Critter Rescue

• Placement
  
  Wild life rehabilitation centre – Critter Rescue
• Airport Pickup + Two way Transfer
  
  
  We will be waiting for you at the airport and transfer directly you to your accommodation at the project. Transfer back to airport at the end of your stay also included. 
• Accommodation
  
  A Shared room in a trailer/cabin for the entire placement duration at volunteer project
• Meals
  
  3 basic meals a day included (no catering available for vegetarians). Meals are donated by local businesses and super markets.
• Pick up & drop off
  
  An employee of the volunteer project will pick you up from the nearest bus station. On your way back they will drop you off at the nearest bus station.
• Mail-holding service
  
  You can use FRONTEERINGS office as a reliable address to have your mail delivered
• Ongoing service
  
  If there are any problems with your volunteer project we are always there to help you and mediate between yourself and the organization.
• Tours
  
  Through FRONTEERING you have the possibility to book tours in Canada after you have finished your volunteer project.
• 24/7 Emergency contact
  
  If there are any problems during your stay in Vancouver you can reach us 24/7 to assist you.

Volunteers and Interns are the backbone of the organization. It is these individuals, who give freely of their time, that make caring for all the animals possible. The wildlife shelter is run by a dedicated group of volunteers.

• Feed and care for the animals
• Build and maintain animal enclosures
• Assist with capture and release
• Educate the public

Working at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center can be very intense at times because of the hours we sometimes have to keep. There may be evening feedings.  Volunteers will be expected to be involved in all aspects of the shelter. Your job will include feeding, food preparation, cleaning, laundry, administering treatment, participating in building projects, painting, etc...

Animal rescue and rehabilitation is fundamental to the continued conservation and protection of Canada’s diverse native animal species. You will be involved with the daily preparation to feed the animals, which includes sorting through donated produce and cutting up meat & fish
cleanig up food dishes/buckets and kitchen. You will also be involved with the daily cleaning of enclosures (which includes animals with diarrhea and other unpleasant substances)
You will also Participate in general maintenance of facilities, such as cleaning and painting and office related tasks such us record keeping. your general daily work hours: between 9am – 5pm hours, but on some days there could be some evening work hours.

• Required to commit to a minimum of 8 weeks (longer durations required to take care of the bears and only on request)
• Must complete 2-4 days of training and shadow a senior volunteer before starting independent shifts
• NO SMOKING is allowed on the property.
• Strong work ethics are required: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humour, dependable, physically and mentally fit.
• Age: 18+
• No animal allergies
• The care of animals must be secured around the clock and work may include night shifts Free Time: Can be arranged according to your needs
• Volunteers can request more than their usual two seperate days off a week (days off are not consecutive). However they are not garuanteed and this would be done to accommodate for an important occassion (such as family visiting).
• Extreme Weather (heat & cold), dirt and living in a remote area must be something you can handle.
• A love for animals and some general experience of caring for an animal is a must!
• Must read and agree to abide by guidelines and ethics
• Proof of current tetanus shot & medical insurance; Good physical stamina and health
• Good communication skills and the ability to work alone
• Fluent knowledge of the English
• Patient and comfortable around mammals
• A valid driver’s license would be an asset, but is not required

• A unique opportunity to work closely with wildlife and participate in offering them a chance of survival.
• Expand knowledge and skills in animal care
• Increase knowledge of local wildlife species, ecology, and urban wildlife management.
• Accommodation included in the placement including the use of internet.

• Project location
  
  Western Canada, 1.5 hour from Vancouver
• Area Famous For
  
  Bears, Mountains, Skiing, Coastal Mountains, Pacific rainforest, friendly people
• When to visit
  
  All year round, skiing and dog sledding in winter and hiking and wildlife viewing in summer
• Wildlife viewing
  
  Good: in the nearby surroundings: bald eagles, seals, Black bears, killer whales, coyotes, deer, skunks, raccoons, etc

Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver;
You will arrive in Vancouver city of the 2010 winter Olympics, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your project.
For 8-12 weeks - Help, rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured animals!
For the coming 2-3 months you will have a great time working directly with many different kind of animals while be surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and nature!
Your last day - you will transfer back to airport to take a flight back home. Of course it is possible to extend your stay in Canada and travel around or visit Vancouver; we can help you with trips and/or accommodation you would like to arrange.

You will have shared basic accommodation with bedding provided and a place to store your clothes. There is a large common area with a TV in the house. You are expected to keep the cabin/trailer clean at all times. There is only one shared washroom in the triage centre (hospital building) with a shower and 1 toilet facility in our education building for interns. Showers can only be taken once every two days to save water and money (they are reliant on donations so reducing costs is important)

Things to bring from home

• Clothes for cold temperatures as well as for summer for warm temperatures. Make these clothes are allowed to get dirty. Make sure to bring gloves, a toque and warm socks with you.
• Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and you should also pack a raincoat and some sun block
• Linen and towels will be provided.

Meals

 

You will need to prepare your own meals. The project receives food to allow for vegan/vegetarian diets. They also receive enough meat for volunteers to eat (As long as the animals have enough before you take it).  The food provided comes from donations so you may want to consider buying and cooking your own food, if not then you will eat what everyone else eats. If you require additional food outside of the meal times, you will need to provide this yourself. You will be required to wash and dry dishes, this is not considered part of your work day. Snacks & soda drinks are provided on occasion but not a staple.

Location

The accommodation is conveniently located on the project site close to all the animals 25 minutes by car from the closest town. Please note that the closest ski areas are not closer than an hour drive and there is no public transit available.