Volunteering at PACS

PACS accepts qualified vets and vet nurses/vet nurse assistants as volunteers to assist our resident clinic team. Priority is given to experienced vets and nurses as they are of most benefit to our team, especially during mobile clinics when skilled cover is required at the centre. All veterinary volunteers report to, and perform tasks under the direction of staff veterinarians and Centre Director.

The clinical team cannot provide veterinary training programmes for new graduate vets as LAW does not have adequate staffing or time capabilities. Applicants requesting surgical training are directed to Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) International Training Centre, Chiang Mai.

New graduate vets will take an assistant role in the clinic, under supervision of the staff veterinarians. It is at the discretion of the staff veterinarian and Centre Director as to the tasks they are able to perform.

PACS does not accept non-Thai veterinary students for clinic placements. They may apply as General Volunteers on
Selected students will gain experience during one day per week observation in the clinic.

PACS is keen to support veterinary training and improve animal welfare within Thailand so will accept Thai veterinarian
graduates and undergraduates for clinic placement.

PACS’ volunteers are absolutely essential members of the team, working alongside PACS’ full-time Head Nurse – it is impossible for PACS to give it’s many patients adequate care, without the help of volunteers.

For full-time volunteers, this is not a holiday; it is a dedication to helping Koh Phangan’s delightful animals (like none you have ever met) to recover from illness & injuries, and returning them to their home environment. It is hot, sweaty, dirty, tiring, and incredibly rewarding. It is therefore vital that PACS’ volunteers are serious, committed to hard work & complete all scheduled tasks – the animals & the team are relying on you, so please do not consider volunteering if you are not willing to commit wholeheartedly for the entire period.

PACS’ schedules full working days from Monday to Friday, starting at 8.30am and closing at 4.30pm.

Weekends require morning and evening visits for feeding, cleaning & medicating. The weekly schedule depends on the volunteer’s role and pre-agreement but is generally 5 days a week with 2 consecutive days off. We try to have at least two full-time volunteers and two medically trained volunteers working together, at any one time.

There are only 3 permanent members of staff, which consist of a Foundation Manager, Head Nurse and Groundskeeper, so there are times when everyone needs to roll up their sleeves and do some of the dirty work. We all need to be ready to do whatever it takes to keep our patients safe and comfortable. While we want to make the most of each volunteer’s special skills and knowledge, everyday tasks such as cleaning and feeding still need to be completed.