Finding another way home
Five years of assisted rehoming insights
Trends in applications for PetRescue’s guardian-assisted rehoming program for the first 5 years.
Home2Home (H2H) is a remote program designed to empower guardians of pets who are experiencing challenges in keeping their pet, providing a supported pathway for finding their pet a new family.
The program began as a pilot, run entirely by a single person in 2020. Since then, it has evolved into a fully embedded program that PetRescue provides directly to the community, alongside our guardian crisis care support service. Home2Home initially focused on a single state, but has since expanded to operate across Australia, supporting multiple species of pets.
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The pathways through Home2Home vary for dogs, cats, and other pets. These differences reflect the specific needs of each species and the insights gained from supporting guardians of these pets.
In 2024, due to significant challenges with sustainability, the program was temporarily paused. It reopened Australia-wide in a new format, initially accepting applications for cats and later for species other than dogs.
As an adoption platform, PetRescue’s data reflects the journey of pets into their new homes from the moment they are made available for adoption. While this gives insight into adoption outcomes, there is limited visibility on the stories and challenges of guardians and pets prior to this point.
Data collected through Home2Home offers a window into the support needs of guardians and pets during challenging times, highlighting the barriers, needs, and decision-making processes of guardians seeking to keep or rehome their pets.
This report examines the first five years of program data, focusing on the characteristics of pets and guardians who applied, and the challenges they faced in staying together.
Discover how Home2Home helped Ruby keep her beloved dog Max by her side, showing the power of love, support, and keeping families together.
Boop here to read their story.
Home2Home has several features that distinguish it from traditional rehoming pathways, which often require guardians to surrender pets to a shelter, rescue group, or council.
Key features of H2H include:
Program eligibility influences the application data, as guardians are informed of all requirements before applying.
To download the full PDF boop here.
Jump to specific insights from the report: