It provides a service for the entire country and is sustained entirely by voluntary effort and in field conditions. We currently deal with more than 1,000 telephone calls per annum reporting injured or distressed seals, or marine related incidents.

SPECIES: Marine mammals, primarily pinnipeds, mainly the Grey Seal and the Harbour Seal. Occasionally other wildlife casualties eg cetaceans, birds and small mammals

HABITAT: Species rescued from anywhere on the 6,000 mile Irish coastline

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: North County Dublin, Ireland

TRAVEL INFORMATION: The Sanctuary is within easy travelling distance from Dublin but there is no public transport to the Sanctuary itself

DURATION: Min. 3 months

PERIOD: May - February

AGE: Over 18 yrs

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: Ability to work as part of a team. A driving license is essential. The work involves physical labour so volunteers must be fit. Training will be given. Veterinary experience useful but no essential

VOLUNTEERS' WORK: Full-time volunteers are required to make up a team of handlers to rehabilitate the seals that come into the sanctuary. Duties will include cleaning seal pens, preparing food for the seals, force feeding sick pups, record keeping, general maintenance and seal rescues ? collecting sick seals from around the country, and ultimately releasing them back into the wild

LANGUAGE: English

ACCOMMODATION: Small shared apartment

COST: Food and accommodation are provided free of charge, as is a vehicle to travel to the Sanctuary from the accommodation. Volunteers must arrange their own transport to the ISS from their own country, though can be collected from Dublin

LONG-TERM: Suitable volunteers may be able to stay for 10 months

AGENTS, CORRESPONDENTS: Interested applicants should fill in a volunteer application form on our website and email it to Emma. More information will be supplied