we knew from the beginning that we would have a great experience. With a growing number of on-site dogs with various ailments and requiring daily treatments, we were able to get involved in medicating the animals and assisting with their regular health checks. Due to the vast number of exotic tick borne diseases in Sri Lanka, which are thankfully not present in the UK, Animal SOS ensures that blood smears are taken from every dog that enters the charity premises. This was a great opportunity for us to learn about the different blood parasite diseases from the resident vet as well as being involved with screening/health assessing the dogs. We saw firsthand the devastating effects that some of these exotic diseases have on the animals and how essential this part of the charity's work is.

While at Animal SOS, we were actively involved in some outreach programs to local villages and towns to vaccinate the dogs against rabies and treat them for mange. With the supervision of the vets, we were also able to get fully involved in the outreach sterilisation programme. This was a brilliant experience and a huge contrast to England as we were operating outside in the locals’ gardens! With two vets now on site, the sterilisation programme is really getting into full swing and provides an excellent learning opportunity for other veterinary students.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, and both the local people, and the stray dogs are extremely friendly! We learnt so much and would definitely recommend volunteering with Animal SOS Sri Lanka for anyone that wants to experience great work with needy strays in an exotic location!

Lesley

I would like to share with everyone my experience of spending a month at the Animal SOS sanctuary in Sri Lanka in April 2010 and thank you to Kim for letting me have the most fantastic experience of my life.  I was like a child in a sweetie shop, dogs everywhere. At first I was not sure what to expect and a bit nervous at what I had let myself in for.  Well, there was no need...I was welcomed by dogs of all shapes and sizes and every one of them had waggy tails, it was awesome. The first morning I was allowed to observe and get used to the pack and watch individual dogs interact with the staff and each other.  The dogs are so lovely and incredibly humble and sweet. I started to learn some of the stories behind these dogs and the end results are amazing. The daily routine entails feeding the animals twice a day-breakfast and tea. The afternoon is spent playing with the dogs and making sure they are healthy and happy. This has to be a labour of love and all the people there oozed that!

Debbie

I came to Sri Lanka for 2 months in 2009 to do voluntary work in a children's orphanage and at the elephant orphanage.  It was my first visit to Sri Lanka and I was shocked and saddened by the stray dog situation here-so many dogs on the streets, emaciated, sick and injured.

 I immediately started to try and work out what I could do to help.  Feeding as many dogs as possible seemed a drop in the ocean so I began searching for a charity to support. I came across the Animal SOS Sri Lanka website and on a return visit at Christmas came to the site to see what they are doing. I was very impressed with the set up here and decided to put my work in England as a Natural Health Therapist and teacher on hold and come to work here at the centre in Midigama. 

It is hard work and challenging at times because there is so much animal suffering-some of the animals we see would melt even the hardest heart. What amazes me most though is the strength of spirit these animals have-they have suffered so badly at the hands of humans yet they are full of fun, joy and unconditional love, they are truly humbling. 

My aim here is to promote this vision and the work of the charity and also to focus on education programmes which are crucial in changing attitudes towards the treatment of animals in Sri Lanka.

John

I have been involved with animal rescue work for over 25 years. I have a lot of experience working in British sanctuaries but had limited experience with overseas centres. When I was given the opportunity to come to Sri Lanka to assist the charity with the important work they are doing here, this gave me the chance to combine my deep interest and passion in the teachings of Buddha and my other passion-animals. 

My experience so far has been that the work is challenging but also very rewarding. When you see a dog grow from cowering in the corner to wagging its tail it makes the whole thing worthwhile. 

One of the biggest challenges is how to integrate the western approach that we have towards dogs with the world of street dogs here in Sri Lanka and to get the local people on board. All animal lovers should support this essential and very worthy project.

May all beings be happy!

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