The Next Chapter: There’s No Place Like Home

For many pets, the best place for them isn’t a new home, it’s the one they already have. 

There’s No Place Like Home is PetRescue’s new strategic initiative focused on reunification, intervention, and prevention - shifting the sector from reactive rescue to proactive care.

It’s about recognising that home can mean many things:

• Finding a permanent or temporary home for pets as quickly as possible.

• Reuniting pets with the homes they already have, whether they're lost and roaming, or part of communities, including urban stray cats.

• Helping people and pets stay together through community support. 

• Helping pets move safely from one home to another without entering the system or keeping families together through assisted rehoming programs like Home2Home.

• Acknowledging that pets are part of what makes a home, and that home is where the heart is.

Prevention is the future of companion animal welfare.

With the continued rise in the number of homeless pets, we've known for a while that we can’t adopt our way out of the problem. By supporting people earlier, connecting them with help before a crisis, and removing barriers to keeping pets with the people who love them, we can prevent pets from unnecessarily entering an already full and stretched rescue system in the first place.

The heart of change.

Meet the people and pets at the heart of this change - celebrating the bond they share and the difference the right support can make in keeping families together.

Turning ideas into action.

From Home2Home, helping pets move safely from one home to another, to cat desexing programs that reduce intake and support urban stray cats in their outdoor homes, these initiatives show what prevention looks like in practice.

The State of Pet Adoption Report.

When thousands of homeless pets are listed and marked as adopted on PetRescue each month, it can be challenging to see where the real areas of concern lie. The most vulnerable pets - those most at risk of being overlooked - can easily become lost in the numbers. But they are the ones who need the most help. 

The State of Pet Adoption Report shines a light on these hidden trends, helping the sector focus on the pets, people, and rescue organisations that need the most support.

By partnering with leading researchers, universities, and student teams, PetRescue is building a stronger evidence base to guide the way forward, turning data into real-world impact for pets and the people who care for them.

Councils leading the way for other councils.

Across Australia, forward-thinking councils are showing that animal management can be compassionate, community-led, and effective. PetRescue’s Council Spotlight series shares real-life examples of programs run by councils that are keeping pets safe and supporting pet guardians in their communities.

These stories are helping shift perspectives and driving change across the animal welfare sector, inspiring other councils, sparking collaboration, and demonstrating the real value of strong connections between councils, communities, and companion animals. Widely shared in industry forums, working groups, and at conferences, they’re proving that progress is possible and that a better way forward starts locally.

Behind the scenes: Using data and collaboration to help the sector evolve.

Collaborating for smarter, more compassionate systems.

PetRescue’s data and research collaborations help create visibility and insights into the areas of highest need, shape policies, inform reform, and guide early intervention strategies. Together, we’re helping the companion animal welfare sector evolve from reactive rescue to proactive care.

Social return on investment (SROI).

Companion animal welfare programming impacts not only the pets we know need help, but also has a social ripple effect on the well-being of humans surrounding them, whether that's their loving carer or the rescue community that takes them into care. 

By understanding the true impact of programs, we can make informed decisions to create better long-term outcomes for pets, people and the community.

A future beyond rescue

This is our line in the litter box, a commitment to build a future where success isn’t just measured by the number of pets adopted, but by the number of pets who don’t end up in the system in the first place.

Together, we can create a system that keeps pets safe where they belong: home.

Keep reading:

20 years and six defining moments for pets in Australia

A special interactive timeline of PetRescue’s two decades of impact