Engaging with the community | The Lost Dogs' Home

What is our goal?

To work with the community to achieve the best outcome for all our animals.

Where are we now?

We work well with the community, but there is more that we can do.

Perfomance highlight 2022/2023

4365

animals went through our foster care program

Which is an increase of

23%

on the previous year

Recent updates

17 Nov 2023

In what is believed to be an Australian shelter first, The Lost Dogs’ Home’s

Home Together Program helps to keep pets with their families in times of crisis

or hardship, in recognition of the value and importance of the human-animal bond.

The Program aims to support as many animals as possible to remain with their owners in loving homes, where this is the best outcome for the pet and for the pet owner.

We understand that crisis can happen to anyone, that being separated from a beloved pet can cause significant distress, and that people can move through crisis with the right support.

The Program is led by our Pet and Family Advocate, a qualified social worker, and is supported by the Petstock Foundation.

8 Jul 2022

In an Australian first for animal shelters we launched our Adoption Ambassador Program, designed to get animals into forever homes quicker and out of the shelters. Animals sent out to our Adoption Ambassador foster carers can be directly adopted from the foster home instead of returning to the shelter. This not only frees up space in the shelter for even more animals to be cared for, but also means finding the fostered animal a home much quicker. The program was made possible thanks to support from the Petstock Foundation.

3 Jan 2022

We recently recruited a Volunteer Coordinator to support the relaunch of our formal volunteering program. Volunteers are essential in supporting our work across the whole of organisation, from working with the animals in the shelter, to administration within our fundraising office.

We engage with the community well through our social media platforms and traditional media to inform, enthuse, and motivate actions that support best outcomes for our animals.

We also see community outreach as an essential part of what we do, however, our we have limited resources. We do already have a number of successful community programs that support families with pets, however, there is much more we can do.

Where do we need to be?

In constant conversation with the community to be able to work effectively together.

Engaging with schools, teaching the benefits of responsible pet guardianship.

Working within geographic areas of highest need.

Partnering and engaging with the community for strong advocacy on better animal welfare outcomes.

How will we advance?

Start to engage in more community consultation activities

Advocate for government funding for the development of our community outreach programs

Research and develop ways of effectively working with schools to promote and educate on responsible pet guardianship

Secure investment from local councils to be able to grow our community programs and initiatives into geographical areas of greatest need