A Guide to Fostering Dogs in Melbourne

Fostering leaves a lasting impact on the shelter you support as well as the pets you take in. The act helps local rescues take in more animals, while making the ones you bring home more sociable and adoptable. If you’re considering fostering a puppy, an adult, or a senior dog in Melbourne, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve organised this list to make it easy for Melbournians (and those living in nearby areas) to get into fostering.

This Waldo’s Friends guide contains information on:

• Rescues in need of dog foster carers
  • Melbourne
  • Victoria
• Facebook groups to join
• Dog fostering resources to read
  • Pet rehoming guide from Animal Welfare Victoria
  • Fostering guides from RSPCA Victoria
  • First aid guides from Lort Smith Animal Hospital

Rescues in need of dog foster carers

The animal rescue groups listed below are in constant need of dog foster carers found within and outside Melbourne. If you’re interested in fostering for a specific group in Victoria, send them a direct message or visit their website to discover their requirements. You can also find out which kinds of dogs need immediate fostering.

Melbourne

• All 4 Paws Dog Rescue Inc.
• Animal Aid
• Australian Animal Protection Society
• Australian Animal Rescue
• Beagle Rescue Victoria
• Farmdogz Rescue Inc.
• Greyhound Adoption Program (Victoria)
• Heading for Home
• Homeless Hounds Animal Rescue
• Homes For Huskies Rescue
• Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc

Victoria 

• Chally Animal Rescue
• Dachshund Rescue Australia
• Dogue de Bordeaux Rescue
• Great Dane Rescue Victoria
• Found Hearts Limited
• Pets Haven Foundation
• RSPCA Victoria

Facebook groups to join

Melbourne dog fosters can meet fellow volunteers by joining these online communities:

• Pets Haven Foster Friends – Created by animal rescue Pets Haven, this informative page is meant to be a resource guide for their foster carers.
• Pets In Rescue, Vic. – A public page that assists rescues with foster carers, donations, transportation, and more.
• SCAR Foster Carer Network – This private Facebook group is only open for Second Chance Animal Rescue foster carers.
• Victorian Foster Carers & Rescuers Network Group – Created in 2021, the group aims to create a statewide network that would “match prospective foster carers with rescue groups.”

Check out these other Facebook groups open for all Aussie pet foster carers:

• Foster Carers Express (for animals only) – A public Facebook group for rescues looking for foster carers living in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 
• Animal Foster Carer Network Australia – An online network that allows Aussie animal rescues to connect with reputable foster carers.

Dog fostering resources to read

First-time and long-time volunteers can learn more about foster care by reading up on these guides provided by Victoria-based rescues.

Pet rehoming guide from Animal Welfare Victoria

• Foster Care Registration Scheme

Fostering guides from RSPCA Victoria

• Dogs and puppies
• Bring your foster dog home

First aid guides from Lort Smith Animal Hospital

• Bites & Stings
• Emergency Procedures
• Injury & Trauma
• Poisons & Toxins
• Seizures, Paralysis & Collapse
• Sickness

Help orphaned, abandoned, stray, and abused pooches in Melbourne get one step closer to their fur-ever homes. Read up on what it takes to be a dog foster carer, get inspired by our fostering stories, and volunteer to be a foster paw-rent in Melbourne now.