What is the purpose of this organization? The Asociacion Humanitaria Para la Proteccion Animal de Costa Rica (AHPPA) is an association committed to the protection of animals in Costa Rica. AHPPA operates an animal shelter in San Rafael de Heredia which includes covered pens for dogs, housing facilities for cats and kittens, and an onsite veterinary clinic. AHPPA cares for injured and abandoned animals, provides low and no cost veterinary care and sterilization, and provide education on animal care and the importance Why does this organization need volunteers? This placement needs volunteers to help control the huge numbers of unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs in Costa Rica. Costa Rica's former solution to animal overpopulation was to poison the animals in overcrowded areas. AHPPA's sterilization program has put a stop to this terrible practice. Through low and no cost sterilization programs and education about the importance of sterilization, AHPPA hopes to decrease the numbers of abandoned animals but they need help in order to accomplish this goal. What tasks will you be required to fulfil? Volunteers who are studying veterinary medicine will be able to assists the vets in caring for sick animals and performing sterilizations. However all volunteers are more than welcome to help out regardless of their education or experience. Some tasks include: 1. Walking the dogs 2. Grooming the animals 3. Cleaning the pens 4. Feeding the animals 5. Basic cleaning of the facilities How many days per week will you be working? The shelter is open 7 days a week, volunteers can arrange their schedule. How many hours per day? Volunteers will work Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4:30pm and weekends from 9:30am-2pm, depending on the schedule arranged with the placement coordinator. What age-range will you be working with? There are 10 people who work at the shelter full-time, including 2 full-time veterinarians. At any one time at the shelter there can be between 70 - 80 adult dogs and 30 - 50 puppies. The "cathouse" usually has 40 - 60 adult cats and the kitten house usually has 30 - 40 kittens. What kind of background may be useful at this placement? Volunteers with a background in veterinary medicine will be very helpful, but volunteers of all educational backgrounds are welcome. Will you be required to operate any special equipment? 0 What personality traits would be useful for a volunteer at this placement? Volunteers must be eager to help, compassionate, and love animals. Who may have a difficult time at this placement? Those who get too easily attached to animals - at times the animals are so sick they must be put down and volunteers must be able to understand and accept this. What specific skills are they looking for at this placement? Nurse Pre-Med Student Standard First-Aid Biology Veterinary Science
Basecamp International Centers welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email:
info@basecampcenters.com Website:
www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604
