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30 Oct 2024
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Description
READ OUR PROFILE CAREFULLY TO CONFIRM THAT IT SUITS YOU, WE CAN PROMISE YOU A REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND YOU WILL MAKE FRIENDS FOR LIFE!
We are an animal rescue shelter in Crete, Greece, we have more than 250 dogs that need our care. Our beautiful dogs have been given a second chance at life and we offer them a safe, caring home. They have been rescued from troubled environments and off our streets where they were constantly starving and abused. I am one man that has dedicated my life to rescuing these dogs and improving their welfare. We are a donation ‘'not for profit organization only'’ and we are totally supported by donations from all over the world.
Instagram: ask us for the link
Facebook: ask us for the link :)Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
Ideas and skills are very much encouraged. Skills can be in construction, gardening, growing vegetables, picking olives, animal welfare, playing, walking and spending time with the dogs, any social media skills, building work, building fences and kennels.
Help
We need help to manage the day to day tasks around the shelter, take care of our dogs, perform general maintenance on the property and enclosures, assisting with general housekeeping activities and cleaning the shelter. We are also looking to improve the shelters’ infrastructure and make our shelter run as smoothly as possible. We ask for your every day help in exchange for accommodation and basic food to cook your daily meals . We do not provide your meals, you must cook yourself! (we offer everything you will need for basic meals, for any further special requests on meals, you can provide them yourself).
We would like you to keep in mind that there is no regular schedule. Caring for our dogs is time-consuming and unpredictable. Daily tasks will depend on the weather as well as the needs of the dogs. Keep in mind that they need to be fed at least once a day ,watered twice a day, and their living areas must also be cleaned at least every 24-hours (cleaning up after dogs involves removing dog poop from their living area but this can be rewarding as much as the dogs won't let you go).
As far as it concerns the general maintenance, it includes tasks such as mending fences, maintaining dog enclosures and building new dogs houses. Sometimes the dogs will destroy their enclosures in an attempt to escape so we have to regularly ensure that they are safe and not able to escape or injure themselves on damaged materials. (This is something that may happen at any time during the day/night, mostly early in the morning) It will be good if you stay alert and help with that! Also managing the stock level of food required, some of our dogs have special requirements, that is special diets to control their health, keeping an eye on the stock we carry is very important.Languages
Languages spoken
Greek: Fluent
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
We have a small house set up which accommodates up to four people, it has a kitchen and bathroom. You will be sleeping in a shared room with 4 beds . Power at the moment is through a solar panels. With time the shelters infrastructure will improve. Currently we are building a second volunteer accommodation which already has a toilet and a some furniture and occasionally used by volunteers when our numbers overlap. we will expect the accommodation to be cleaned regularly, maintaining a clean and healthy indoor environment.
We do also have a caravan with room for two to sleep… when our main container is occupied you will either stay in our caravan or second container.
*Minimum stay 3-4 weeks.What else ...
Around you is nature and tranquility. Kalo Chorio (Taverne, Cafe) is 1 km away. It's near Gouves (3.5km away from the shelter) . Keep in mind that without a car, it is not much easy to move around! You can always ask to get a ride to Gouves, and we will try our best to arrange it.
To get to the shelter you can take the bus to Gouves from the main bus station in Heraklion(approximately 30' minutes ride), from Gouves to the shelter the transfer can be arranged from us!
The shelter is on the countryside so keep in mind that there will be rats and wasps around. But the rats leave the people and their stuff and food alone and the wasps are mostly there in high summer.
A solar charger or a power bank for charging your mobile phone is helpful, although the phone can also be charged in the volunteer house.
Contact us for accurate information.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Depends on everyday tasks, weather and the number of people, mostly about 25 hours per week. You can take a day off if you feel like you need it, please just communicate that before, so that someone else takes over your tasks.
Feedback (38)
Nikos is really generous, he dedicates his life to animal well-being and has great vibes.
All the dogs and volunteers I met during my stay were wonderful, so it was really hard to say goodbye.
The place is definitely… read more
She have such a beautiful spirit and the biggest heart for all the animals as well as humans and we can’t wait to see… read more
I fell in love with all of the dogs and their own personality. Furthermore, I had a wonderful time with Nikos and Caroline and the other volunteers. Nikos and Caroline do everything in their power that the dogs and the volunteers are always happy. It’s amazing how they understand the dogs.
My time there flew by… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.7)
Nikos is really generous, he dedicates his life to animal well-being and has great vibes.
All the dogs and volunteers I met during my stay were wonderful, so it was really hard to say goodbye.
The place is definitely… read more
She have such a beautiful spirit and the biggest heart for all the animals as well as humans and we can’t wait to see… read more
I fell in love with all of the dogs and their own personality. Furthermore, I had a wonderful time with Nikos and Caroline and the other volunteers. Nikos and Caroline do everything in their power that the dogs and the volunteers are always happy. It’s amazing how they understand the dogs.
My time there flew by… read more
Suzette did an awesome effort taking part in our daily work with the animals and she was curious to learn more everyday about the daily life, animals and shelter.
Thank you so much Suzette for choosing… read more
He worked extremely hard everyday and he was quick to learn our daily task at the shelter and motivated for learn something new everyday!
He absolutely loved the dogs here and he spent lots of his free time cuddling and playing with them! He gave so much love to the shelter the time he… read more
The work there was really funny with the other volunteer and the other worker.
We used to wake up in the morning, drinking coffee outside with the dogs of the volunteer kennel, and then… read more
I couldn't believe how sweet all of the dogs are... when I found out that from 250 dogs only 3 of them are a little bit 'problematic' (only Nikos goes to their kennels) because of their… read more
thank you Nikos and Carole
I spent three weeks full of love and learning in the hearts of the family with lots of caaa vaaaa and I love you
See you next time
Luckas
My main responsibilities involved cleaning dirty enclosures and water buckets, general maintenance of enclosures (e.g. occasionally fixing holes in fencing) and feeding, but we were also free to take dogs for walks, brush and play with… read more
About the work, you can expect to feed the dogs and clean up their kennels every day, so it gets repetitive, but in all fairness that was clear from the… read more
At the beggining it turned to be a bit overwhelming getting used to be with 270 dogs and share a little space with a lot of other volunteers, but we got to build a good team and it finally felt like a big family.
Time with the dogs was so… read more
We are always so grateful for good volunteers and these two were fantastic.
The communication was great, they worked hard without ever losing their power, they were being responsible and payed attention, they always did… read more
Deep in the cretan hills, this shelter is located in a breathtaking part of the island, and it was a huge pleasure to wake up every day to this beautiful scenery.
The work itself was very simple and satisfying, and all was made… read more
The trip to the place was my first workaway experience and the first trip I ever made on my own.
I was here for 4 weeks in March and had one of my best months.
Nikos, Mike, Alexandra and all the other Workawayers (Annabell, Alex, Helena, Paula & Job) made the time unforgettable.
And then of course, the dogs.… read more
Over 200 happy dogs & a true Familia to look after them.
Nikos provided everything I needed including amazing Greek food everyday.
Would totally recommend to anybody who loves dogs.
As for the work,… read more
Always polite and smiling.
She spent all her free time with the dogs.
This is very important for them as they need care and love, and Oriane gave them these every day.
She knew the purpose of her volunteering and she… read more
He loved all our dogs and they loved him!
We thank him very much for all the help he offered! We truly appreciate it !
We hope… read more
A girl very down to earth, polite and calm, always with a smile and a serenity that she transmitted to all the dogs and to us. Always willing to help in whatever we asked her without any objection, willing to spend her free time with the dogs, to show her love, to hug .. to play ..and tried to… read more
Nikos is an amazing human, and you will learn so many things from him. He is one of the kindest person I’ve ever met. He is always super thankful for your help, and always asking if you need something to be sure that you are feeling comfortable.
The “work” can be… read more
This big shelter had me for 2 months, I was gonna stay 3 but without a car is hard to move around, so I decided to leave to see crete.
Nikos is a huge animal lover. The people of the shelter end up being a family.
Days go by really fast there, and you will work, harder or not depending on the day.
It's a real nice experience, that made me… read more
From the first moment they became a member of our team! They actively entered the daily procedures without a second thought. They never complained about anything and were willing to help with everything Nikos might needed!
It is so important for us to see that you came to be… read more
Α really hardworking and good-natured child, despite his young age, is kind, principled and always smiling! He helped Nikos more than he could imagine in everything he needed with the constructions and the better configuration of the shelter.… read more
Tino and Michi were with Nikos and the doggies in the shelter for 2 months! I don't know what to say that it will be enough.. Tino is such a hardworking person.. He is… read more
Thank you again for what you doing for all those dogs!