Become a volunteer

Volunteers play a vital role in animal shelters, providing invaluable support to staff and contributing directly to the well-being of the animals.

To formalise your application at our Brussels shelter, we invite you to send us your application by e-mail to the following address: benevoles@veeweyde.be.

For our Tournai’s shelter :  veeweyde.tournai@veeweyde.be

For our Turnhout’s shelter :  info@veeweydeweelde.be

Your application must include :

  • Your background, detailing your experience, skills and any previous involvement in animal-related activities or voluntary work.
  • An explanatory note, in which you can tell us about your motivations, your personal experiences with animals and what you would like to contribute to the refuge.
  • Your preferences: do you prefer dogs, cats, Nacs or farm animals (sheep, goats)?

Here are the requirements for becoming a volunteer with our association:

To ensure the well-being of our animals and the smooth operation of the shelter, all volunteer candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years old.

  • Be primarily motivated by animal welfare and have never abandoned an animal.

  • Be versatile: depending on the shelter’s needs, volunteers may be asked to help care for dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents, and occasionally assist with gardening or maintenance tasks.

  • Be aware of the level of commitment required: a regular presence is essential, with one fixed morning per week, for a minimum period of six months. Our animals and staff must be able to rely on volunteers in the long term.

  • Strictly follow the shelter’s safety protocols and apply the procedures learned during volunteer training, particularly regarding safety, hygiene and animal welfare.

  • Be physically able to work, not afraid to get dirty, and willing to clean animal living areas (kennels, litter boxes, etc.).

  • Have emotional resilience, understanding that volunteers may be confronted with difficult situations such as animal abuse cases, judicial seizures or animals in distress.

  • Honor commitments, both towards the animals and the shelter team.

  • Spend time with and give attention to the animals: walking, grooming, playing, providing companionship and positive interaction are an essential part of the role.

  • Inform us of any allergies to animal hair or health issues that could affect volunteer duties. For women, it is requested not to be more than three months pregnant.

  • Be a reliable, consistent and committed person, who may be required, if necessary, to provide a criminal record extract.

Our teams will examine your application carefully and we will get back to you if your application meets our current needs.

We look forward to hearing from you and perhaps welcoming you soon as one of our committed volunteers.