Volunteer Animal Care or internship

Vacancy: Volunteer Animal Care or internship

The SOS Dolfijn Foundation is a non-profit organization which is devoted to protect and conserve wild populations of porpoises and other whale species in their natural habitat. The primary activity is to offer help to whales in emergency situations. In the southern part of the North Sea the harbour porpoise is the most common species and therefore this is the species that SOS Dolfijn is most focused on. When porpoises or other small whale species strand on the beach, the SOS Dolfijn Foundation takes care of these animals and rehabilitates them with the aim to bring them back to sea.

Besides of that, the foundation focus on education and scientific research. The educational activities are aimed at courses and projects in schools and visiting events. In the wild the harbour porpoise is almost unapproachable, so for scientist the rehabilitation center of the SOS Dolfijn Foundation is a unique facility to do research with porpoises.

The SOS Dolfijn Foundation works with a large number of animal care volunteers (70-80 persons). These volunteers help us with taking care of the sick, stranded porpoises and dolphins. All these volunteers are being called at the moment a sick porpoise is being admitted to the rehabilitation centre.

At SOS Dolfijn the position of Volunteer Animal Care is currently open. Also it is possible to apply for internships. Please read all information before applying.

Job description:
Being an Animal Care Volunteer, you receive a phone call as soon as a porpoise or dolphin in need is reported to the SOS Dolfijn Foundation. While a rescue team goes on their way with the special dolphin ambulance to pick up the animal, another special team is being formed in the rehabilitation centre to be ready to take care of the sick animal that will arrive soon. As aVolunteer Animal Care, you are part of this team!

During the whole period that the animal is in need of intense care, stranding volunteers are being scheduled for day-, evening- and nightshifts (1-2 days to 1-3 weeks). During these shifts you help in the care that is needed to save the animal. Your primary tasks are cleaning, various animal care tasks, administration and observing the animals.

Job requirements:

• With every new stranding you are expected to work at least one 8-hour-shift, within a week after you have been called.
• Flexible availability is a must!
• You are willing and be able to work as well day-, evening- as nightshifts.
• You are physical capable to do the tasks (cleaning, getting in and out of the pools by your self, wearing dry-and wetsuit) • You don’t have any condition which can create any danger to yourself, the animals or other team members while working with the animals in the water or the surrounding areas. For example: epilepsy, whiplash, disturbance of equilibrium,……
• You are proof against cold
• Minimum age of 18 years old
• Minimal body length of 160 cm, considering the minimum water level

With your help as a voluntarily animal caretaker in our rehabilitation centre, you contribute to a successful rehabilitation of the animals in need of help. You will be always the first to know when a whale is stranded on our coast. This is truly a job for someone who has the time, who can be flexible scheduled, who is looking for the opportunity to work with whale-species and who wants to make a contribute to the North Sea whales!

Application procedure:

For an application send your letter including your resume to SOS Dolfijn. Preferably to the e-mail address: pz@sosdolfijn.nl

Or to SOS Dolfijn Foundation
Van Ewijckskade 1
1761 JA Anna Paulowna

After we received your letter you will get either an interview by phone call or a rejection. In the case of an interview by phone, you will hear after the interview if you are invited for an introduction day or a rejection. During the introduction day you will be judged if you are capable for the job. At the end of this day you will hear if you are accepted as a volunteer or rejected.