Volunteer Application Form
IMPORTANT! Before you apply for a General Volunteer placement, we would like to make you aware of the nature of the work you will be undertaking and the commitment you are making.
You will need to be prepared for the following on a daily basis: Working in very hot and humid conditions, getting very dirty and incredibly sweaty, spending a lot of time cleaning poop (including diarrhoea) vomit and a lot of dog walking. Most volunteers will walk 5/6 dogs each day and at least 10km. This is the reality of working with over 100 animals. You need to know that you won’t spend your entire time cuddling fluffy animals (although there will be plenty of that too!).
In addition to the tough physical nature of the work, it can also be very emotionally challenging at times. We have found that, while most volunteers thrive on this work and find immense satisfaction in volunteering with us, it is not for everyone. In addition to being emotionally mature, you will need to have a good level of physical fitness and not be afraid of hard work.
A very good understanding of English is essential. We don’t have a maximum age limit – one of our hardest working volunteers was 57 years of age and she continues to come back for more every year! If you have any doubts at all as to your ability to cope, it may be better to leave the placement to someone else rather than letting a lot of two-legged and four-legged creatures down by quitting early!
In addition to some volunteers leaving earlier than planned, we have also had some applicants who have cancelled just before they were due to arrive or have simply not shown up at all. This is what happens if you do that:- Over 100 animals are missing out on the care and attention you committed to give them when you applied.- LAW is left short of help and it is usually far too late for us to replace you as we cannot find people at such short notice.- Extra stress and pressure, not to mention a lot of extra work, is placed on our other volunteers and our staff.- A willing and committed volunteer will have been refused a place at that time because it was being held for you.
If you can follow through on your obligations to our animals, you will be in for one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of your life. Please do not apply unless you understand the nature of the work involved as well as the commitment you are undertaking. If all that hasn’t put you off and you are still determined to join us, then you are probably just who we are looking for!
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS COMING FROM THE UK:
Lanta Animal Welfare and many animal rescue groups in Thailand need flight volunteers for animals that have been adopted to the UK, so if you haven’t booked your return flight yet please contact our Adoptions Manager at adoption@lantaanimalwelfare.com
Good airlines used to transport the animals to Europe are: SAS, KLM, Aeroflot, Condor, Thai airways, Finnair, Austrian Air, Lufthansa, Air France from Phuket to Brussels or Amsterdam, then animals can go onwards by train and boat from these two cities to the UK. We will help with all the practicalities. If possible, please contact us before you book your return flight. You would be helping tremendously by getting homeless animals to their new forever homes!