The Lost Dogs' Home

05/10/2026

On Van Gogh's 120th day in the shelter, he got his very own special doggy day out.🐾

He strolled through the park, visited a friend's apartment, enjoyed treats and toys and had a big, snore-filled sleep in the car like a toddler after a big day. He's just like any other dog; the only difference is he hasn't found a home yet.

Even after 120 days in the shelter, Van Gogh can still slip into normal dog life just like that. 🫰 We aren't saying that his transition into his forever home will be a walk in the park; it rarely is, but we want to show that it's possible. We want potential adopters to know that beyond his shelter dog status, Van Gogh is affectionate, intelligent, loving, loyal and surprisingly gentle despite his size. He is everything you'd expect from a staffy (and we know we have a lot of staffy fans who follow us!) and everything you'd expect from a perfect canine companion.

Still, he has some things he needs to work on, like managing his feelings around other dogs and engaging with the person handling him. He has responded incredibly well to positive, rewards-based training, which sometimes has involved a chicken nugget or two, IN MODERATION. We can't be the only ones who do this, right? Let us know below.

Beyond extra giving special treats, whoever adopts Van Gogh will need to be committed to his training and provide consistent, positive guidance.

Van Gogh requires a single-dog household with secondary school-aged kids or older. This will be the best environment for him to settle in at his own pace while feeling comfortable and confident. He is available to adopt from our shelter in North Melbourne right now!

If you can give Van Gogh the home he deserves, come in for a meet-and-greet or send this post to a friend who would be a perfect match for this lovable boy.

ID: 1171216
Micro. No: 956000016012106
Source No.: BR100738

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01/10/2026

Beautiful Bambi has waited patiently and politely for the right person to stop by her pod.

At 9 years old, this lovely lady is ready to settle into a life of leisure. Sun. Snoozing. snacks. She is the perfect companion for anyone who enjoys life's simple pleasures. Bambi would also appreciate more room to roam, with scratchers to scratch, couches for cuddling and nice little nooks for nesting.

Miss Bambi would like to live in a home where she is the only cat, as she's not the biggest fan of her fellow felines. She can be a little shy at first, so she will need a person who will be patient and let her come out of her shell in her own time. Hot tip: TREATS!

Bambi has now stayed at our shelter longer than any other cat available for adoption. She is constantly overlooked by adopters because she's quiet and a little reserved at times, but we know the real Bambi. She is affectionate and sweet while also being the most gentle girl you will ever meet.

We'd love for someone to see this post and be inspired to adopt Bambi, or for people to send this post to a friend who needs a gentle, loving companion.

Bambi is available to adopt from our North Melbourne shelter. She can't wait to politely headbutt your hand very soon!

Animal ID: 1091506
Micro. No.: 956000009369091
Source No.: BR100738

30/09/2026

Hope is embarking on an exciting new adventure: Living life as an adopted dog! 🐾

After meeting Hope last week, her new adopters, Pam and Graeme, arrived at our Cranbourne shelter today as soon as the gates opened. It was time to make it official! 🥳 Pam caught a glimpse of Hope as they were driving through to the customer parking area, and her face lit up. Graeme had to stop the car as Pam hopped out to greet their new best girl, treats in hand.

They've made sure Hope has everything she needs and have stocked up on treats, treat pouches, and even a ramp for their car! If that wasn't enough, Hope will also take home her old toys, blankets and bed to help her settle in.

Sometimes, an adoption can be a little bittersweet. Volunteer dog walker, Rae, fostered Hope for a month to give her a well-needed break from the shelter. Rae helped Hope grow and develop her manners while also helping her relearn how to be a dog. The two of them have spent countless hours together, which makes saying goodbye extra tough.

Even though parting ways can be extraordinarily hard, one foster dog's adoption means a space in a home for another foster dog to decompress, sleep and enjoy the simple doggy pleasures in life.

Foster carers are a crucial part of our community. If you want to be a part of a dog's journey to finding a forever home, you can sign up to become a foster carer via the link in our bio.

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28/09/2026

Midnight and Squeeke hit the jackpot. 🥳

You may remember Midnight and Squeeke, the two chunky seniors at our Cranbourne shelter who were struggling to find homes. Well, they not only found homes, but they found a home together! We are so happy these two get to spend the rest of their lives together, snuggling every day. 🤗

Their adopter, Sylvie, had no intention of adopting a cat during her visit to the shelter, let alone two! Having recently lost her beloved senior cat, Fleetwood, she was only at the shelter to enjoy some cat company. Midnight and Squeeke changed that in an instant.

'I've grown up either adopting seniors from the shelter or finding older strays and taking them in, so I've just always known having senior cats around since I was a kid.'

'I got to Squeeke second last, and I knew the second I opened his door that it would be mean to leave him there, but Midnight solidified it. Fleetwood was 14 when she passed, and since Midnight is almost the same age, and hearing how much she loves the sun like Fleetwood, I knew I had the perfect spot for her and her brother to sit in the sun for however long they have left.' 🥹

It has taken some time for the pair to start exploring the house. Confident girl Midnight has come out of her shell quicker than her shy younger brother, but Squeeke is slowly starting to find his feet. There's no pressure, though; they've found someone who will give them unconditional love no matter their size, age or confidence levels.

It's easy to lose sight of the good in the world among all the noise. The story of Sylvie, Midnight and Squeeke is a reminder of the incredible generosity, kindness and compassion that we can experience and give to others.

Right now, we have many senior cats, scared cats and cats with special health needs available for adoption. They are all in need of the same kindness Midnight and Squeeke now enjoy. If you have space in your heart and home to help a cat, come in to either of our shelters, and you might find a perfect new family member.

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24/09/2026

Sweet girls Sushi and Tofu are two very special cats looking for special homes. 🍣

Since being surrendered by their owner through no fault of their own, they've struggled to find their feet. The team have spent a lot of time working with them to improve their confidence and help them feel more comfortable around new people.

These ladies have built a fan club of volunteers, animal attendants, veterinary staff, and behaviour staff who all want the very best for them. Quite a few people individually requested a social media post to get these gals out of the shelter and into a home. (Side note: The LDH team are the best 🥹)

Sushi is the most confident of the two and has learned to accept more pats and treats from new people over time. She's super cute with her little white paws and will make a wonderful, quiet companion. Tofu is more shy, but she is growing and learning! She is slowly accepting that the nice people who come to her hidey-hole aren't here to hurt her; in fact, they bring very tasty treats! 🍬

Progress with Sushi and Tofu will be slow, but incredibly rewarding. Just take a look at our socials to see previous scared cats living happily and comfortably in loving homes. Once they are out of the busy, noisy shelter, everything changes!

Sushi and Tofu have spent their lives together, and we would love for them to be adopted into the same home as snuggle buddies. However, we understand adopting two cats is a big commitment, and we wouldn't want to stand in the way of either girl finding a loving home.

Sushi and Tofu are part of our Rescue or Rehome program, where we are committed to finding homes or rescue placements for scared cats and kittens. Come in to our North Melbourne shelter to meet them or reach out to [email protected].

Sushi and Tofu are unique, and they need a uniquely kind person to show them love, empathy and compassion. We know that there is someone like that out there just waiting to come across these two gentle souls.

Tofu
ID: 1173422
Micro. No.: 956000019735015
Source No.: BR100738

Sushi
ID: 1173423
Micro. No.: 956000019747014
Source No.: BR10073

24/09/2026

The Lost Dogs' Home will be open for reclaims only on Friday 25 September.

Both of our shelters in North Melbourne and Cranbourne will be open between 9:00am-12:30pm. If you have lost your pet, you will be able to reclaim them during this time.

If you're ready to adopt a new furry friend, our shelters will be open for adoptions again on Saturday. You can find our opening hours on our website.

Have a safe long weekend!

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21/09/2026

Barry's story is a familiar one.

✅ Big staffy ✅ High energy ✅ Misunderstood and judged based solely on his appearance.

The team made sure he was well looked after during his stay and, like with all long-termers, we all grew to love Barry. He spent over 100 days in the shelter waiting for a person who could look beyond his exterior and see him for what he is: Someone's best friend who has just been temporarily misplaced.

The next chapter in Barry's story is also very familiar. This is where it gets good!

Barry was adopted, and he hasn't looked back. Well, except for the day he came back to visit the team at North Melbourne on a day out. 🥹

His adopter reports that Barry is very intelligent and has responded quickly to training. He is described as a 'super dog.'

Beyond his super intelligence, Barry has demonstrated that he is gentle and careful with dogs and people, despite his size. However, he does experience much of the negative bias that bully breeds and their owners go through. Even with a happy tail and gentle demeanour, people are often unsure about Barry simply because of the way he's put together.

Seeing dogs like Barry go on to live full, happy lives with loving people inspires us every day. We know there are countless people out there who open their hearts and homes to the 'unwanted' or 'undesirable' dogs and people who even seek them out. We hope these happy stories can inspire more people to adopt, foster or donate to help animals, no matter their size or shape, find a forever home.

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20/09/2026

PHONES ARE DOWN AT NORTH MELBOURNE SHELTER AND LDH VET HOSPITAL.

To contact the shelter please email [email protected]

To contact the clinic please email [email protected]

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

20/09/2026

16/09/2026

Swipe to see everything Hope did in foster care and witness how incredible she is. Trust us, she's worth it. Apologies if this is a long read, we have a lot to say about this exceptional dog.

The fact that Hope hasn't been adopted is mind-boggling. She's OK with other dogs, loves meeting people, enjoys getting out and about with her foster family, and is playful, affectionate, cheeky, and a real snuggle bug. She has been described as a 'social butterfly' and a very slobbery kisser, so keep that in mind if you're within kissing distance. 😘 She has come so far during her stay in foster care, and shown us exactly the type of dog she is: A loyal friend, an amazing dog and somewhat of a unicorn in the shelter.🦄

Unfortunately, Hope cannot reach her full potential in the shelter. She has been struggling to cope in the stressful environment, and under so much stress and overwhelming pressure, Hope isn't herself. We are trying our best to find her the best home possible as quickly as possible so she can return to her amazing, positive, friendly self.

We are hopeful that people will see these photos, read about her and see beyond the dog that presents in the kennel. Instead of walking past without a second glance, like so many people already have, maybe they'll stop and give her a chance. One chance is all she needs.

Hope has previously shown some signs of separation anxiety but exhibited no signs of this in her foster home. With some guidance, she would be suitable to live with another well-matched dog and kids aged 12 or older. Please bring any dogs or kids you have along to the meet-and-greet at our *Cranbourne shelter.*

There are hearts out there brimming with kindness, compassion and love. Hope deserves it all. Hope is worth it.

Animal ID: 1173374
Source Number: BR100738
Micro. No.: 956000019729896