News

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:50:27 +1000

A motley group of five mutts from the Home, currently looking for new homes, were treated to a day of doggy pampering, courtesy of Best Friends Pet SuperCentre in Thomastown.

Roger, a five year old Cairn terrier mix, has been looking for a new home for some time and we hope that with his makeover he will appeal to someone looking for a new family member.

Roger, Paco, Princess, Potsi and Sissy have been cared for at The Lost Dogs' Home since coming in as strays. Each were in desperate need of a good grooming so our friends at Best Friends Pet SuperCentre offered to give each of them a doggy makeover before they were placed up for adoption.

View all animals for adoption.

Best Friends Pet SuperCentre endorses the adoption of shelter animals and do not sell dogs and cats at their stores. They are passionate about the education and promotion of responsible pet ownership.

Free Pet Dental Checks During August!

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:37:53 +1000

Oral disease is the most common ailment in adult pets. According to veterinary research, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the time they are three-years-old. Signs of disease include persistent bad breath, a yellow-brown tartar crust at the gum line, red and swollen gums, pawing at the mouth and face, bleeding, sensitivity to touch, changes in eating and chewing habits and listlessness.

Left untreated, pet oral disease causes significant pain through tooth decay and gum infection, and can pass damaging and even life-threatening bacteria through the bloodstream to the heart, liver and kidneys.

Head Veterinarian at The Lost Dogs’ Home, Dr Larry Colson, encourages pet owners to see oral disease from their pets' perspective.

"It is like humans not brushing their teeth in years," he said. "Imagine the plaque, tartar and tooth decay setting in. Then imagine having a tooth ache that you can’t tell anyone about."

“Dogs and cats age more rapidly than humans. They need at least yearly dental checks which can easily prevent most dental diseases.”
"There are three ways to clean and look after pets' teeth," he said.
"The first is to schedule a pet dental check with your local vet. Book in to see one of our vets during August for a complimentary examination.”

"Secondly, while brushing your pet’s teeth at home is certainly the gold standard in tooth care, this is not always practical for many pets. Your vet can offer expert advice and show pet owners how to brush, or offer alternative suggestions regarding teeth care.”

"Third, buy specially formulated food that clean pets' teeth while they eat. There are oral care prescription diets that reduce plaque, which as for people, is the major cause of gum disease."

Dr Colson warns pet owners NOT to use toothpaste formulated for people because it contains ingredients that may upset animal stomachs. He also said that whilst raw bones are good, pet owners should not rely on them as they can break teeth and cause other pet problems."

Book now! 9329 2755 or vetclinic@dogshome.com.

Apprentice dogs in school for pethood

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:42:13 +1000

As reported in the Moonee Valley Leader, "GOOD manners and social skills are important even for puppies. The North Melbourne Lost Dogs' Home is taking bookings for its puppy preschool program for puppies between six and 14 weeks old."

Read the full article at the Moonee Valley Leader website.

Who's for Cats

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:39:24 +1000

Victoria faces a serious cat overpopulation crisis, with approximately 500,000 unowned (stray and feral) cats in the state.

The Lost Dogs' Home, in conjunction with a number of Victorian animal welfare organisations and government, is part of the Who's For Cats campaign, launched at the Home on the 6th December.

Who's For Cats aims to educate the community about the consequences of feeding unowned cats, and the impact it is having on the cat overpopulation problem.

By feeding an unowned cat but not taking full ownership or responsibility for them (eg they don’t desex or identify them, or keep them on their property), people are only contributing to the crisis.

Feeding unowned cats helps regenerate cat colonies by keeping cats alive and strong enough to reproduce.

50,000 cats are impounded in Victorian shelters annually, and 35,000 of these have to be euthanased. This is mainly due to poor health, or because not enough homes can be found for them.

Tragically, thousands of the cats that have to be euthanased each year in Victorian shelters are healthy, sociable kittens . There are simply not enough people to adopt them.

This situation is unacceptable on ethical and animal welfare grounds.

Please visit Who's For Cats for more information on the Who's For Cats campaign, or on how to take ownership of a stray cat.

Is Your Pet Microchipped?

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1000

The Lost Dogs’ Home, in conjunction with the National Pet Register,, is offering HALF PRICE microchipping on Saturdays and Sundays during March.

For just $20, you can microchip your pet and guarantee its safe return home every time.

Our microchips are registered with the
National Pet Register, Australia’s largest non-profit pet identification service which operates 24/7, 365 days per year as a rescue and retrieval service. It reunites thousands of lost pets with their owners every year. For just $20, why wouldn’t you?

For more information and microchipping dates/times, view the flyer.

Bookings from 1 February. 1300 734 738.

The Lost Dogsâ�� Home Calls for a Ban on Pets Sold From Pet Shops

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:20:56 +1000

The Lost Dogs' Home is calling for a permanent ban on the sale of pets from pet shops. Dr Graeme Smith, The Home’s Managing Director, is calling for community, industry and government support to prohibit pets being sold from shopping centres and shops - commercial environments which facilitate impulse buying.

“At Christmas time, puppies and kittens are sold in shops to people who act on impulse rather than with common sense. Many of these people have not thought through the commitment and expense of caring for an animal for its entire life. A dog that lives for ten years will cost its owner approximately $20000 if no major health issues arise,” said Dr Smith.

“Pet shops are businesses primarily interested in making money and treat live animals as commodities. Many pet shop owners show no discretion or prudence when selling an animal to a potential owner. This is how pets fall into the hands of irresponsible owners and eventually end up at The Lost Dogs' Home and other animal shelters throughout Victoria. If they have been maltreated or neglected, they come to us with behavioural problems and health issues, some of which are not treatable. Only the lucky ones, that is, those animals assessed as being suitable for re-homing, will receive a second chance at life,” said Dr Smith.

In winter every year, The Lost Dogs' Home receives an influx of animals to the shelter. Hundreds of pets purchased at Christmas time are dumped because they have become boisterous, delinquent “teenagers” requiring attention, exercise, training and in some cases, behavioural modification. The Home handles 11,000 dogs and 9,000 cats every year making it Australia’s largest shelter. The Home wants to decrease the number of animals being dumped and strongly believes that a ban on pet shop sales will significantly reduce numbers of unwanted pets being admitted to shelters across Australia.

“At The Lost Dogs' Home, there are always good-natured dogs and cats waiting for new homes. It is incomprehensible that the sale of pets in shops is still an acceptable practice, especially since many of the puppies come from commercial puppy farms. As a voice for animals without owners, it is our ethical responsibility to demand the banning of all pet sales in shops,” said Dr Smith.

Calling all creative animal lovers.

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:57:47 +1000

Are you the creative type? You should enter our 2008 Christmas Card Design Competition.

Download the competition flyer and enter now! Your design could feature in next year's catalogue for The Lost Dogs' Home cards.

Now Online - Christmas Cards!

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:56:02 +1000

A great range of cards are available to purchase this year.

Proceeds from the sale of the cards will help the Home fulfil its mission to look after and reduce the incidence of lost, unwanted and abandoned animals.

Visit our online store.

Puppy Love!

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:22:31 +1000

Angus was brought to The Lost Dogs' Home as a stray puppy, after being found in the Cranbourne area clinging to life. He was picked up by Lost Dogs’ Home ambulance drivers in an emaciated and frightened state. Upon his arrival, The Lost Dogs' Home Veterinary Clinic Team administered care by giving him intravenous antibiotics, food, vaccinations and importantly, love and attention.

After Angus started to build up some strength, Veterinary Nurse Manager, Deahnn Johnson, took Angus home for foster care to ensure his health continued to improve and to make sure he would be socialised, trained to have the best chance of being adopted.

That’s puppy love!

Angus came back to the Home as a bouncing two-month-old puppy with an abundance of energy and a playful character. He was soon adopted by Rachael Vis of Flemington who has continued Angus’s training regime by bringing him to The Lost Dogs' Home Puppy Pre-School.

Angus is one of twenty thousand dogs and cats rescued and cared for by The Lost Dogs' Home every year. If you would like to support The Lost Dogs' Home to continue caring for strays like Angus, click here.

Choosing a Pet

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:39:05 +1000

Bringing a pet into your home requires a long term commitment from you and other family members. The Lost Dogs' Home has put together a comprehensive guide to selecting a pet to help you decide which breed/type of dog or cat is best suited to your lifestyle.

With so many unwanted pets being handed into the Home, choosing the right pet is important.