What You Gain By Giving - Volunteering with Amazon CARES

By Shannon Sullivan

Volunteering one’s time and skills is a wonderful way to support an organization or give back to a community. However, volunteering isn’t just about giving - there’s also a great deal you can gain. Amazon CARES is successful due to our many great volunteers, but we can always use more help!

Amazon CARES volunteers.

Amazon CARES currently has many volunteer opportunities, both virtual and in-person. Everything from veterinary volunteers to graphic designers, assembling volunteer orientation packets, even ad design. There are many ways to volunteer with Amazon CARES; you can learn more about ways to volunteer here. If you have other ideas of how to help, you can contact Manuela at manuela@amazoncares.org.

There is much to gain by volunteering! 

Jimmy, a dog helped by Amazon CARES.

Improve the Lives of Others
 
Volunteering with Amazon CARES allows you to help improve the lives of domestic animals throughout northern Peru. In addition, many programs offered by Amazon CARES aim to improve the lives of humans.

Strengthen Communities

Amazon CARES feels that creating a culture of empathy and compassion is vital to the humane treatment of animals. Our programs help to educate and strengthen communities.

At right are community members supporting justice for a dog named Arthas at an animal cruelty court case. Read more here.

Career Experience 

With so many different ways to volunteer, working with Amazon CARES allows you to utilize your skills and gain valuable job experience.

Our mobile clinics are an excellent opportunity to learn and use veterinary and animal-handling skills.

Connect With Others
 

Volunteering allows you to meet other like-minded individuals with similar interests. You also have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and ways of life.

Benefit Your Health

Volunteering has been found to increase self-confidence, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and help combat depression. Volunteering can also help to improve your physical health. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, and volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease.

Learn more about volunteering with Amazon CARES here, or contact Manuela at manuela@amazoncares.org for more information!

Amazon CARES sincerely thanks all of our past, current, and future volunteers!

We are currently looking for volunteers for our
August and October veterinary trips!

We love our volunteers!

Amazon CARES Welcomes Doctors Vargas and Castilla

By Shannon Sullivan

Everyone at Amazon CARES is happy to welcome two new doctors to our team! Join us in welcoming Dr. Julio Vargas and Dr. Reyna Isabel Castilla to our hardworking team of veterinary professionals in Iquitos, Peru.

Dr. Vargas at an Amazon CARES mobile clinic.

Dr. Julio Vargas has been working in veterinary medicine since 2007 and graduated from the National University Pedro Ruiz Gallo-Lambayeque. He has experience treating domestic animals, including companion animals and farm animals, as well as exotic animals. Dr. Vargas has a great deal of experience with dermatology, reproduction, pathology and immunology, and production animal management. Even though he has many skills and areas of expertise, he particularly enjoys surgery. In his free time, Dr. Vargas enjoys spending time with animals and swimming.

Dr. Vargas performing surgery.

 

Dr. Castilla with a friend.

Dr. Reyna Isabel Castilla graduated from the National University of San Cristobal Guamanga – Ayacucho in 2011. Her research thesis in veterinary school focused on gastrointestinal parasites in primates kept in captivity. How interesting! Dr. Castilla has been working in veterinary medicine since 2008, focusing on reproduction, wildlife management, and production animal management.

Dr. Castilla with a patient at the Amazon CARES clinic.

 

Everyone here at Amazon CARES is very excited to have both of these wonderful doctors join our team. Please join us in wishing them both a warm welcome!