Work with Animals in Argentina

Gain work experience by caring for animals at a dog shelter and shadowing a vet at a local clinic

Destination

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s included

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.
Bus

Transportation

To and from the airport, plus everything in between. Daily transport to your placement and back.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Trip Overview

Assist veterinary treatments

Shadow vets in Cordoba, learn diagnoses and treatments, and assist with procedures under supervision, gaining real experience in animal healthcare.

Support daily work at a dog shelter

Help care for dogs at a shelter in Villa Allende, providing food, water, socialisation, and assisting with vaccinations and delousing.

Help reduce stray populations

Participate in community events, help rehome puppies, and contribute to reducing the stray population in Cordoba with awareness campaigns.

Explore Cordoba's culture

Live with a host family, experience Argentinian cuisine, explore the city centre, visit the Cathedral of Cordoba, and enjoy local attractions.

Enhance veterinary knowledge

Combine veterinary clinic observations with hands-on shelter work, building your CV, soft skills, and helping to improve animal welfare in Argentina.

Anna T

"I saw a lot of different conditions in the clinic. I have seen everything from castrations and tumours to new-born puppies and teeth polishing. I learnt so much and it was such an experience.

What you need to know

Overview

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, so you can join at any time. We encourage you to stay as long as you can in order to maximise your learning experience and your impact.

A Day in the Life

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 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.

Aims & Impact

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 underfunded. 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.

Activities

As a volunteer, you’ll play an important role in 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.

Map & Location
Home of the tango, yerba mate, and Gaucho culture, Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world. From Andean peaks to Patagonian glaciers and incredible waterfalls, you’ll never run out of stunning sights and places to explore.

While Spanish is the official language, there is a strong Italian influence, reflecting its European heritage. Considered one of the safest counties in Latin America, Argentina offers adventure in abundance.

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is a picturesque, coastal city with about 100,000 residents in northern Patagonia, originally founded by Welsh immigrants. Our wildlife refuge is located an hour and a half north of the city.

It is famous for its beautiful waterfront, penguin population, and Southern Right Whale sightings. You might even see orcas breaching the waves to feed on seals! It has a cold desert climate, resulting in comfortable temperatures year-round and very little rainfall.

Cordoba

Cordoba, Argentina’s second-largest city, sits in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains. This historic city blends Spanish colonial architecture with a youthful energy and is home to the oldest university in Argentina.

It is filled with busy bars, cafes, and restaurants that fuel its nightlife and it’s a popular choice for live music. With a pleasant climate, a flourishing arts scene, and access to both mountains and the plains, Cordoba has something for everyone.

Food & Accommodation

You will have everything you need for a fantastic experience in Argentina, including a place to sleep, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. We’ll also pick you up from your host family and take you to and from your placement every day.

Experience the culture of Argentina from the comfort of your clean, safe, and secure host family home. Glide into the way of life and feel yourself effortlessly transform from tourist to local upon arrival.

Enjoy home-cooked meals, learn a recipe or two, practice your Spanish, and get the inside scoop on what’s good on your doorstep (and further from home). Whether you go solo, with friends, or stay with other Projects Abroad participants — you’ll feel part of the family in an instant.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Argentina Arrival Procedures page.

Book your adventure

Call +353 (0)1 571 5080 to discuss special discounts or group bookings.

Still got questions? We’re happy to help!

Our trusted accreditations

British Youth Travel Awards Customer Service
Go Overseas Rating
SDG Contribution finalist
Go Abroad Winner
Learning outside the classroom badge
GoOverseas community choice award
Sustainable tour operator finalist
GoAbroad Rating
Volunteer Forever award