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Intership

Live the Experience. Change Lives.

Join our team in Colombia and make a real difference for rescued animals while learning hands-on about sanctuary life and compassionate activism.

Intern with us

We are calling all animal lovers!

If you’re looking for an internship sanctuary experience in the magical Andes Mountains in South America, we are waiting for you!

Important

At the sanctuary, we have early hours and late nights.

As an intern, you need to be ready to receive instructions and carry them out to the best of your ability.

You’re not signing up for a holiday with lots of animal cuddles — you will be put to work on our internship program… ok ok, yes! You will get those animal cuddles too!

We are a medium size sanctuary that has been rescuing animals for the last 17 years, with around 300 rescued animals living right now in the sanctuary fields.

We are the first sanctuary in Colombia and the only one in South America verified by the Global Federation for Animal Sanctuaries.

Your help is essential to continue giving animals the best quality of life. The sanctuary team is responsible for the daily care of our rescued animals living at the sanctuary.

Animal Caregiving Interns are vital to daily functioning, and your support is essential.

Requirements

  • Must be 18 years or over
  • Must eat a plant-based diet while at the sanctuary
  • Pay your own airfare
  • Able to carry out tasks of a physical nature
  • Reliable, honest, and hardworking
  • Be comfortable and loving with all the animals
  • Respect the peaceful environment at the sanctuary
  • Provide references from organizations you have volunteered with before or from your current employer
  • Help to maintain buildings and fences
  • Be able to work cooperatively with other volunteers and staff

Duties may include

  • Cleaning out kitty litter trays & bedding; poo patrol
  • Raking — keeping all pathways clear & presentable
  • Sorting & assisting with feeding as required
  • Cleaning the animal shelters
  • Collecting or spreading cow manure
  • Working in the organic greenhouse
  • Fixing fences
  • Sharing time with animals
  • Brushing the animals
  • Socializing
  • Assisting in maintaining records for each individual animal
  • Contributing content for social media and website
  • Carrying bales of hay to some of the animals
  • Cleaning rescued rats’ cages
  • Cleaning water bowls and troughs and replenishing them with fresh water
  • Raking and cleaning out barns, coops, and pens
  • Doing laundry
  • Washing dishes
  • Taking out garbage and recycling
  • Refilling feed bins
  • Unloading hay and food deliveries
  • Supporting staff and vets during health checks and treatments when needed
  • Observing animal behavior and getting to know each animal as an individual

Skills

  • Willing and able to perform all responsibilities and duties
  • Ability to maintain a positive and respectful attitude
  • Strong team player while having the ability to work independently
  • Capable of working in different weather conditions (no worries, we don’t have winter or summer in this area; it is nice weather normally)
  • Be reliable and hard-working
  • Ability to perform strenuous physical labor and consistently lift at least 50 pounds unassisted
  • No previous animal experience is necessary but it is a big plus

When: right now

November to January 2023
 We expect volunteers to volunteer for a minimum of 3 months.

Pick your best months:

  • January to March
  • April to July
  • August to October
  • October to December

The sanctuary house

You have to cover your living expenses like food and personal items.

The Sanctuary House is a shared, comfortable communal space where every intern lives.
 You can have your own bedroom or share (it depends on the number of interns we have at the moment), and each bedroom has a private bathroom.

  • Companion animals are not permitted.
  • Out of respect for the rescued animals under our protection and our desire to change the world for animals, all staff and interns are required to maintain a plant-based (aka vegan) diet while on sanctuary property.
  • Food markets and restaurants are within a 15-minute drive.
    We are located near the town of Chía, where you can find everything, and 40 minutes from the capital city Bogotá.
  • Transportation and food are very cheap.

Interns are responsible for buying and preparing their own food and have to keep clean all the areas of the sanctuary house.
 There is a schedule among all the residents of the sanctuary house to organize the cleaning days.

A vehicle is provided to full-time interns living on-site to go grocery shopping only for those with valid driver’s licenses who are eligible.

If not, transportation is easy here, and we also do weekly trips with interns to the grocery shop.

+300 animals live free today

Thanks to the care of volunteers like you

Volunteers from over 15 countries

Join a global family of changemakers.

Vegan food, cozy home

And unforgettable memories.

We host 3–5 interns each season

Live, learn, and make a real impact.