Israel – Tel Aviv Animal Shelter

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Israel or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

Volunteer in the city that never sleeps to care for animals in need at your choice of one of two shelters! The shelters’ primary goal is to end animal homelessness and rescue animals in distress.

Program Highlights:

  • Experience the vibrancy of Tel Aviv
  • Gain experience working with animals
  • Work closely with abandoned dogs and cats
  • Tour and sightseeing in Tel Aviv provided upon arrival
  • Add on trips to the Dead Sea, the Old City in Jerusalem and more

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). Volunteers will make their own way to their hostel accommodations in Tel Aviv. Orientation, including a walking tour of Tel Aviv, is provided on this day.

Days 2-4, Monday-Thursday: Rewarding volunteer work at your choice of placement (East or South Tel Aviv). Tasks vary between the placements, but in general, volunteers will be walking the dogs and feeding all animals in the shelter. In the east Tel Aviv shelter, you will be helping to match potential adopters with the pet of their choice. To participate in behavioral training and medical rehabilitation tasks, you must sign up for the East Tel Aviv placement for a minimum duration of four weeks.

Days 5-6, Friday-Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.

Day 7, Sunday: Rewarding volunteer work at your choice of placement.

Day 8, Monday: Departure day for volunteers staying only one week. Regular workday for volunteers staying longer.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Sunday-Thursday, and having Fridays and Saturdays free. Departures are on a Monday.

Check out what our past volunteers had to say!

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Tel Aviv, Israel

Project length Project length: Min 1 week – Max 10 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Animal welfare

Age Age:  18-70

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 5 international volunteers

Important Note Important Note: Note: The South Tel Aviv placement can accept families. Families must upgrade to a private room for an additional fee.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared dorm room in a hostel

Food Food: Breakfast included

Orientation Orientation: Orientation, including a walking tour of Tel Aviv, is provided upon arrival.

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, travel health insurance, lunch and dinners are self-catering (budget around $15 per day), round trip airport transfers (approximately $30), local buses from hostel to project ($3 per day, 15 minutes), personal expenses.

Known as the city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv is situated on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. Famous for its bustling downtown street scene and exciting nightlife, Tel Aviv is the place to get lost in and explore. Central Tel Aviv or “the White City” hosts the world’s largest gathering of Bauhaus buildings, placing it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city is constantly running on high energy, bursting with cultural festivals, high-tech startups and busy markets. Telavivians also know how to unwind with the allure of the beautiful beaches along the seashore and their overall laid-back attitude.

 

Orientation (included): Orientation will take place in Tel Aviv on Sunday upon arrival.

  • Volunteer preparation and travel directions to the program
  • Expert advice for traveling in Israel during and after your volunteer placement
  • Walking tour of Tel Aviv

 

South Tel Aviv Shelter:
Needy animals continuously outnumber the shelter’s staff members and; therefore, the organization is always looking for helping hands. Interestingly, this shelter is not only limited to house pets; it also rehabilitates and rescues farm animals, including horses, bunnies, donkeys and chickens.

As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to walk and play with the dogs as well as care for the cats. The property is extremely large and is organized in a way that animals are grouped together based on sex, size and type. The property grounds have a spacious backyard where you will be walking and playing with the dogs. In the center is a barn with mixed farm animals which is situated next to the area where you will be taking the dogs out for some exercise. At the start of your program you will have an introductory orientation focused on animal care and handling. This orientation is crucial because volunteering at this shelter requires some hands-on work and you will need to know how to deal with animals that have been deserted and neglected.

East Tel Aviv Shelter:
Animals in this shelter are limited to cats and dogs. As a volunteer in this shelter, you will be helping to match potential adopters with an animal. Many of the dogs and cats here are in need of behavioral training and medical rehabilitation. To engage in these specific training and medical tasks, you must sign up for a minimum duration of 4 weeks. The behavioral training follows a force-free model and invovles only positive reinforcement.

A typical day: The hours you volunteer are up to you, but we recommend 4-6 hours a day to make a meaningful contribution to the shelter. You can also choose between the morning, afternoon and evening shifts. Most of your time will be spent providing love and attention to the animals in the shelter. Day-to-day tasks vary because of the nature of the work. Common duties include walking the dogs and playing with the dogs and cats that require attention.
While there are typically local volunteers, this project will run with even one international volunteer as the animals need care every day.

Holidays: Please note that the months of September/October have several holidays that may affect your trip.

Internet icon Internet: There is free WiFi available at the hostel. Volunteers will receive a SIM card at orientation with 40 GB of data and unlimited calls to US, Canadian and Israeli numbers.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are available for a small fee.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: You will stay at a hostel in a mixed-gender dorm room with up to 9 other people and a shared bathroom. The room is basic but comfortable and has bed linens, towels, air conditioning and a closet. The hostel is located right in the center of Tel Aviv, a short walk from the beach. Families must upgrade to a private room for an additional fee. If you do not want to stay at the hostel and prefer to book other accommodations, please let us know following registration. We will be able to refund you a portion of the volunteer fee and advise you about other options.

Food icon Food: A traditional Israeli breakfast is provided in the hostel dining room and consists of breads, olives, vegetables, labaneh (a type of yogurt), coffee and tea. There is a self-catering kitchen available for your use and plenty of inexpensive restaurants and cafes nearby.

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Basic level of English
  • Compassion towards fragile animals
  • Work well in a group, able to collaborate with others
  • Lots of energy

Following registration we can assist you in booking a tour for a number of incredible destinations that you can visit during your time off (additional fees apply). Visit ancient Petra and Wadi Rum on a 2-day tour or explore Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea in one day. Please note that tours are subject to change.

Thanks to Israel’s small size, you could travel from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the country in a single day. If you prefer to stay in the city, Tel Aviv will certainly keep you occupied with its lively markets, nightlife and independent cafés and eateries. If one thing is for sure, Israel has incredible hummus so make sure you head over to Abu Hassan in Jaffa for the country’s greatest hummus. If you consider yourself an art lover or just looking for a unique experience, you’ll enjoy Tel Aviv’s flourishing art scene. Go gallery hopping and be sure to put the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Dvir Gallery on your list. Don’t forget to visit the Carmel market (“shuk Ha’Carmel”) and bargain like a true Telavivian.

Check out a list of tours you can join for an additional fee, here.

Volunteer Experiences

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