Volunteer in Croatia: Animal Shelter Support
Show compassion where it’s needed most – and help give rescued cats and farm animals in Croatia the care, love, and second chance they deserve!
Volunteer in Croatia and support local animal shelters caring for rescued and abandoned animals. As an Oyster volunteer, you’ll be placed at either a cat shelter in Split or a farm animal sanctuary on a nearby island, providing daily care, companionship, and socialisation to help once vulnerable animals recover and find loving homes.
Duration: 2 – 12 weeks/ Internship 1-12 months
Dates: Click here for availability calendar
Arrival day: Sunday
Return day: Saturday
Eligibility: General level of fitness required.
Age: 18+
Share with friends...
Highlights
- Support Animal Welfare: Help care for abandoned and rescued animals across two unique placements in and around Split.
- Maintain Safe Spaces: Assist with cleaning and upkeep to create a healthy, secure environment.
- Improve Adoption Outcomes: Groom, socialise, and photograph animals to prepare them for new families.
- Promote Recovery: Build trust and companionship with animals recovering from trauma or neglect.
- Experience Croatia with Purpose: Live like a local, connect with passionate teams, and explore beyond the tourist trail.
Animal shelters in Croatia are under significant pressure due to high rates of abandonment and limited public support. Many animals end up in overcrowded shelters with minimal resources, making the help of volunteers crucial to improving their welfare and rehoming prospects.
This animal care project places you at the heart of shelter operations, where your daily work helps care for and socialise animals that have been neglected, mistreated, or abandoned. These animals need time, patience, and human connection to rebuild trust – and your involvement plays a key role in that process.
As a volunteer, you’ll feed, clean, and groom the animals, while also assisting with shelter upkeep. You’ll help monitor behaviour, provide affection, and introduce enrichment activities that support rehabilitation and prepare animals for adoption.
Your impact goes beyond daily care. Whether you’re gently interacting with a shy cat, tending to farm animals on the sanctuary island, improving the hygiene of enclosures, or creating a fun play space, your work helps improve lives in a setting that truly needs extra hands and open hearts.
No prior experience is needed, just a love for animals, a willingness to work, and respect for the organisation’s routines. You’ll receive guidance from local staff and enjoy plenty of free time to explore Croatia’s stunning coast and countryside.
By joining this project, you’ll directly support ethical animal shelters and sanctuaries and help give vulnerable animals the safety, love, and future they deserve.
You’ll be placed at one of two animal welfare projects in and around Split, where your days will be spent providing hands-on care, companionship, and practical support to animals that have been rescued from neglect or abandonment.
At the cat shelter, you’ll feed and care for resident cats, clean and maintain the shelter, socialise cats to help them build confidence around people, and assist with rescue activities such as feeding strays and supporting sterilisation programmes. You’ll also photograph and film cats to create adoption profiles that help them find forever homes.
At the animal sanctuary on a nearby island, you’ll work with donkeys, horses, ponies, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and cats – grooming, feeding, and spending quality time with animals that need patient, consistent human interaction to recover and thrive. You’ll also assist with health checks and help maintain the sanctuary grounds and enclosures.
You’ll be assigned to one of these locations depending on the needs of the animals and local teams – and whichever placement you’re assigned to, your work will be varied, rewarding, and genuinely impactful. No prior experience is required, just enthusiasm, a caring nature and a willingness to get stuck in. Local staff will be on hand to guide you throughout.
- Shared volunteer hostel in central Split 15 minutes walk from the historical old town and marina
- Share a room and bathroom with 1 – 7 other volunteers
- Single use plastics are kept to a minimum, food waste is composted or shared with those in need, furniture is built from recycled goods
- Meals included but additional kitchen, breakfast room
- TV and laundry facilities
- WiFi available throughout the house
Private accommodation upgrades are possible and dependant on availability. Please see price guide for upgrade costs and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information if you think you would like this.
- You will receive three meals per day
- Breakfast consists of fruit, breads and spreads, cereals, toast, tea and coffee
- Lunch and dinner served at restaurant 2minute’s walk
- Typical Croatian food – meat, vegetables, risottos, pasta
- Food can be boxed up and taken when volunteering
- Provision can be made for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and lactose-free diets
Travel arrangements
Airport: Split SPU
Arrival day: Sunday. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to the accommodation
Departure day: Saturday
Included
- Access to your own personal ‘My Oyster’ account – our online portal where you can find out much more about the program and manage your booking
- Dedicated contact time with an experienced destination manager to discuss the project, answer any of your questions and for us to find out more about you
- Help and advice from our UK office before arrival and whilst you are away
- Pre-departure information covering medical, safety and project advice
- Gold level, 24/7 Pharos crisis management and incident support cover
- Financial protection: ATOL (if we book your flights).
- Thorough orientation on arrival
- In-country support
- Accommodation (see the ‘accommodation’ section above for details)
- Advice on visa requirements
- Oyster plants a tree in Africa with TreeAid to help reduce the impact of global carbon emissions
- Airport collection and transfer to your accommodation
- Three meals per day
- 2 hour guided tour of Split
- Linen and towels
On your return:
- Welcome home pack
- Certificate of Recognition (on request)
- References (on request)
Not Included
- Flights – as an ATOL bonded company, Oyster can book flights for you
- You need a valid passport that meets the requirements of the country you will be travelling to
- Insurance (covering your time with Oyster and any planned independent travel)
- Any costs associated with changing your return flight date if you need to
- Independent travel costs
- Home country travel costs
- Spending money for additional trips, food and entertainment
- Transport to your project – sometimes cheap fare by bus or walking
- Return costs to the airport
FAQ's
You’ll work at one of two animal welfare placements in and around Split, joining a team of fellow animal lovers dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of rescued and abandoned animals. Volunteer support is crucial at both projects — ensuring every animal receives the daily attention, socialisation, and care they need to recover and find loving homes.
As a volunteer, your contributions will directly enhance the animals’ wellbeing and increase their chances of adoption. The projects also focus on raising awareness about animal abandonment and actively supporting rehoming efforts.
What to Expect:
- Daily Care: Assist with feeding, grooming, and providing companionship through play and socialisation.
- Health Monitoring: Help measure and weigh animals to track their health and wellbeing.
- Socialisation: Engage with animals regularly to help them become comfortable around people.
- Adoption Support: Photograph and film animals to create profiles that help promote rehoming.
- Shelter Improvement: Contribute to maintaining and improving shelter conditions and outdoor spaces.
Why Join? Make a positive impact by caring for abandoned animals, gain valuable experience in animal welfare, and immerse yourself in Croatian culture while supporting a meaningful cause.
Project runs Monday – Friday. Your first day is spent on an induction in Split, and you will join the project on the Tuesday to meet the staff and receive your project orientation.
Days can vary depending on the project requirements. An example itinerary is:
8:00 – 10:00: Breakfast
10:00 – 13:00: Morning shift
13:00 – 14:30: Lunch
14:30 – 18:00: Relaxing and travel time. Usually your afternoons will be free to relax, take some trips, and explore in and around the city.
18:00 – 21:00: Dinner time
- Strong work ethic: Ready to put in the effort.
- Optimistic mindset: Maintain a positive attitude.
- Proactive and adaptable: Take initiative and offer help, as tasks may not be assigned.
- No experience needed: Training will be provided on-site.
- English proficiency: Must be able to speak and understand English.
- Eager to learn: Open to picking up some basic Croatian.
Oyster assesses projects carefully to ensure that they offer high standards of animal welfare and environmental practice. We and the local team will also check that volunteers understand key points of good practice before working with animals. To find out more, see our animal welfare policy.
Whilst late-availability is possible, we would advise booking as soon as you can to guarantee your ideal dates. Our projects are very popular and spaces can fill up several months in advance, especially for the months of June to September.
- Summer (June to August): Experience warm temperatures, vibrant beach life, and numerous festivals. This is the peak tourist season, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and outdoor activities.
- Late Spring (May): Enjoy pleasant weather with fewer crowds, making it perfect for exploring historical sites, hiking, and enjoying outdoor adventures.
- Early Autumn (September to October): Experience mild temperatures and a relaxing atmosphere as summer crowds disperse. This is a great time for water sports, local events, and enjoying the stunning autumn scenery.
- Spring (April): Witness blooming nature and mild weather, which is great for hiking and outdoor exploration, with fewer tourists compared to the summer months.
- Winter (November to March): For those who prefer a quiet retreat, winter offers a peaceful atmosphere, lower accommodation prices, and the chance to enjoy local culture without the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season.
We would recommend budgeting approximately £50 a week for free time activities – but if you enjoy shopping and drinking you will probably want to take more than this.
There are cash machines located all over Split and you can pay by card for almost everything. You should take at least two cards with you, and let your bank know that you will be going away.
Typically you won’t need a visa for stays up to 3 months. You should make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.
Most of our volunteers are independent travellers and you will become part of a group of people from around the world here. It is fine to travel with friends or as part of a small group too however- more the merrier!
The simple answer to this question is, yes absolutely!
It is important to bear in mind however that this may not be like other holidays that you have taken. Remember that you are volunteering in Croatia, and this means that you will be put to work each morning! That said, you will have free time each day to relax, explore the city, and take trips around the local area. With Croatia’s stunning coastline and historic old town on your doorstep, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Our volunteers often head home tired but immensely satisfied – and if you want to factor in some extra downtime, you can always do so once your time on the project is complete.
You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need. Your routine vaccinations will need to be up to date. You should follow your doctor’s advice.
Please see the Fit for Travel website.
Doctors, pharmacies and hospitals are located within 5 – 20 minutes of the accommodation.
Split is generally considered a safe destination for tourists. Here are some key points regarding safety in Split:
- Low Crime Rate: Split has a relatively low crime rate compared to other European cities. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, can occur, especially in crowded areas or tourist hotspots, so it’s essential to stay vigilant.
- Safe Transportation: Public transportation, including buses and ferries, is safe and reliable. Taxis and rideshare services are also available, and they operate under strict regulations.
- Emergency Services: The city has well-established emergency services, including police and medical facilities. Emergency numbers, such as 112 for general emergencies, are easily accessible.
- Tourist-Friendly Environment: Local residents are generally friendly and helpful towards tourists. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, making it easier to communicate and seek assistance if needed.
- Health Precautions: While Split is safe, it’s always good practice to be aware of health guidelines, especially regarding food and water safety. It’s advisable to drink bottled water and be cautious with street food.
Overall, with standard safety precautions—such as avoiding poorly lit areas at night and securing personal belongings—visitors can enjoy a pleasant and safe experience in Split.
There is free wifi provided at the volunteer house. You will receive a free local SIM card on arrival. Make sure that your phone is unlocked before arrival so that you can use the local SIM card.
We would suggest that you download the App Whatsapp prior to arrival so that you can be added into the volunteer group once you are in Split.
There is excellent phone reception in Split
You will need a European plug.
Croatia is in the Central European Time Zone (CET), which is UTC+1. During Daylight Saving Time (DST), from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, Croatia observes Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2.
Supervision will be fairly intensive during the first few days, when you will receive a thorough induction and work-related training. Once you are comfortable with things, you might not always have a supervisor working alongside you, but there will always be staff and other volunteers around to help, and you will always be accompanied for any high risk activities.
Staff at Oyster’s head office and in-country will be responsible for your safety and welfare while you are at the project. This will start from the moment you are picked up from the airport until the end of your project. Before and after these times, you will be outside Oyster’s responsibility and should make sure that you act safely and avoid risk. This is also true if you choose to leave the project during your time off. We will give you plenty of guidance and advice about this.
Would you like to chat to Kate, who manages this programme? Just call +44 (0) 1892 771 973 or email: – [email protected].
Ask a Question
