Pets Of The Homeless Australia in Cheltenham, Victoria | Charitable organisation

Pets Of The Homeless Australia

Locality: Cheltenham, Victoria

Address: 84A KEYS RD 3192 Cheltenham, VIC, Australia

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

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• Non-profit organisation
• Charitable organisation

25.01.2022 We always listen to and read every comment and email sent through to us, but this is the first time I have asked our supporters, volunteers and donors about their values and opinions in a structured way and Im absolutely curious and fascinated by what you might share with me. Your response to our survey will help us understand how you perceive the work of Pets of the Homeless and the causes we grapple with in the delivery of social services to vulnerable people and their p...ets. Your insights are invaluable to us, and I thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts so that we can be better and do more with what we have. Please help us and have your say by completing our short survey here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/POTH2020. P.s If you have opted to hear more from us, please also include your name and email address at the end of the survey. With thanks, Yvonne

24.01.2022 Just popping in to say OMG HOW ADORABLE IS PENNY IN HER POTH ID TAG?! Sorry, we got slightly carried away there due to the extreme cuteness of this sweet pup! What we meant to say was that you can help to ensure your pet is always able to make their way home to you should they ever get lost - all you need is a stylish engraved identification tag from the POTH online shop! They're just $13.95 each, including engraving and shipping, and every tag purchased enables us to donate ...a tag to a pet owner in need. Shop now! bit.ly/POTH_PetIDTags

24.01.2022 For some, Melbourne's lockdown has meant that life has been much less busy, but here at POTH we've been working even harder than usual since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. We don't use the word exponential very often, but the fact is that our pet food program has indeed grown exponentially since the start of this health crisis, to the point where we have increased our reach by nearly tenfold! If we are a bit quiet on social media lately, it's because we are working FLAT O...UT behind the scenes. This month alone we have welcomed 11 new organisations to our community partnership network; they will now be distributing pet food on our behalf to pet owners in need in their communities. This is pet food that will otherwise not be available or accessible to those who need it most. Also just this month we have distributed 26,734 pet meals! That brings our total to 280,642 meals provided since our inception five years ago. It seems like just five minutes ago that we hit 200,000 meals, but that was back in July and now we're well on our way to reaching a staggering new milestone! As our Pet Food Bank is currently closed for donation drop offs due to Stage 4 lockdown, the best way to support us is by making a monetary donation so that we can purchase items as needed in bulk. We are so grateful to each and every member of the amazing POTH family, and everyone who supports us in our mission of keeping best friends together! #petfoodbank #petfoodrelief www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/donate

24.01.2022 Pets are excellent judges of character. If yours thinks you're the bees knees, trust them!

23.01.2022 This is so true, especially at the moment. It's so easy in the midst of this global health crisis to let negative thoughts dominate, but if we focus on the good and look for the opportunities this new reality offers we have the ability to create real change!

23.01.2022 VOTE TODAY! VOTE TODAY! VOTE TODAY! Have you voted yet? Just a reminder that voting in the Westfield Local Heroes awards closes tomorrow! Our fearless leader, Yvonne, is a finalist and is in the running to bring home $10,000 for POTH. So we need your vote! Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition and awards program that connects and enriches communities in Australia. The program discovers and celebrates individuals who make a positive impact to their local community and/or env...ironment. Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with three finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation or group. Imagine all the great stuff POTH could do with $10,000! Don't delay - vote for Yvonne today! bit.ly/VoteYvonneHero

22.01.2022 Empty shelves? Not on our watch! Thanks to your support we are able to help community food pantries and food banks fill up their shelves with much needed pet food to ensure that no one will have to make the heartbreaking choice between feeding themselves or their beloved pets. On a side note, our warehouse is open for donations again and we are in need of more canned dog and cat food if anyone is wanting to donate some. We are located at 84A Keys Road, Cheltenham VIC and we... are open on Mon, Wed and Fri from 9am-3pm and Sat from 10am-1pm. Thank you! #PetFoodBank #NoEmptyBowls #KeepingBestFriendsTogether

22.01.2022 THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING Running out of ideas or time to get a Christmas gift? Then why not consider making a tax deductible donation to Pets Of The Homeless today in lieu of a present. Your recipient will receive a lovely gift voucher (which you can print after checkout) and not only will you give warm fuzzies to someone you know, you’ll be helping to keep someone together with their best friend .

22.01.2022 Jumping into the weekend like..... our foster dog Nala

22.01.2022 If there's one thing our work has taught us, it's that alleviating loneliness is one of the most important jobs a dog can have.

21.01.2022 Happy 2021, POTH family! We are back after a much needed rest and reset. It could be argued that there's no point making plans after the year we just had, but we can't help ourselves - we're eternal optimists and we have lots of things in the pipeline for this year. 2020 was a year unlike any other and a year that most people are glad to see the end of. Even more reason to focus on the inspiring, the good, the positive and the possibility of 2021!... Instead of writing a new year’s resolution, another great way to go into a brand, spanking new year is to have a focus word instead. A single word that encapsulates what you need more of, what you want to focus on, or what you need to improve on. Our word for 2021 is IMPROVE. This year we will focus on being better instead of bigger. Quality over quantity. What's YOUR word for 2021?

21.01.2022 Thank you again everyone This was a text message from Jonathan

21.01.2022 Friends, we have a bittersweet pupdate to share with you. So many of you have been waiting to hear whether Shaggy, the adorable pooch stolen from a homeless man, Nathan, at Sydney's Circular Quay last Sunday has been found. We're happy to let you know she has indeed been located and is safe and well - but sadly she won't be returning to Nathan. During the search for Shaggy, it was discovered that she was stolen from her original family some months ago. We would like to make ...it very clear that Nathan was NOT involved in either that theft or her disappearance on Sunday; he rescued Shaggy and cared for her in good faith, and without him she would certainly have died in the bin where the callous first thief presumably dumped her. After being taken from Nathan, Shaggy was again dumped, this time in Sydney's inner west. From there she was picked up by a kind person and taken to a vet, where a microchip scan delivered her first family's contact details. They had reportedly had Shaggy - whose name was originally Dee Dee - since she was a puppy, and were distraught by her theft, which was reported to police at the time. She has now been returned to them and they are by all accounts thrilled to have her home. Nathan is understandably devastated and has asked that people stop contacting him on the mobile number that has been publicised on both social and broadcast media (we have obscured the number in this photo for that reason). It's appalling and infuriating to think that the disgusting acts of two thieves has caused so much heartbreak. The good news is that Nathan is now being supported to find a way out of homelessness, and will hopefully have another four-legged best mate in the not too distant future. So it's both good and bad news - but we know our POTH community will be pleased that Shaggy/Dee Dee found her way back to her first family, and equally happy that Nathan now has access to more resources and support. We wish both him AND Shaggy nothing but happiness.

21.01.2022 ** MEET THE BOARD! *** You know that Pets of the Homeless is run day-to-day by our founder and CEO, Yvonne Hong, and a dedicated team of tireless volunteers. But what you may not realise is that, as a registered charity, we also have an amazing board of directors - and today we want you to meet them! The job of POTH's strong and highly skilled board is to provide leadership, governance and sets the direction for the organisation. We're incredibly fortunate to have six dynamic... women joining Yvonne on the board. They are: Ellen Lim, treasurer: One of our founding directors, Ellen is a Chartered Accountant with decades of experience in financial and management accounting, reporting, budgeting and forecasting. Rachel Lehmann, secretary: Rachel has more than 20 years experience working in human resources roles across various industries. She currently works in the tech industry, assisting other organisations to evolve and transform their HR functions. Martha Coro: Martha is an advisor in the Victorian Courts and joined POTH after cultivating a grass-roots working knowledge of charities in aged care, mental health and animal welfare over 15 years. Emma Prideaux: POTH's resident vet and co-owner of Port Phillip Animal Hospital, Emma combines clinical work with practice management. The best of both worlds! Leanne Vasilevska: Leanne brings extensive experience in community programs and grants in both the not-for-profit and public sectors, including five years working within housing and homelessness in Victoria. She currently works at the Department of Social Services as a Funding Arrangement Manager. Tricia Liew: A qualified lawyer, Tricia has more than 10 years commercial experience in law, tax/accounting and strategy across a range of sectors, including not for profit. And, of course, our fearless leader, Yvonne Hong! When Yvonne started POTH in 2015 she had zero experience in running a charity and had to learn everything from scratch. However with her self-confessed Type A personality, she is ambitious, detail oriented, and meticulous. Processes are her superpower and she's a bit of a marketing genius. We are so grateful to POTH's board, and the collective skills, experience and wisdom they bring. Most importantly, they all share our passion for keeping best friends together!

20.01.2022 How’s this news for #FeelGoodFriday!!

20.01.2022 Cultivating an attitude of gratitude really can make a positive difference to your day! #worldgratitudeday

20.01.2022 Relationship goals! How would your family/housemate/significant other react if they woke up to this?

20.01.2022 DO SOMETHING AMAZING ON 18 November Pets make life better because their love is like no other. A lick on the nose or a peaceful purr brings joy on the darkest of days. Sometimes people’s only lifeline is their pet, through homelessness, financial hardship or domestic violence. And if a rough patch in life means they may have to be given up, why can’t we make small miracles happen to keep best friends together? We ask you to celebrate being a part of our community by contribut...ing to our annual Giving Day. On Wednesday 18 November, your donation will help us get so much closer to our dream of helping pet owners across Victoria because all donations on the day will be TRIPLED by our generous matchers in a 24 hour only appeal. So if you believe that a beloved pet should never be torn apart from their human, give to Pets of the Homeless on 18 November because for 24 hours each and every donation will be tripled to reach our goal of $150,000. Give because nothing should come between a loving owner and their pet. Never Tear Them Apart. www.nevertearthemapart.org.au #NeverTearThemApart

19.01.2022 It was a month ago when we almost lost this precious guy. Tiger has been in our care since February, when we went to pick him up in the middle of night as his owner was fleeing for her safety. She had been accepted to a women's refuge and was unable to take him along with her and since he is 17 and on palliative care, she felt he needed a stable home for the last few months of his life. That was almost 10 months ago and this little fella was still happily meowing away until... 4 weeks ago when he became lethargic and had stopped eating so we rushed him to the vet. He had numerous tests done and was placed on an IV drip overnight but it wasn't really looking good. He perked up a little and starting eating again the next day so they discharged him as they had done all that they could for him. However once he was home, I knew that he was still unwell. If you had the pleasure of meeting him before, you would know how affectionate this guy is, how loud he would meow and how he had the biggest appetite. What I saw was a cat that had curled up in a corner, wanting to be left alone. I've always said that an animal will tell you when they've had enough and when they are ready to move on but I also believe that sometimes they need someone to be there to fight for them when they can't. So for the next 24 hours, I did all that I could to give this guy a fighting chance and if he is still telling me that he is ready to move on, I will let him go. Because Tiger has hyperthyroidism which accelerates his metabolism, he burns off pretty much anything he eats really quickly hence the big appetite. This means he shouldn't be without food for too long. So for close to 24 hours, he was syringe fed every hour with a special mix of urgent care food to keep his energy and hydration level up. It was basically me coaxing and forcing him to eat every hour and just when I thought I would have to give up, he stood up on his own for the first time and followed me to the laundry where I would normally feed him and started eating on his own. And guess what? He hasn't stopped eating since and he is back to his usual self, purring and meowing loudly every morning asking to be fed. Why am I sharing this story? Because one day this might happen to you and there will be people who will tell you to just give up. But always trust your gut feeling and do what you think is best. We believe in treating every pet in our care as if they are our own and that means caring and never giving up on them until the very end.

19.01.2022 Are you a crazy cat lady or a crazy dog lady or can you be both ?

19.01.2022 The lovely Inga and Audra have been hard at work making all your masks and they have raised a total of $1475 for us! Amazing! New masks are now available for purchase for $15, with $5 from each mask being donated to help us in our mission to keep people and their pets together through times of hardship. Send them a message to place your order now . Did we mention the fabrics are gorgeous?!

19.01.2022 When your foster mum is bored during lockdown.....

18.01.2022 VOLUNTEER ARTISTS WANTED Do you love to draw but don't really have the talent for it? Ever dreamt of becoming an artist, only to be told never to quit your day job? Well you are just the kind of person we are looking for! We are currently in need of some "artists" for our Bad Pet Portraits fundraiser that's happening next Friday. All you need to do is draw some pet portraits and once done, take a photo of it and send it back to us within 12 hours or less. We would prefer it t...o be less so that we can get through as many portraits as we can within 28 hours. Help us bring joy and laughter to the world this Christmas and join our growing team of bad "artists". Send us a PM! We will be waiting

18.01.2022 You're probably getting sick of us thanking our incredible POTH family by now - but we'll never stop, because without this amazing community we simply would not be able to keep people and pets together. Your generous support of our Giving Day just blew us away. So one more time: THANK YOU!

18.01.2022 Parker is back with us and will be reunited with Gery today.

18.01.2022 What would you do if you suddenly had to leave your home? You might stay a few nights with friends, family or neighbours. Perhaps you'd book a hotel room while you looked for rental accommodation, which you would easily find within your budget and suitable for all the members of your family. But for many people, finding alternative accommodation is not so straightforward. Some people don't have friends, family or community connections. Their budget won't stretch to hotels. R...ental properties are expensive and often won't accept pets. What then? What are their options when, for whatever reason, they can no longer stay in the place they've called home? This was the situation that Heather had dealt with for more than a year by the time her social worked contacted POTH. Aged in her fifties, Heather was living in her station wagon with her dog and three cats. Every day, they would drive around Melbourne looking for safe places to sleep overnight. Why didn't Heather reach out to a support agency or emergency accommodation provider, you might ask. She did. But as much as she wanted a safe, comfortable place to sleep at night, Heather would not accept emergency accommodation if her beloved furry companions weren't welcome, too. Her pets are her family. After an exhaustive search, the agency working with Heather managed to find a motel that would allow short-term stays with her pets. They were able to have occasional respite stays there as a break from sleeping in the car, but it wasn't a permanent solution. Finally, the agency found a transitional housing bungalow for Heather and her pets to live in while she waits for a public housing offer. The agency got in touch with POTH when one of Heather's cats, the beautiful Sally, developed an infection in her tooth. She couldn't eat properly due to the pain and lost a lot of weight. Heather knew Sally needed veterinary treatment, but she simply couldn't afford it. We were all set to fund the dental procedure, but tests revealed a serious underlying liver problem. Sadly, the vet advised that the kindest thing for Sally was euthanasia. By that time the vet bill had risen to $700, which was more than we had agreed to cover. Dealing with the loss of a beloved pet is hard enough without worrying about money as well. Heather has been through so much and has DONE so much to keep her pets with her that the last thing she needed was this added burden on her shoulders. We were happy to cover the entire bill so that Heather can focus on mourning Sally's passing, spending time with her other pets, and focusing on getting back on her feet. While we're sorry more couldn't be done for Sally, we're glad to have had the chance to assist a pet owner as devoted as Heather. www.petsofthehomeless.org.au

16.01.2022 MEET OUR FOSTER CARER - KATE 1. How long have you been a Pets Of The Homeless (POTH) foster carer? 'Tell us a bit about the pets you've cared for so far. Ive been a POTH foster carer since January this year. I couldnt do it without all the help and support I receive from my husband and 2 daughters, it is definitely a team effort!... Our first foster dog was a beautiful Staffy X Labrador, we looked after her for 2 nights whilst her owner needed some respite. After that we cared for a very lively 2 year old Schnauzer X Maltese, he stayed with us for 2 months. Over the past 10 weeks we have had the pleasure of caring for an adorable brother/sister duo, Ellie and Jax, who you see with me in the photo. Both are Beagle crosses, although its a bit difficult to see much evidence of any beagle at all in little Ellie! 2. What made you realise/decide that it was the right time to become a foster carer? I started thinking about the possibility of becoming a foster carer last year, about 6 months after our beloved Shetland Sheepdog passed away at the age of 12. We missed having a dog around but I just wasnt ready for the full time responsibilities of being a dog owner again. 3. Many animal and pet-focused charities rely on foster carers - what made you choose POTH? I had never heard of POTH until one day I spotted the POTH van driving along the freeway. I was intrigued as to what this organization did and later looked them up on line. I was so impressed with the amazing work they were doing and knew that I wanted to be involved, so I applied to become a foster carer pretty much straight away. 4. What do you do to prepare for the arrival of a pet? When we are expecting a new foster dog there isnt too much to do to get ready, as POTH supply everything you need. I bought some stretchy couch covers, which are great to protect the couches from excessive dog hair and also place a toddler gate in the hallway so the dogs cannot roam freely all over the house. 5. Do you have any tips and tricks you use to help the pet settle in? When the dog arrives we let it explore the backyard first, before bringing it inside. We try and create a calm and quiet atmosphere while the dog is settling in and allow them to approach us for pats when they feel ready. 6. How do you feel when it's time for the pet to return to their human? There are definitely mixed emotions when its time for the foster dog to be reunited with their owner, especially if they have been in care for a longer period of time, as they become part of the family. It helps to focus on the excitement and joy of the reunion between the pet and their owner, its kind of contagious! I know that these pets are beloved friends and companions to someone whos having a rough time. Understanding that my role as a foster carer is to love them and keep them safe, only until their owner is able to take them back, helps me overcome any feelings of sadness I may have when its time for them to go home.

16.01.2022 Don’t you just love how our pets are there for us when we need them the most?

16.01.2022 What a cat therapy session looks like.....

16.01.2022 HAPPY REUNION! This morning at 5am, I received an update from the emergency vet who tended to Blue all night and she gave me the best news ever. Blue has recovered well overnight and was no longer relying on a machine for oxygen. He was breathing fine on his own and he even started to eat again. All his vitals indicated that he was ready to be discharged and be reunited with his owner Jonathan. A few hours later, I arrived at the hospital and I couldnt believe my eyes. Blue ...was not only walking on his own but he was pulling on the lead! He had his energy back. He couldnt wait to see his human again. When Jonathan first saw Blue, tears of joy started streaming down his face. He hadnt slept much last night, tossing and turning, worrying about his best mate. We had a few people ask about where the pair would be staying and I am happy to say that they are both currently being put up at a motel so there is no need to worry about where Blue will be recovering. We left Jonathan with a Visa gift card for him to spend on whatever he needs for him and Blue and a nice big juicy roast chicken for Blue along with some medication. We have organised for him to go back to the vet again in a couple of days for his checkup. There are really no words that can express the gratitude we have for all the support and donations we have received. Thank you to the amazing POTH family for helping us save Blues life. We couldnt have done it without you.

15.01.2022 Have you been supporting Pets Of The Homeless through the Play For Purpose raffle? Did you know you could win a BONUS $1000 gift card for yourself, plus $1000 for us, if you subscribe to Autoplay? Youll also guarantee your entry into every Play For Purpose Raffle, which means you never have to fill in another form and you'll never miss a chance to win! Dont worry, you can update or stop your subscription anytime.... Find out more at https://playforpurpose.com.au/pets-of-the-homeless

15.01.2022 Your support means everything to us! We would love to know what you think of Pets Of The Homeless and how you think we could do better through our first ever community survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time but it will make a huge difference to us. Let us know what you think at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/POTH2020

15.01.2022 My client is doing really well and a big part of him being able to access treatment was because he knew that his cat was being taken care of. At Pets Of The Homeless, we assist any pet owner in crisis, not just those who are experiencing homelessness. We have heard this time and time again where pet owners are refusing to seek medical treatment if there was no care available for their pet. Most people that we assist often lack social support and have no one in their life that they could entrust the care of their pet to. Thats where we come in . After 6 weeks in a loving foster home, Smoochums is finally being reunited with her human today!

14.01.2022 URGENT HELP NEEDED! Hi POTH family, a few hours ago we received a distressing email about a dog that was hit by a car traveling at 70km/ph. Both the dog and owner were rushed to the clinic by a kind samaritan who witnessed the incident. The dog, Blue had contusions and abrasions on his head and upon further examination, the vets have found him to be bleeding internally with possible bruising to his lungs. Blue required emergency surgery and he needed it right away but because... the owner is currently experiencing homelessness and on a disability pension, the cost of the surgery was beyond his means so the clinic reached out to us for help to save Blues life. Within 5 minutes, I was on the phone to the clinic and I said yes to covering Blues surgery. Although they were closed at the time, the lovely vets and vet nurses at the clinic volunteered to stay back to do the procedures to keep the cost as low as possible for us. Ive just got off the phone with the vet and Ive been told that Blue has just come out of surgery and he is recovering well, however the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical for him. He might start to bleed again then crash, so we are having him transferred to an emergency vet for further monitoring to give him the best chance of recovery and survival but we need your help to make this happen. Initial quote for his first 12 hour admission at the emergency vet is around $1300 to $1600 provided that there are no further complications. Weve already agreed to cover the cost of the initial surgery but we desperately need your help to get Blue to the emergency vet now. I am about to make the call to them now so if you can help, please make a donation here or via our website at www.petsofthehomeless.org.au/donate. Thank you.

11.01.2022 Know someone who is passionate about the issues faced by those experiencing homelessness? Or perhaps they are an animal lover wanting to make a difference in the welfare of pets. Then tag them and let them know about the work that Pets Of The Homeless is doing to support struggling pet owners. The ripple effect from this one simple act helps us to increase our reach and enables us to assist many more people in need who might not be aware of our existence and programs.

11.01.2022 How to help Pets Of The Homeless in just 3 steps and all in under 10 seconds. Step 1 - Click on this link bit.ly/VoteYvonneHero Step 2 - Enter your name and email address. Hit "Submit" to vote for our founder Yvonne and you have just gotten us a step closer to winning a $10k grant thanks to the Westfield Local Heroes award.... Step 3 - Tell your family and friends about it and get them to vote too!

08.01.2022 Has there been a time when your pet has sensed your feelings and done something to help you feel better?

08.01.2022 We are only too happy to help

08.01.2022 "I have been working with a young woman who was separated from her dog because of a very serious case of domestic violence. She had to leave regional Victoria and had left her dog behind with a friend while she relocated to Melbourne, spending months sleeping in her car before she found a place of her own. Recently, she was telling me how she was going to apply to DHHS for a permit to travel during stage 4 lockdown. When asked why she needed to travel, she advised that she n...eeded to pick up her dog as the circumstances around the accommodation that he was living in had changed and he needed to move. He could live with her in her new place in suburban Melbourne but she needed to get him somehow. As I didnt think that she would be granted an exemption and with the cost of using a transport company being out of reach for her, I contacted Pets of the Homeless (POTH) to see if they could help. Immediately I received a reply to my email, advising that POTH could help cover the cost of transporting Mumba. However, finding a transport company has proved really difficult, with most companies not returning my calls or playing recorded messages stating that they are not taking new clients during this lockdown. POTH came to my aid again by helping me find a transport company that could safely transport Mumba. My client is ecstatic being reunited with her baby. It has meant so much to her that someone would assist her in this manner, and I have been so happy to be able to make this happen for her. I cant thank POTH enough for what they have done to keep this young woman and her beloved companion together." - Michelle, case manager.

08.01.2022 LAST CALL! We've been getting messages from people wanting to purchase some mats as gifts for Christmas so we are putting our last lot of snuffle mats up for sale. The mats are lovingly hand made by our volunteers, are 40cm x 30 cm in size and retail for $45 each with 100% of the proceeds going towards our work with people and pets in crisis. Shipping costs $14.95 per order.... To purchase one, just comment SOLD on the image of the Snuffle Mat you are interested in. It’s first in best dressed so we will only consider the first comment as the winning buyer. We will then be in touch with you to organise payment and shipping. Thanks for the support!

07.01.2022 Awww...how sweet is this? Foster cats Ruby and Jade during one of their grooming sessions . Happy Friday everyone!

07.01.2022 Can you believe it’s been a week since our Giving Day? We are still on a high and we are still in shock at the results. Not only did we meet our goal, we basically smashed it and set a new record on the fundraising platform, with 75% of the funds raised in just 2 hours of the campaign going live! Our final tally sits at $218,405 raised. Thank you so much again for the love and support that you have shown us and thank you for helping us keep best friends together. #NeverTearThemApart

07.01.2022 The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. So today we would like to ask you to have a think about the five things that you are thankful for and let us know in the comments. The practice of gratitude can help us during our low points in life (especially right now), turning our thoughts of despair into thoughts of goodness. We can view our worst situations with a grateful eye and know that being grateful makes us stronger, more resilient, healthier, and happier people.

07.01.2022 We're not saying we prefer animals over people... but we're also not NOT saying that

05.01.2022 Can a cat be an essential worker? Apparently so! Elwood the cat has camped outside the Epworth hospital for the last three years and now has his own ID badge. Hes also just been awarded employee of the week! Elwoods owner spoke about it on air today

05.01.2022 Nothing is insurmountable with the right support.

05.01.2022 There's still time to vote for POTH founder Yvonne to win a $10,000 grant in the Westfield Local Heroes awards - but don't leave it til the last minute! Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with three finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation or group. Yvonne has been named as a finalist for her tireless work with Pets Of The Homeless, and the prize money would do SO MUCH good for the peop...le and pets we assist. Call us biased, but we can't think of a more deserving winner than Yvonne and POTH! We need our awesome community to band together and vote today! Voting only takes seconds, and you can cast your vote here: bit.ly/VoteYvonneHero. Tag your animal loving family and friends and ask them to vote, too!

04.01.2022 Doing some last minute Christmas shopping? Get your presents beautifully wrapped by the Pets Of The Homeless team at Westfield Southland for a small donation. The team will be there on the 23rd and 24th from 11am - 3pm and you can find them at Level 2 just outside Peter Alexander/Country Road.

04.01.2022 Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and you'll see miracles everywhere you look!

04.01.2022 2020 has been a tough year for so many and we are now facing the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This why we have been working harder than ever before to get the help out there to those who so desperately need it. In the last couple of weeks, we have welcomed another 6 new community partner organisations to the POTH family, bringing it to a total of 30 partners all around metropolitan Melbourne who are now distributing much needed pet food out to t...he community of pet owners who are struggling to feed their pets. One our new partners is Combined Churches Caring Melton, the local foodbank, budget education and counselling services for the city of Melton in Melbourne's West. And we are not stopping just yet so if you/someone you know are involved with an organisation that runs a food relief program and would like to start distributing pet food, get in touch with us at [email protected] and we would be more than happy to assist.

03.01.2022 We LOVE young POTH supporters! We were so touched to receive this message recently from Vanessa, whose sons Fletcher and Jax wanted to raise money for Pets of the Homeless. Vanessa writes: 'We picked POTH because we wanted the boys to realise that not everyone is as fortunate as us. We are an animal loving family, and love what Pets of the Homeless does for so many people, so we decided to do a chocolate fundraiser and have raised over $500.' Thanks so much for your hard work and generous donation, Fletcher and Jax! And well done Vanessa on raising such kind-hearted and community-minded kids!

03.01.2022 Keep looking on the sunny side of life - Marnie. Marnie has been staying with us for the past 2.5 months while her owner recuperates in the hospital and one of her favourite pastimes include lounging in the sun for hours on end. If this is how it’s like then we think it’s time to change the saying it’s a dog’s life to mean living a wonderful life instead. Don’t you agree?

03.01.2022 It's so hard to keep up with those constant updates!

02.01.2022 If you’ve ever heard the story of how Pets of the Homeless (POTH) came to be, you'll know that distributing pet food has always been essential to what we do. In fact, Yvonne’s first self-funded outreach mission was delivering pet food to people experiencing homelessness with their pets in Melbourne. Now, five years on, we work closely with our more than 40 community partners to ensure that people and pets in need can access the supplies they need. One of those people we assis...t is Bill and his best mate Mack. Bill and Mack live in a high-rise public housing estate in Melbourne, and together they regularly visit the Fr Bob Maguire's food pantry to pick up some supplies for Bill and some pet food for Mack. While we’ve grown so much in the past five years, our pet food program remains a core element of our work keeping best friends like Bill and Mack together. In fact, despite the challenges of the past year, our pet food program has grown ten-fold! In July, we announced that we had reached 200,000 meals distributed. Now, just three months later, we are now proud to share that we've now distributed 300,000 meals to help feed hungry pets! We’ve been working non-stop since the start of the pandemic to support people and pets in need through this difficult time. And we are going to keep working hard to ensure that no-one has to make the impossible choice between feeding themselves or their beloved pets. A big thanks to our dedicated volunteers who continue to help us sort, pack and distribute food, and to our community partners for helping us deliver this vital service. Learn more about how you can help us make a difference at www.nevertearthemapart.org.au #NeverTearThemApart

02.01.2022 As we approach the end of the year, we're wrapping up 2020 with a reflection on some of the amazing things we've achieved with your support. It's no secret that 2020 has been a tough year for a lot of people. This year has seen us grow our pet food program exponentially from 4 community partner organisations to 45 in a short period of time and we went on to distribute around 200,000 pet meals in just 12 months. We've also taken in over 70+ animals into our emergency/foster pr...ogram and have helped many struggling pet owners cover thousands of dollars in vet care and other costs. Thank you for joining us on this journey to keep best friends together. It would not be possible without you. From all of us at POTH, we would like to wish all of our amazing supporters and volunteers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you have a great holiday filled with fun, laughter, love and joy. Just a reminder that we will be taking a short break but we will be back from the 11th of January for an amazing year ahead. We wish you all the very best for the festive season and we'll see you all again in 2021!

01.01.2022 At least he's obedient!

01.01.2022 It’s sale time! Use the code BESTFRIEND to get 15% off storewide at the POTH online store. Ends Monday. Shop now at bit.ly/POTH_Shop

01.01.2022 One of the first things that we do every year after we reopen is to pick up donations from pet shops across Melbourne who have kindly chosen Pets Of The Homeless as the recipient of their Christmas Wishing Tree . Here’s two that we picked up today from Best Friends in Richmond and My Pet Warehouse in Fitzroy. Thank you so much everyone for your generosity and to the businesses who supported us. What a great start to the year!

01.01.2022 Zero lies detected.

01.01.2022 Do you believe that a beloved pet should never be torn away from their owner? Shout it from the rooftops and show for your support for our Never Tear Them Apart campaign by adding our special frame to your profile picture. You can find it by simply searching for Pets Of The Homeless in Profile Frames.

01.01.2022 It was R U OK? Day yesterday and we know we are a day late but there is a reason for this. We decided to post about it today as a reminder that every day is a good day to start a conversation that could change someones life. It shouldnt be limited to just the one day of the year. Any day youre concerned someones struggling, trust your gut and ask, are you OK?. This year has been a very difficult time for so many people, even the strongest of us will need support right now. You dont need to have all the answers. Just letting a person know that you care and that they are worthy of being cared about is sometimes enough. R U OK?