At a glance
- Help care for animals at a dog shelter, and learn by shadowing a vet at a local clinic.
- Care for animals that have experienced cruelty, neglect, injury, and abandonment.
- A rewarding part of the project is helping to find loving new homes for the dogs.
Is working with animals in Argentina right for me?
Do you love animals? Do you want to help people learn about caring for their pets? Are you interested in working with animals professionally in the future? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this project is for you.
You’ll divide your time between a veterinary clinic and a dog shelter. You’ll learn by shadowing a vet, and get plenty of hands-on experience working with animals at the shelter. You’ll boost your CV, and the project will give you lots of interesting points to talk about in interviews and applications.
You don’t need previous experience to join. You’ll work alongside experienced vets and staff, and you can reach out to Projects Abroad staff at any time, if you have questions or need help.
This project runs throughout the year, and you can join at any time from a minimum of one week. We encourage you to stay longer, so you can learn and do more.
What will I do on a Veterinary Medicine Internship in Argentina?
As a volunteer, you’ll play an important role with giving local staff extra support at the shelter. You’ll also learn a great deal from working with a vet at the clinic. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement:
At your Veterinary Medicine internship in Argentina, your work will focus on the following areas:
Help out at an animal clinic
Initially, your role at the clinic will be observational. You’ll shadow the vet, and see how they diagnose and treat animals. You’ll help feed and wash the animals, and clean enclosures. Under supervision, you may also be permitted to assist vets with administering treatments, operations, and general care.
Assist in a dog shelter’s daily operation
The shelter we work with is run by the local town hall. However, the shelter receives very little funding, is understaffed, and the conditions are extremely basic. They care for more than 150 dogs, who remain here until they can be rehomed.
You’ll help by feeding the dogs, making sure they have fresh water, and giving them attention. Spending time with the dogs is an important part of preparing them for adoption. When necessary, you can also assist with vaccinations and delousing.
Find dogs new homes
A rewarding part of the project is helping find new homes for the dogs. Community days and weekends are often dedicated to taking puppies and finding them new homes in the town centre.
Where will I do Animal Care work in Argentina?
Cordoba
You will work in Argentina’s second largest city, Cordoba. This young, dynamic city is one of Argentina’s friendliest.
Your animal care work in Argentina will be split between a veterinary clinic, and a dog shelter. The vet is located about 15 minutes from town. And the dog shelter is located in Villa Allende, a short distance from Cordoba.
On your time off time in the evenings and over the weekends, there is plenty to see and do. You could walk around the city centre, visit the Cathedral of Cordoba, or go to a symptomatic orchestra at the theatre. The flea market is also a great option. Here you can try local Argentinian dishes, and meet up with other interns and volunteers.
What does a typical day on this project involve?
In the morning, you’ll wake up to a traditional Argentinian breakfast at your host family. Once you’ve eaten some pastries, it’s time to go to work. You’ll travel by bus to the shelter and clinic. On your first day, Projects Abroad staff will accompany you to show you the way.
Your weeks will typically consist of of working in a veterinary clinic for three days a week. For the other two days, you’ll work at a dog shelter. You also have the option of working at the shelter full time, so please let us know if this is your preference.
On your first day, you will be introduced to the placement supervisors and the vet you will be working with. You will work for about four hours a day.
Under the supervision of qualified local vets, you’ll assist with a range of tasks during the day. You’ll observe, and if the vet gives permission, you’ll assist with treatments, operations, and care.
At the shelter, you’ll focus on socialising the dogs. You will also help feed and wash the animals, and clean their kennels.
Once you’re done for the day, you can soak in the atmosphere of the town, and spend time with your host family. We also run regular socials for our volunteers, where you can make new friends and take part in cultural activities. Or you can try out some of the local restaurants and visit nearby cultural and historical attractions.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The main aim of this project is to support the work of an animal shelter, and to build your practical knowledge of veterinary medicine.
The shelter we work with is understaffed and underfinanced. We need the help of volunteers like you to help staff care for all the dogs, and prepare them for adoption. You’ll also share knowledge with local communities to help them care better for their pets. This also involves advocating for people to sterilise their animals, to reduce the stray population in Cordoba.
At the veterinary clinic, you will shadow and assist a vet. Here, you’ll focus on building your practical knowledge of veterinary medicine, which could help your future career. You’ll see sterilisations and basic procedures like teeth polishing.
Join us on the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care Project today, and help improve life for domestic animals in Argentina.
Volunteering for professionals
This project is also perfect for qualified professionals. With your skills backing up our ongoing efforts, we can make an even bigger difference together. We'll match you to the placement where your skills are needed most.
This means you can share your training and and knowledge with others. You can work hand-in-hand with our partner organisations and local communities to support sustainable development.
If you have relevant skills or qualifications, read more about how you can make use of them with Projects Abroad.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Córdoba. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Argentina and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Argentina is a vibrant South American country bursting with colour and rich heritage. Along with contributing to worthwhile projects, a trip with us to Argentina means you can explore this fascinating country.
Enjoying a coffee at the Plaza de San Martin, with its street performers and iconic statue of General Jose de San Martin, is the perfect way to spend an evening. It’s located in Cordoba, where our projects are based, so you don’t have to travel far for this experience.
For thrill seekers, you can take a weekend trip to La Cumbre where you can go paragliding off lofty cliffs. The surrounding nature is breathtaking and a horse ride around nature trails here is well worth it.
There are also enriching cultural experiences, like the Evita Fine Arts Museum or the Teatro del Libertador General San Martin. You can also learn more about the country’s history at local museums.
There will likely be other volunteers in Argentina with you. So you can choose to explore solo, or with a group of volunteers from different projects.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Argentina
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