The Lost Dogs' Home

The Lost Dogs' Home Website: dogshome.com. Domestic Animal Business Registration Number: North Melbourne shelter: 001APN

Since 1910, The Lost Dogs’ Home has provided a safe haven to lost and abandoned dogs and cats. Each year, more than 16,000 animals come through our doors in desperate need of shelter and care. For more information about our work and how you can help, visit https://dogshome.com/

21/08/2026

We've told you before, and we are telling you again, Winston is the best! 💫

During the filming of this video, there were many conversations sparked to the tune of 'Winston is such a funny cat', 'you have to see this photo I took of him,' and 'he's such a cool cat, I can't believe no one has adopted him!' Many laughs were had, and it seemed like Winston had as much fun as we did. You can't help but smile at whatever crazy cat-brained thing he's doing.

Still, these filming sessions often end on a sombre note as we close the door and leave Winston in his pod. This will be Winston's second dedicated post.

We love spending time with Winston, but this is too much time. At 112 days in the shelter, he has been here longer than all of the other cats available for adoption. He belongs in a home where he can stretch his legs and have heaps of toys, scratchers, love and attention. The idea of Winston doing full-on proper zoomies in his own home fills us with hope.

Right now, Winston is not the most outwardly affectionate cat. He enjoys some light pats but prefers play over everything else. He is still a very young cat and, with some time in a stable home where he can decompress and enjoy as much play and enrichment as he wants, Winston will have the mental and physical space to accept even more gentle affection. All it takes is for one person to give a chance to the cat 'no one wants.'

Winnie will need to live in a home as the only cat and with kids who are primary school-aged or older. We know these recommendations can be prohibitive for some people, but we always make them with the best interests of the animal and potential adopters in mind.

If you have a friend who is cat-free who you think shouldn't be cat-free, send this post to them! Make sure you tell them to come and meet Winnie with a toy and treat in hand and they'll be BFFs in no time.

Winston is available to adopt from our North Melbourne shelter 💙

ID: 1169420
Micro. No.: 956000018422586
Source No.: BR100738

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Besties Chai and Kai are the definition of an ‘odd couple’, but once you hear their story, they make perfect sense. 👯‍♀️...
20/08/2026

Besties Chai and Kai are the definition of an ‘odd couple’, but once you hear their story, they make perfect sense. 👯‍♀️

Itsumi adopted little Chihuahua Chai after fostering her as a puppy. She reports that Chai was incredibly anxious and was ‘terrified of almost everything.’ But Itsumi didn’t give up. She worked with Chai to build her confidence, and Chai learned to love exploring the world with her. Something was still missing; that’s where Kai comes in.

When Itsumi brought a new Akita mix foster puppy, Kai, home for some needed respite from the shelter, it was love at first sight.

‘From the moment they met, Kai was so gentle with Chai, and she accepted him right away. Since then, her separation anxiety has completely disappeared. They are truly inseparable.’

Kai and Chai are everything you could ask for in a pair of pups. They assist as big brother and sister to the occasional foster puppy, and they do an incredible job.

Kai has also taken on a unique skill - Talking! Kind of.. He can communicate using special buttons that Itsumi taught him to use. His favourite button words are ‘treat’ and ‘outside’, of course. He has mastered the buttons to the point where he can give a little bit of sass as you’ll witness in the video (scroll across to watch). We can assure you that Kai is receiving plenty of treats. 😂

Itsumi has done everything in her power to give these once lost pups the best lives possible. Even with her two resident dogs, she continues to provide puppies with a loving, stable foster home while they wait for their turn to be given the best life possible in a forever home.

19/08/2026

Bingwen is quietly waiting in her hidey hole for someone to see her.

When Bingwen arrived at the shelter, the team could see she was timid and shut down. With a gentle scratch on the chin and some quiet words of encouragement, Bingwen softened. She can enjoy affection and human company, but she struggles to cope with the shelter environment. Many adopters won't take the time to quietly approach her in the way she needs.

Our staff and volunteers spend some special moments with her every day as they try to make her stay in the shelter less stressful. Still, nothing could replace the comfort of a quiet home with loving people. Bingwen will thrive in the care of compassionate and understanding adopters who will allow her to build confidence at her own pace.

Having posted about so many of these shy cats in the past, we know there are people out there who recognise how rewarding the process of earning a cat's trust can be. Bingwen has spent time in our North Melbourne shelter, and now resides at our Cranbourne shelter, where we hope someone will take the time to get to know her.

If you are ready to do something life-changing by taking in a beautiful, sweet cat, come and meet Bingwen at our Cranbourne shelter today.

Animal ID: 1170991
Source Number: BR100738
Micro. No.: 956000019738962

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His name is Senior Steve, but there ain't nothin' senior about Steve. 😎This almost 12-year-old compact little ball of lo...
17/08/2026

His name is Senior Steve, but there ain't nothin' senior about Steve. 😎

This almost 12-year-old compact little ball of love is ready to brighten up someone's life. 🌞

Steve is the definition of a chill dude. This guy plods along on walks with his nose to the ground and his chunky little tail wagging 24/7. He's happy to go at a slower pace if it means he can cram in as many sniffs as possible.

There may be a little grey around his muzzle, but don't be fooled, Steve is still ready to rumble (in a fun way). He loves an intense game of tug-of-war or a great chew session with a Kong or chewy treat. Even older pups like Senior Steve need plenty of mental and physical enrichment to live their best lives during their golden years.

Senior Steve is suitable to live with secondary school-aged kids or older and could live with a well-matched dog. Please bring any dogs or kids in the household along to meet him before adopting! 🐾

Steve has crammed so much joy and fun into his solid little frame, which we can only imagine comes from all the wisdom he has gained in his 12 years. We know he is going to fill someone's life with the same joy and fun, and we hope they'll be on their way to adopt him soon!

Senior Steve is available to adopt from our North Melbourne shelter. You can read more about him on our website.

Animal ID: 1172012
Source Number: BR100738
Micro. No.: 956000004065694

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Tell us what type of pets you have in the comments below! If you have no pets but you love animals, we want to know that...
17/08/2026

Tell us what type of pets you have in the comments below!

If you have no pets but you love animals, we want to know that too. 🥰

Let's clear the shelter!Our shelters currently have over 100 adorable cats and kittens in need of homes, so we will be l...
14/08/2026

Let's clear the shelter!

Our shelters currently have over 100 adorable cats and kittens in need of homes, so we will be lowering our adoption fees for one day to encourage more people to adopt.

Adoption fees today will be:
$100 for kittens
$25 for cats

You could be a part of something HUGE 🫨 We are envisioning empty pods, unused litter boxes and lonely toys because all the kitties that would play with them have been adopted!

Please bring a carrier, if you have one, and a current photo ID with proof of address. Depending on your council area, fees vary for council registration. We often see large turnouts at these events, so please be patient with our staff. Set aside at least an hour, preferably more, to allow ample time to meet and adopt a cat.

Adoption is a big decision, and special adoption fees are only a small part of the ongoing costs of pet ownership. Please carefully consider how a new pet will fit into your home and lifestyle.

Our shelters in Cranbourne and North Melbourne are open from 9am. We can't wait to see all your happy faces 🥹

📣Tomorrow: Special adoption fees for one day only!Tomorrow, Saturday 15 August, both of our shelters will be offering sp...
14/08/2026

📣Tomorrow: Special adoption fees for one day only!

Tomorrow, Saturday 15 August, both of our shelters will be offering special adoption fees for cat and kitten adoptions 😻

Fees will be:
$100 for kittens 🐈
$25 for cats 🐈‍⬛

There will be over 100 felines available for adoption across our two shelters. All of them need a loving, happy home with kind people. If you can provide a cat or kitten with a home, you're not just helping one animal, you are making a space for the next kitten to come through and find a home sooner.

Please remember that adopting a new pet is a big financial and emotional commitment. Every adopter should carefully consider how a cat will fit into their life before making that decision. We know there are heaps of you out there who are more than ready to take on a new furry family member!

Please visit our website to see more available cats and to check our opening hours. Both shelters will be open for adoptions from 9am. ⏰

Our shelters are located at:
📍2 Gracie St, North Melbourne VIC 3051
📍 920 Thompsons Rd, Cranbourne West VIC 3977

See you there! 🐾

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13/08/2026

*BEA IS NOW AVAILABLE AT OUR CRANBOURNE SHELTER
Little firecracker Bea is ready to bound her way into your heart. 🐾

Due to no fault of her own, Bea was surrendered to us in June. She is a sweet, sensitive girl with a lot of love to give and many skills to show off! She is active, super focused and has a contagious zest for life.

The video speaks for itself; Bea is incredibly smart. She will happily take on the challenge of learning new skills with adopters who are willing to teach her. She is eager to learn and catches on to things faster than you realise. Don't be surprised if she pulls out tricks you didn't even know you taught her!

Bea's ideal life would involve plenty of mental and physical enrichment. Whether it be hiking, going on runs, walks or training sessions, all Bea really wants is to get out and about with her family. With the right guidance she could fit into a variety of households. Once the day is over, Bea would love to curl up on the couch next to you and snooze all evening.

Since she arrived at the shelter, Bea has spent some quality time with our behaviour team, who have been helping her with her confidence around other dogs and, as you can see, she's doing great at it!

Due to her lack of confidence around new dogs, Bea requires a home where she is the only dog, with kids who are secondary school-aged or older. Her ideal adopters will be willing to continue building on the progress our behaviour team has made and beyond!

We think Bea is the best. We love how sharp and focused she is, and we love how she perfectly demonstrates how adaptable and surprising every shelter dog can be. She will make the perfect companion for someone looking for a loyal dog that might be just as smart as them.

Come in to our North Melbourne shelter to meet Bea today!
Animal ID: 1133734
Source Number: BR100738
Micro. No.: 956000017029224

If you're looking for a new furry friend, The Lost Dogs' Home is where you'll find them! 🐾This Saturday only, special ca...
12/08/2026

If you're looking for a new furry friend, The Lost Dogs' Home is where you'll find them! 🐾

This Saturday only, special cat and kitten adoption fees will be in effect at BOTH of our shelters - Cranbourne and North Melbourne.

Adoption fees this Saturday:
$100 for kittens 🐈
$25 for cats 🐱

The special adoption fees do not include your local council registration costs, which vary depending on your area.

Every cat and kitten is desexed, microchipped and vaccinated in preparation for this exciting new chapter of their lives. Many of them have spent time in foster care, growing big and strong for extra powerful snuggle sessions, so watch out!😻

We'd like to remind adopters that a new cat is a huge financial and emotional commitment of up to 20 years. Please carefully consider how a new cat or kitten would fit into your home and lifestyle before adopting.

For those who are certain in their decision, we'll see you at our shelters this Saturday! We'll be posting profiles of the available cats and kittens on our socials and more on our website this Friday.

🗓️ Saturday 15 August
📍2 Gracie St, North Melbourne VIC 3051
📍 920 Thompsons Rd, Cranbourne West VIC 3977

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12/08/2026

UPDATE: Maggie has been adopted!!! If you want to help a shy cat like Maggie, please consider visiting our shelters and asking about cats in our Rescue or Rehome program or our long-term cats.

It's Maggie's turn to find comfort and contentment.

Maggie returned to the shelter after some much-needed time and respite in foster care, where she cared for her kittens who have since been adopted. However, Maggie is still here and struggling to acclimatise to life in the shelter.

We won't sugarcoat it, you probably won't have an instant emotional connection with Maggie in the shelter; She is so timid. She often hides in the dark side of her pod so adopters don't show much interest in her.

There are few people with the heart and compassion to take on a cat like Maggie, but those few people know how rewarding it will be. The bond you can build with a shy cat is like no other. We know this because we hear about it every day. It's a special bond that requires patience, compassion and the self-assurance to understand that you will earn Maggie's trust. We know it's possible.

Maggie's foster carer told us:

'Maggie will take her time to open up, but she's worth the wait. She likes to have places to hide until she feels safe. She is a beautiful, gentle girl who loves head butting your hand for attention. She doesn't like you to reach over her head but loves cheek scritches.'

We have a pretty special cat-loving community out there, and we think that Maggie's perfect adopter somewhere among them. The change you could make to Maggie's life would be incredible; Something us humans could only imagine.

Maggie is available to adopt from our North Melbourne shelter. To help her find a forever home, please share this post with your cat fancying friends and family or comment below with the story of your special shy cat.

Animal ID: 1166950
Source Number: BR100738
Micro. No.: 956000018913577

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Address

2 Gracie Street
Melbourne, VIC
3051

Telephone

+61393292755

Website

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