Australian Animal Protection Society

About the shelter

Established in 1972 under the direction of Elizabeth (Betty) Hardy, the Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) began as a group of individuals genuinely concerned about animal welfare and filling the need for an animal shelter in the southeastern region of Melbourne, Victoria. The AAPS has been running for nearly 50 years and continues to look after the well-being of animals, returning as many as they can to their owners or looking for new permanent homes for animals that come under its care.

Most animals cared for by the society are cats, dogs, and rabbits, although they accept all kinds of animals in need including native animals, farm animals, birds, ferrets, and other domesticated animals. The group works closely with all animal welfare organisations in order to protect, assist, and provide welfare for all animals. Services offered by the AAPS include an animal shelter, lost and found, adoptions, fostering, and four opportunity shops.

Currently, the AAPS is at a temporary location in Dandenong South whilst construction work on its new facility at Perry Road is underway. Their temporary shelter accepts both cats and dogs. Members of the local community that have found animals suspected to be stray or lost are asked to contact the organisation for advice, as they believe that animals have the best chance of returning home if it remains in the area that it was found in. AAPS never turns away an animal in need and will do its very best to give the animals the best possible second chance at living a new life.

Pet owners who need to surrender their pets are asked to contact AAPS. Although they have limited space, they treat each case that comes to them individually and are open to discussing options with regards to accommodating a surrendered pet. AAPS strongly discourages the giving away of animals to unknown persons or leaving an animal in an unfamiliar place to fend for itself as it causes the animal stress. This may also lead to the animal being hurt or suffering a worse fate.

Mission

• The Australian Animal Protection Society aims to nurture animals by returning as many of them as possible to their owners, or finding fur-ever homes for those that are unwanted or abandoned.
• AAPS works toward changing the lives of animals through promoting their protection and care.

How you can help

AAPS is a community-based, not-for-profit registered organisation relying solely on community and volunteer support. Offer your help by joining its group of volunteers and support its cause by donating, volunteering your time, or purchasing items from any of the four Opportunity Shops.

Revenue from its OP shops go toward helping animals that come into the organisation. Their OP shops accept a variety of donations of items that are either new or of good, “gently used” condition including: household items, toys, games, books, small furniture, animal care related items, kitchenware, artwork, linen, clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories. As AAPS takes in thousands of animals every year, they hold occasional fundraising raffles with major prizes up for grabs such as a trip overseas. The society is always on the lookout for well meaning individuals who can hold fundraising events!

The society is always in desperate need of foster carers given their reduced capacity at their temporary site. AAPS asks that interested potential foster carers fill out their “foster carer application form.” Individuals interested in adopting any of the AAPS animals are asked to register their interest by filling out their “animal adoption form.”