Your Swotah vehicle picks you up from Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, and drives you to Sneha's Care animal sanctuary in the Kathmandu Valley at 1,400 m. After a 20-minute orientation from the sanctuary team, you move into hands-on activities: helping prepare and distribute food for more than 150 rescued dogs and farm animals including cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs, walking and socialising dogs recovering from trauma or injury, and assisting with basic cleaning and care tasks. Sanctuary staff guide every activity, matching you with suitable animals and explaining appropriate handling. The day closes with a return transfer to Jawalakhel.
A free one-day volunteering experience at Sneha's Care in Lalitpur: feed, walk and care for more than 150 rescued dogs and farm animals in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Highest point
- 1,400 m4,593 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy1 of 7 · What this means
- Group
- Max 8 people
- Region
- Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
- Best season
- Spring · Autumn
- Stay
- No overnight; single-day experience
- Meals
- Bring water; lunch not included
- Transport
- Private pickup from Jawalakhel, Lalitpur
About the Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha’s Care
The Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha's Care is a one-day, no-cost experience in the Kathmandu Valley where you join the team at Sneha's Care animal sanctuary in Lalitpur to help feed, walk and socialise rescued dogs and other farm animals. Sneha's Care is a Kathmandu animal-welfare sanctuary founded in 2014 by animal activist Sneha Shrestha, and it is home to more than 150 rescued street dogs as well as cattle, buffaloes, goats, pigs and a sheep.
The day begins with a private pickup from Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, followed by an orientation at the sanctuary explaining its rescue and rehabilitation programme. Hands-on activities include preparing and distributing animal food, walking and socialising dogs (many are recovering from trauma or injury), and helping with basic cleaning and care routines. No prior animal-handling experience is required; the sanctuary team guides you through each task at a comfortable pace suited to the animals' needs.
This experience is open to animal lovers, families with older children, solo travellers and groups. The sanctuary sits at roughly 1,400 m in the Kathmandu Valley, so there is no altitude concern. It runs year-round, with spring and autumn the most pleasant weather. The sections below cover what to expect on the day, pickup logistics, what to bring, and how to support Sneha's Care through optional donations or supplies.
Last updated October 2026
Highlights
Free one-day volunteering at Sneha's Care in Lalitpur, no booking fee
Feed and care for more than 150 rescued dogs and farm animals
Walk and socialise dogs recovering from trauma and injury
Open to animal lovers, families, solo travellers, no experience needed
Learn about Kathmandu's animal-welfare work from sanctuary staff
Private pickup from Jawalakhel included; optional donations welcome
Day by Day
Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha’s Care Itinerary: 1 Days
Tap any day to expand — altitudes, walking times, meals, and overnight details for every stage of the journey.
What's included
What your trip price pays for, and what to budget for yourself.
Included8
- Pick-up and drop-off from jawalakhel
- Full-day volunteering at Sneha’s Care Animal Sanctuary
- Orientation by Sneha’s Care staff
- Hands-on experience with animal care and rescue
- Interaction with street dogs and farm animals
- All necessary materials for volunteering tasks
- Opportunities to learn about animal welfare and advocacy
- Certificate of participation (optional)
Not included3
- Personal donations to Sneha’s Care (optional but encouraged)
- Personal expenses (e.g.,lunch, snacks, beverages)
- Transportation outside the designated pick-up/drop-off location
How Hard Is the Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha’s Care?
This is an easy, hands-on day at ground level in the Kathmandu Valley. Activities include feeding animals, walking dogs and helping with basic care. No fitness level or prior experience is required. Suitable for most ages.
Planning your Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha’s Care
Everything you need to plan the trek, topic by topic. Tap any one to open it.
Sneha's Care is a non-profit animal-welfare sanctuary in Lalitpur founded in 2014 by Sneha Shrestha. It rescues, treats and rehabilitates street dogs and farm animals, and it currently cares for more than 150 rescued dogs as well as cattle, buffaloes, goats, pigs and a sheep. Many of the dogs arrive with injuries, disease or trauma from life on Kathmandu's streets.
Your day begins with pickup from Jawalakhel and a short orientation at the sanctuary. The hands-on programme covers preparing and distributing food for the dogs and farm animals, walking and socialising dogs that benefit from human contact and gentle exercise, and helping with basic cleaning and care of the spaces. Sanctuary staff guide you through every task; they tailor the work to what suits the animals that day, so the programme is flexible. The day wraps up at the sanctuary before your return transfer.
Sneha's Care runs year-round, and volunteering is available in every month. All four season cards are marked as available because the sanctuary does not close…
This experience is completely free. There is no booking fee, no entry charge, no permit required, and no cost to the volunteer. Sneha's Care offers this as a…
The pickup point is Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, a central location in the south of the Kathmandu Valley, roughly 4 km from Thamel and about 3 km from Patan Durbar…
Wear old, comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting dirty or muddy; animal care and feeding means contact with food, soil and fur. Closed-toe shoes or…
Sneha's Care is a Lalitpur-based animal sanctuary founded in 2014 by Sneha Shrestha, a Nepali animal-welfare activist who began rescuing injured street dogs as…
Sneha's Care is home to more than 150 rescued dogs, most of them former street dogs from the Kathmandu Valley. They range from dogs recovering from fresh…
Four activities make up the core of the volunteering day. The first is food preparation and feeding: you help portion and distribute dry food and, where…
Handling rescued dogs requires calm, predictable behaviour, because many animals at the sanctuary have trauma histories and can react to sudden movement or…
Responsible volunteering at Sneha's Care means letting the animals set the pace. This is a working sanctuary, not a petting zoo; the team's priority is the…
What to pack
The full kit list. Anything we loan (sleeping bag, down jacket) is called out — bring everything else.
- Small daypack or tote bag
- Reusable bag for donation supplies
Questions & Answers
Everything trekkers ask before booking. Don't see yours? Tap Enquire — we usually reply within a few hours.
- Yes, completely. There is no booking fee, no entry charge and no payment required at any point. Sneha's Care offers this volunteering day as a community programme, and Swotah facilitates the transport and coordination at no cost. You will not be asked to pay anything on the day. Optional donations or in-kind supplies (such as dog food, blankets or basic medical items) are always welcome for the sanctuary, but these are entirely your choice and there is no expectation or obligation.
Why Book the Free Dog Rescue Volunteering Day with Sneha’s Care with Swotah
Most Nepal operators look the same from the outside. Here's what actually makes the difference.
Born in Nepal
100% locally owned since 2016. Trek profits stay with the mountain families and village schools along your route.
Guaranteed Departures
Every date on our calendar runs, even with only two trekkers. You never pay to be cancelled.
Certified Guides
Government-licensed, English-speaking and trained in first aid and altitude medicine. All come from Nepal's mountain districts.
Small Groups
Small groups, never more than 8 trekkers. You get a real experience, not a convoy.
Gear Included
Sleeping bag and down jacket loaned at no extra charge.
Flexible Payment
Deposit from 10% to confirm, balance before departure or in cash on arrival. Reschedule up to 30 days prior.
24/7 Support
Kathmandu office and dedicated WhatsApp emergency line. We answer at 2am if needed.
Hall of Fame
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2023, 2024 and 2025. Hundreds of verified five-star reviews.