I need help with veterinary care for my pet

Thank you for investigating Home2Home as a potential rehoming pathway for your pet.

In line with the requirements for using the PetRescue platform, all pets who come through Home2Home are required to be desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and be medically stable with full disclosure of all health conditions. By ensuring these basic health requirements are met prior to listing for adoption, you are giving your pet the best chance of finding a new adoptive home.

For pets with chronic or ongoing health conditions, this is not a barrier to Home2Home if the condition is stable and an up-to-date veterinary history is provided, indicating that the pet’s health is well managed.

We pride ourselves on being as transparent as possible with potential adopters about all behaviour and health matters. This helps us to ensure that your pet will continue to receive the high standard of care they deserve, while also reducing the risk of financial strain on their new family, supporting their ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment.

You have indicated that your pet does not currently meet the medical requirements for Home2Home. We understand there can be many reasons why this is the case, and we’d like to help you connect with alternative support options.

From here, the following are some pathway options you might like to consider:

Surrender your pet to a suitable rescue organisation or shelter - please see our resources below as a guide to navigating this pathway.
Complete your pets required vet work and reapply for Home2Home - please see our list of community vet clinics below for affordable options if finances are a barrier for you.
If you are experiencing challenges keeping your pet that you may be able to resolve with support, we encourage you to reach out to PetRescue’s Community Care team, as they may be able to provide additional resources.

Surrendering your pet to a rescue organisation

A rescue organisation or shelter can care for your pet, complete any required veterinary work, and find them a well-suited home. If you feel this is the best way forward, you may wish to use our Rescue Directory to find suitable rescues in your area.

Rescue organisations are usually volunteer-run, and many are reliant on public donations. Adoption fees are used to pay for the care they provide to pets in need. It might be necessary to contact a number of rescue groups to find one that has the space and resources available to take your pet into care.

Be aware that rescue organisations vary almost as much as our pets do! Some work with specific types of animals only, some have access to specialist veterinary or behaviour services, while others are more restricted in what they can offer. As you will be working directly with the rescue organisation and entrusting them with your pet’s life, it’s important that you’re well informed and comfortable with the practices of the rescue you choose.

Find out more about what to look for in a rescue organisation: Key standards and practices for pet adoptions on our website.

To maximise your pet’s chance of securing a placement with your preferred rescue, try to take as many of the steps below as possible:

Reach out for help early, and if you can keep your pet at home for a while, make sure to let them know you are happy to go on a waiting list.
Gather all of your pet’s medical records and any behaviour history you have (e.g. reports from trainers or Behaviour Vets), along with your pet’s microchip details and a change of ownership form, and have these ready to go.
Write down a detailed chronological history of your pet, from the time you got them until the present. This should include:
- Information about their health - mention any injuries or treatments they have received, even if these don’t require ongoing care.
- Information about their behaviour - mention their likes and dislikes, their normal daily routine, as well as how they respond to common experiences for pets. You can include things like their response to visitors to your home, storms or fireworks, any behaviours of concern, their training history, and what their favourite ways to interact with their family are.
- Information about their specific care requirements - mention any quirks you’ve noticed. This could include that they like to eat out of a certain bowl, that foods with chicken in them upset their tummy, or that a particular brand or style of harness fits them best. It’s great to add anything you can think of that will help a new family develop a bond with your pet quickly.
- Information about your pet’s normal care services team - mention if they have a regular vet clinic, trainer, groomer, or pet sitter. Some owners will prefer to keep using the same services if the pet has a positive history with them, and it will help your pet settle in more quickly
If possible, offer to pay a surrender fee and help to organise transport that will get your pet to the rescue group if they are located further afield. Try to be as generous as possible so that a rescue group with restricted resources may be better able to offer your pet a place with them.

Community vet clinics and accessible vet work programs

The following vet clinics and services are there to support you in providing veterinary care for your pet. If you are searching for desexing options for your pet and can’t find a suitable clinic below, please visit the National Desexing Network to search for options in your area.

Canberra

RSPCA ACT - Desexing Clinic

New South Wales

Animal Welfare League NSW Veterinary Hospital (Kemps Creek) and Animal Care Truck (Regional areas)

Cat Protection Society NSW - Discounted Cat Desexing - Newtown

Project HoPe - Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic - Redfern and surrounds

RSPCA NSW Veterinary Hospitals (Yagoona, Hunter, Broken Hill)

Vets Beyond Borders NSW Veterinary Outreach Programs (various locations) (Note: You can find out about events in your area via this link, however, will need to contact the organisation holding the outreach event directly to access services)