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Pets Of The Homeless Australia

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Cheltenham, VIC
Pets Of The Homeless Australia

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We work to help keep vulnerable people and their pets together by alleviating the burden of providing essential pet care during times of hardship.

30/10/2026

A year ago, Noeline made the heartbreaking decision to temporarily part with her beloved Staffy, Ghost. Couch surfing with her two children and facing an uncertain future, she knew it was the safest choice for them all. 💔

Over the months that followed, she worked tirelessly to rebuild their lives. She completed training as a bus driver, secured employment, and eventually found permanent housing for her family.

After eight long months apart, all of that hard work paid off. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place.

Ghost came home.

Noeline admitted she was a little nervous about the reunion. It was a big change for both of them, and she wondered how Ghost would adjust to this new chapter.

But Ghost's devoted foster carers helped make the transition as smooth as possible, sending Noeline home with pages of notes covering everything from Ghost's routine and favourite foods to the little quirks they'd discovered over the eight months.

As you can see from these videos, there was nothing to worry about.

Just look at the smiles on everyone's faces. Ghost's included.

This is why we do what we do.

Because sometimes, keeping people and pets together doesn't mean never being apart. It means making sure that, when life gets hard, families have the chance to find their way back to each other.

If you believe that tough times should never mean giving up a furry family member, this is your chance to help.

Our ‘Never Tear Them Apart’ Giving Day is happening on 11 November - and every dollar you donate will be TRIPLED thanks to Scratch and our other generous matching partners.

That’s triple the love. Triple the relief. And triple the hope for families like Ghost’s who need us now more than ever.

You don’t have to wait. Make an early donation now: https://petsofthehomeless.au/GhostGivingDay

29/10/2026

Imagine having nowhere to go on a cold night.

Everything you own packed into a single trolley as you wander from place to place, searching for shelter from the elements. Somewhere you might be able to sleep for a few hours without being moved on.

For Atreyu, that was his reality. Every day was about survival.

Cold nights. Constant uncertainty. Never knowing where he'd sleep. Barely enough money to feed himself, let alone his best mate, Tim.

Atreyu is sixty years old. Voice raw with emotion, he told me he never thought his life would look like that at sixty.

I noticed the thick hoodie he was wearing under his coat. The layers upon layers of clothes, which I imagined still wouldn't be enough to keep him warm on the brutal winter nights.

But, I also noticed the way Atreyu’s eyes sparkled when he spoke about his beloved senior boy, Tim.

Tim is his constant companion. His best friend. The one who keeps him going.

Atreyu proudly showed me the trolley contraption he had built. Tucked inside was a little crate lined with blankets and covered by a plastic sheet to keep Tim safe, warm and dry.

At fifteen years old, Tim is well into his golden years. He’s slower on his feet these days and his cloudy eyes struggle with the darkness, but Atreyu’s devotion has never wavered. No matter what challenges he faces himself, he always puts Tim’s needs first.

Too scared of the violence, substance abuse and unpredictability of rooming houses, Atreyu preferred to sleep in parks and on the streets. When he enquired about public housing, he was told the wait could be up to seventeen years.

“We’ll be dead before then,” he joked, but the joke didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m just glad my wife isn’t around to see this. She passed away a few years ago.”

Atreyu told me about the nights his belongings had been stolen. About having to move constantly to avoid getting into trouble with local councils. About surviving on lentils and rice because that was all he could afford.

One day, while accessing food relief, he asked a volunteer, "Can I please have an extra sausage for my dog?"

"I'm sorry, this food is for people only," they replied.

"But my dog needs to eat too."

Feeling defeated, Atreyu gave Tim his one sausage.

Noticing his disappointment, another volunteer asked if he had heard of Pets Of The Homeless and explained that we provide pet food support to people doing it tough.

That's how Atreyu found us, walking all the way here, with his trolley full of things.

I packed a large bag of food for Tim, including dry food, wet food and a few treats. The joy on Atreyu's face was priceless.

When I asked whether there was anything else Tim needed, he paused for a moment before saying, "If I could have an extra blanket for his crate, that would be amazing. The nights are getting a lot colder."

I grabbed him a blanket and a few other essentials from the warehouse, and noticed we had some delicious food left over from our corporate volunteers' lunch earlier that day. So I packed up a little bag for Atreyu with falafel wraps, some sweets and a can of soft drink. It wasn't much, but I hoped it might bring a small moment of comfort and a welcome change from the lentils and rice he had been relying on.

As he loaded everything into his trolley, I told him I wished there was more I could do. He looked at me and simply said, "No, really. This means everything. Thank you."

I gave Tim one last pat, then, before heading off to find a place to spend the night, Atreyu turned and said, "Knowing you guys are here to help me with Tim is such a relief."

That's exactly why our 'Never Tear Them Apart' Giving Day matters.

More people like Atreyu are facing unimaginable hardship, fighting to keep their beloved pets by their side. But you can change that.

And right now, your kindness can go THREE times as far! Thanks to our generous matching partners, every dollar you donate will be TRIPLED!

With Giving Day less than two weeks away, you can help us get a head start by making an early donation today: https://petsofthehomeless.au/givingday26

Image description: A woman greets a small dog and man outside the Pets Of The Homeless warehouse.

28/10/2026

We're counting down to our biggest day of the year! 🧡

In just two weeks, our Never Tear Them Apart Giving Day will be here, and this year it's more important than ever.

With the cost of living continuing to soar and the housing crisis pushing more people into hardship, we're seeing more people than ever struggling to afford the basics. Not just for themselves, but for their beloved pets too.

The need has never been greater and neither has our determination to help.

That's why we need your support to raise $500,000 this Giving Day, so we can continue keeping vulnerable people and their beloved pets together when they need each other most.

And we're kicking things off early! Thanks to our major partner Scratch and other generous matching partners, every donation made from now will be TRIPLED!

That means your gift will go three times as far in helping people and pets stay together.

Make an early donation now: https://petsofthehomeless.au/givingdaytwoweeks

28/10/2026

We're counting down to our biggest day of the year! 🧡

In just two weeks, our Never Tear Them Apart Giving Day will be here, and this year it's more important than ever.

With the cost of living continuing to soar and the housing crisis pushing more people into hardship, we're seeing more people than ever struggling to afford the basics. Not just for themselves, but for their beloved pets too.

The need has never been greater and neither has our determination to help.

That's why we need your support to raise $500,000 this Giving Day, so we can continue keeping vulnerable people and their beloved pets together when they need each other most.

And we're kicking things off early! Thanks to our major partner Scratch and other generous matching partners, every donation made from now will be TRIPLED!

That means your gift will go three times as far in helping people and pets stay together.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday 11 November, or get a head start and triple your impact by donating today: https://petsofthehomeless.au/givingdaytwoweeks

Image description: A smiling Pets Of The Homeless volunteer wearing an orange high-vis vest stands in the warehouse, holding a yellow sign that reads, “We need your support to keep vulnerable people and their pets together.”

27/10/2026

YOU can be the reason best friends like Jack* and Maisie* get to stay together. 🧡

We desperately need more people in metro Victoria to foster large dogs, like gorgeous Maisie.

Find out more about how you can be a lifeline for vulnerable people and pets: https://www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/get-involved/foster

*Names changed for privacy reasons.

26/10/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to bring your team together before the end of the year? 🤝

Swap the usual end-of-year team lunch for something that gives back!

We're inviting businesses to roll up their sleeves and join us for a day of workplace volunteering at our Pet Food Bank in Cheltenham.

Your team will get hands-on sorting, packing and preparing pet food that goes directly to helping vulnerable people across Victoria care for their beloved pets.

It's a fantastic opportunity to:
🧡 Bring your team together outside the office
🧡 Make a real, tangible difference in your community
🧡 Give back in a meaningful way before the year wraps up
🧡 Have some fun while supporting a great cause

Whether you're a small business or a larger corporate team, we'd love to welcome you.

End-of-year volunteering spots are filling up, so now's the time to get your team involved!

Find out more and register your interest: https://www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/get-involved/corporate-volunteering

Let's finish the year doing something pawsitive! 🐾

Image description: A cheerful group of eight corporate volunteers celebrating a fun day at the Pets Of The Homeless Pet Food Bank, proudly holding a sign announcing they packed 5,420 meals to help feed pets in need.

25/10/2026

Would you live in your car for sixteen long months rather than surrender your beloved dog?

How would you shower? Keep your job? Survive the freezing winter and scorching summer?

For sixteen months, that was the reality for Heidi and her human.

With the only alternative being crisis accommodation that wouldn't accept pets, Heidi's mum chose to stay in her car rather than give up her best friend.

But eventually, it became too much.

After sixteen months of homelessness, she was faced with a heartbreaking decision: surrender the dog she loved, or continue living in conditions that were becoming impossible to endure.

She had fought so hard to stay together, but she simply couldn't go on.

And so, at ten years old, Heidi found herself in a shelter, waiting for someone to give her a second chance.

That's when two wonderful humans, Kate and Sunanda, came into her life.

“She had a lovely retirement,” they told us when they recently visited our HQ, bringing Heidi's belongings to donate.

After 6.5 beautiful years with her new family, Heidi had passed away at sixteen years old.

Through teary eyes, Kate and Sunanda shared stories of their little girl.

How she was wonderful with children, even helping a little one overcome their fear of dogs. How she demanded to be the centre of attention, but always on her own terms. How she adored the beach, and maybe even more, her food.

In her golden years, Heidi enjoyed all the finer things in life. Fried rice, hamburgers, you name it. She even got to indulge in steak night!

When I commented on her wonderfully sassy personality, Kate laughed.

“Yes, she was a country music-listening, chain smoker. Although, she quit after losing all her teeth…”

But what moved me most was what Kate and Sunanda shared next.

They often thought about Heidi's first human, and how devastating it must have been for her to say goodbye to the dog she'd sacrificed so much to keep.

They knew how much Heidi was loved, and they knew that surrendering her would never have been a decision made lightly.

So, in a beautiful full-circle moment, they decided to honour Heidi's memory by bringing her belongings and medications to us, along with an incredibly generous donation. Their hope was that Heidi's legacy could help another person facing hardship keep their beloved pet by their side.

I was so moved by their compassion, not only for Heidi, but for the woman who had loved her first, that I asked if we could share her story.

Because that is exactly why we exist.

No one should have to choose between having a safe place to sleep and keeping their best friend, or enduring the heartbreak of surrendering a beloved pet to already overwhelmed shelters, simply because they've fallen on hard times.

Heidi was one of the lucky ones. She found two extraordinary people who gave her a beautiful second chapter, filled with love, beach adventures and plenty of delicious food.

But sadly, not every senior pet gets that second chance.

Kate and Sunanda, thank you for giving Heidi a wonderful retirement, for recognising the love of the human who came before you, and for turning your grief into something that will help others. We're sending you both so much love as you grieve your sassy little girl.

And to Heidi's first human, wherever you are, we hope life has been kinder to you and you've found the stability and safety you were fighting for. We also hope you know that Heidi went on to live a long, happy life, surrounded by love.

Fly high over the rainbow bridge, beautiful Heidi. 🌈🐾

Image description: A beautiful photo collage capturing the special bond between a much-loved little white dog and her humans.

23/10/2026

Bad Pet Portraits Christmas edition is BACK by popular demand!!! 😻

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift that’s equal parts heartfelt and hilarious? If so, look no further. For a small donation, you’ll get a truly one-of-a-kind pet portrait drawn by one of our talented or “artistically challenged” volunteers!

How it works:
📅 RSVP to the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Gd7pXkD5Q/
📸 On November 27, make a donation of $25 more and submit a photo of your pet.
🧑‍🎨 Our talented and not-so-talented volunteer artists will create the most incredible work of art you have ever seen. Our artists have varying levels of skill and artistry, so it’s basically the luck of the... draw! (see what we did there?)

Every year, we're inundated with comments from people saying "Oh no! I didn't know this was happening." Or "I'm so upset I missed it!" Well, THIS is your sign.

RSVP now so you don't miss out: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Gd7pXkD5Q/ 🎄🎁

Got anyone in mind who you think would also love a custom and hilarious pet portrait? Tag them in the comments below to help spread the word! 💌

Image description: A bright and festive promotional graphic for Bad Pet Portraits, taking place on 27 November 2026. Featuring two adorable dogs alongside a hilariously imperfect Christmas-themed illustration.

22/10/2026

We absolutely hate having to say no to someone who needs our help. 💔

But sometimes, despite our best efforts, that's exactly what we have to do.

A few weeks ago, we had four beautiful large dogs desperately needing foster homes, but none of our existing foster carers were available to take them in.

So we turned to our wonderful Facebook community for help.

Thanks to your support, we managed to find a loving foster home for Bronny. But for Zadie, Obi and Koda, we weren't so lucky.

And that meant having to tell their humans the words we dread most: "I'm so sorry, but we're unable to help right now."

It's heartbreaking, especially when we know how much these dogs mean to their people. 🥺

So we have to ask, why is it so much harder to find foster homes for big dogs?

Do they have less love to give? Absolutely not.

Are they any less deserving of a warm bed, a safe home and someone to love them? Of course not.

Are they harder to care for? Our incredible foster carer Deb certainly doesn't think so! Here's what she has to say:

"Big Dogs! Fostering!

Yes Yes Yes……

I have been fostering big dogs for over twelve months now , as well as having our own 50kg Bull Arab!!!

The biggies seem to be the most sooky sooky la la, loving and gentle of all.

Despite their size they still think they are lap dogs until they realise your lap is too small.

They eat anything and POTH provide plenty of food to keep them going!

They don’t need a huge amount of room as a walk or two a day will tire them out and they will be ready for food and a nap.

Due to their size some people are intimidated but my experience has been that once introduced they are fine and settle quickly.

They do need lots of cuddles just like the littlies and in return you get a big sloppy kiss.

They are the best and certainly I will continue to foster the BIGGIES!!!"

We wish everyone felt the same about big dogs as Deb. 🥰

And while we know every dog is different, and fostering a larger dog can come with its own considerations, we'd really love to understand what's stopping more people from giving it a go.

Is it their size? The space they might need? Concerns about walking or handling them? Or perhaps something else entirely?

We'd genuinely love to hear from you.

If you've ever considered fostering a large dog but decided against it, what held you back?

And if you have ideas for how we could encourage more people to open their homes to these gentle giants, we're all ears.

Behind every dog on our waitlist is a person who loves them more than anything. Someone who may be facing one of the hardest times of their life and just needs a little help to keep their best friend safe.

We can't bear the thought of having to turn more of them away simply because their beloved companion happens to be a little bigger.

Please share your thoughts in the comments, and if you live in metro Victoria and have room in your home and heart to foster a big, beautiful pup, we'd love to hear from you. 🙏🧡

Find out more about becoming a foster carer here: https://www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/get-involved/foster

Image description: Three of Deb's big and beautiful foster pups: Zeus, Mia the Husky and Buddy the Greyhound.

21/10/2026

It's not all puppuccinos and cuddles 🤦‍♀️

Address

84A KEYS Road
Cheltenham, VIC
3192

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 1pm

Website

http://www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/

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