ARC Goa was one of the best projects & places I ever visited. Their work is truly outstanding in the circumstances they are facing and the team is absolutely lovely, starting with the amazing Janie who runs the project, down to the incredible assistant Anup (I've never seen anyone handle animals the way he does) and the caretakers who really go above and beyond for the animals in their care. 

The core of the project is a shelter that accommodates animals that were abandoned, injured, neglected etc and can not go back to their families or respective place on the streets. They look after a number of animals with severe disabilities, and make them as comfortable as they can with wheelchairs, physiotherapy, pain relief and lots of TLC.

ARC works with a variety of vets and international organisations to provide surgeries (neuters but also emergency care), rabies vaccinations, parasitic treatment and overall medical care. They reduced the prevalence of rabies significantly in the area and have established a pretty stable, healthy and neutered adult dog population, that is looked after by the community. Over the years their work has made a huge impact on the overall welfare of the animals, also due to their ongoing educational work.  

Work in this country can be incredibly challenging for an international organisation and it was humbling and inspiring to see how they overcome every obstacle - I was truly grateful that I was able to be a part of this project for 4 weeks. Hopefully I will be able to go back soon.  

One of my roles at ARC was teaching surgery - something I really enjoy doing. My student for 3 weeks was attentive, picked up things quickly, and had lots of energy for the long days we were facing. It was a real pleasure to work with her. 

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The shelter is located close to the ocean and a large river, so I used the little free time I had to explore the area. My highlights were kayaking up the river, with its breathtaking views, colorful birds and plenty of riverbeds and forests to explore, and hiking to a large waterfall through the dense, lush rain forest. 

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Arc can always use helping hands, and it does not matter if you're medically trained.. There are so many aspects of the shelter work you will be able to help with, as long as you're not worried about getting your hands dirty .. And I can promise that the team will look after you in return... 

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https://www.arcgoa.in/

https://www.facebook.com/AnimalRescueCentreSouthGoa

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Feel free to contact me for more information, or get in touch directly with the project and see how you can get involved!