It’s our hope that Home2Home will provide an alternative to surrendering and be a game-changing option for councils, shelters and rescue groups who can replicate this model or adopt parts to fit their structures. Below, you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about how Home2Home works. If you have a question or would like to discuss how to set up an assisted rehoming program through PetRescue, contact us here.
By the time people inquire with Home2Home for scenarios such as behaviour issues, how often do you find people are willing to continue to work with their pets and are able to redirect them to support and referral?
Overall, about 17% of pet guardians who enquire about Home2Home tell us they want to stay with their pets if possible, and are able to be redirected to support and referral services. Some owners don't initially feel that staying together is possible, but with support can find solutions to keep their families together. However, this number can vary depending on the situation and owner's circumstances.
Are there any circumstances in which you offer education or assistance to prevent surrender for those owners who may be in a position to keep the animal?
Absolutely, keeping pets and people together is the ultimate outcome.
Over the span of just one year (from July 1st to June 30th 2023), Home2Home helped 105 pets stay together with their families.
Home2Home provides education and assistance based on each unique situation and can include things like referring pet owners to qualified professionals in their area, like trainers, vets or behaviour specialists.
The Home2Home team is able to share resources on anything from teaching manners around the house, how to increase a dog's self-control, listening skills and mental stimulation, canine enrichment, desensitisation, resource guarding and anxiety to leash manners, tips for puppies, cat litterbox issues and helping pet owners understand how to fulfil their pet's needs.
Lenny is an example of a pet who ended up staying together with his amazing family due to our support and assistance.
Who provides your behaviour advice and support?
Is Home2Home service available Australia-wide?
Home2Home is currently operating with managed intake so that we can provide the best care to people and pets. The program is currently open to all pets other than dogs Australia-wide.
Is Home2Home available for pets other than cats and dogs? How do the team providing the 1:1 support handle advice/support for those animals?
Yes, Home2Home is available for pets other than cats and dogs, depending on the state regulations. All pets and owners receive equal support in their rehoming journey. We’ve helped dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, pigs, rabbits and horses find new homes.
Do you think the stigma of giving up a pet still needs to be removed?
Yes, there are many reasons why someone might need to rehome their pet. We have experienced that owners often come to us with a sense of guilt and embarrassment. But by providing a compassionate approach, we can not only reduce the stress on pets but also provide pet owners with the time and support they need during a difficult time.
Home2Home is a safe and supportive environment for pet owners looking to rehome their pets, safely and without judgement.
“Home2Home gave me the support and reassurance I needed to feel comfortable in sharing my dog’s post on social media, which led to her successful adoption 30 minutes away. I found the best family, companion dog and home I could have asked for. If I had known what it would feel like to stand in my beloved dog’s new garden, chatting with her new family while my kids played with the dogs, I would never have hesitated.” ~ Anna
“Home2Home gave my cat a second chance at a wonderful life with a loving owner when I was no longer able to care for her. I now receive regular updates and photos from her new owner, which would not have happened if she had been adopted from a shelter. Rehoming my cat was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, and I was feeling very guilty that due to ill health, I had to do so. From the first email, I knew that I had found the perfect program to help me find my cat a new home. Vicki was so understanding, and there wasn't a hint of judgement, which meant that I felt comfortable with the process.” ~ Maria.
How is confidentiality protected between ‘homes’?
The pet owner is able to choose the level of confidentially that is comfortable for them. One of the benefits of using the program is that a pet owner can talk with potential adopters directly. At an owner's request, we can redact the information required.
Where does the legal liability fall in the case where the animal is involved in an incident in the new home, e.g. bite to a child or attack on another animal?
The formal adoption contract we use specifies that the transfer of ownership is direct from the original owner and the adopter. Home2Home facilitates the adoption process but is never the legal owner of the pet. We recognise that assisted rehoming is not suitable for every pet, and prevention plays a part in our approach, including behavioural assessments, requiring in-person assessments where needed, referring to more specialist services where appropriate, education and post-adoption support.
Do the pets get seen by a vet prior to adoption?
Are these animals required to be desexed, vaccinated and microchipped?
All pets need to be desexed, vaccinated and microchipped, and proof of paperwork is required to enter the program. We recommend the adopter do a wellness check within the 14-day cooling-off period.
Do you ever find issues about the pets are not disclosed?
Do you find some pets are distributed that are not desexed or have health issues such as dental or heartworm?
As an online platform, Home2Home has limitations in its ability to provide in-person procedures that are more common in a traditional rescue or shelter environment. We pride ourselves on being as transparent as possible with potential adopters about all behaviour and health matters.
All guardians supply proof of desexing, vaccination and microchip prior to pets being listed on the platform. Additionally, for pets with more complex health issues, we seek veterinary histories to pass on to adopters. We trust that guardians seeking a new home for their pets will provide us with the most up-to-date and accurate health information, as they are invested in ensuring a great future for their pets too.
Would a rescue group not be preferable to address these issues and create a better outcome?
An important part of the program is keeping the capacity available for pets who genuinely need rescuing. We have also found that pet owners genuinely care about transparency and the future of their pets, and are great partners in achieving successful adoption outcomes.
Where we think that Home2Home is not the most appropriate pathwya for a guardian to take with their pets, we refer them to more suitable options to find help for their pets.
Has there ever been any situations that involve ownership disputes?
We require the owner's name to be included on the vet and microchip paperwork before being accepted into the program, and have not experienced issues with ownership disputes.
Does the original guardian ever request the rehomed pet back if their situation changes and they can now care for the pet?
We understand how emotional rehoming a pet is, and we are there to support guardians and adopters, including post-adoption. We have supported guardians through challenges with saying goodbye to their pets after the adoption has taken place and have never had this issue escalate.
How are animals behaviourally assessed for theiur suitability for Home2Home?
We have a detailed questionnaire for guardians to complete, and dog guardians have a phone conversation with our program behavioural specialist. In our experience, guardians are truthful and forthcoming with information about their pets because they want to see a successful outcome.
Home2Home has built-in checks and balances to ensure we have an accurate picture of health and behaviour.
Does your service assist with microchip owner detail updates? Also, updating council registrations when relocated locally?
Home2Home facilitates the adoption process but is never the legal owner of the pet. We give the guardian and adopter the required information to complete the transfer.
What happens if the adoption doesn’t work out?
Either the original owner takes them back and we support them to find another home, or we support the adopter to find another home for the pet, and we have safety net rescue organisations in place where needed too.
"We have been the safety net provider, and only a few times have we ever had to take the cat into care." Samantha McKernan - Maneki Neko Cat Rescue
How does this differ from people giving away pets via a community poster, word of mouth or social media?
A primary goal of Home2Home is to provide guardians with a safe alternate rehoming pathway for their pets. The main point of difference with Home2Home is that guardians are supported by an experienced team to help them navigate potential challenges they might encounter.
What is the cost to someone wanting to use this service?
We believe in reducing barriers to support services like Home2Home. The Home2Home program fee is variable with multiple options for owners depending on our capacity, including limited places with optional fees. The priority of Home2Home is to create positive outcomes for both pets and the people who love them.
What is the average time for a cat/dog to be adopted through Home2Home?
The median adoption time for cats during 2025 is approximately 40 days. This information corresponds with the data collected from January 1st to late June 2025.
On average, how long does the process take from consultation to adoption?
The beauty of the program is that the owner is in the driver's seat, and it can be a self-paced program. The time from application to adoption varies and can be as little as a few days, depending on the owner's capacity and adoption demand. We currently require guardians to have a rehoming timeline of at least 6 weeks to access the program.
Are Home2Home pets profiles displayed on the same pages as other rescue pets who are with rehoming agencies?
Yes. All pets listed for adoption on PetRescue are treated equally on the PetRescue website, whether they are listed via a PetRescue member organisation or Home2Home.
If a pet is already listed with a member organisation, we do not list them via Home2Home.
Love the program and, in particular, the role this plays in preventing burden on rescue and shelters etc. What is needed to scale it up?
Just like many rescues, we’d love to continue to work on improving our resources, partnering with other organisations aiming for the same goal, utilising technology to increase our capacity and spreading the word about the benefits of assisted rehoming.
There are definitely challenges in scaling this up because of the one-on-one support offered - the human, consultation and compassion part can't be replaced by software and technology, but we're working on streamlining and partnering aspects where we can while holding onto the essence of the program not losing the human touch.
Are there plans to increase the capacity of the program?
Absolutely, there are plans in motion to expand the program's capacity. Our team is working hard on some big projects behind the scenes to streamline our processes. As resources allow, we aim to expand the program’s capacity in the future.