Support Resources for Pet Guardians

Don't take rental property ads literally when they state ‘no pets’. Often, landlords will consider pets if you approach them directly or find a real estate agent that will help you.

To give yourself a better chance of securing a rental, prepare a Pet CV, including a record of your pet's medical history, training certificates and references from neighbours, previous landlords and veterinarians.

Offer to sign an agreement to define appropriate behaviour for your pet on the rental premises. Encourage the owner/landlord to meet your well-behaved, well-groomed, flea-free pet – meeting your furry housemate might just clinch the deal.

• How to ask your landlord for a pet
• Rental laws by state
• Tips for tenants
• House hunting tips
• How to add pets to your rental application on Realestate.com.au

Are you moving or relocating? Don’t lose hope! With a little prep and training, it’s possible for many pets to travel safely and comfortably to your new home.

The first step is to have your pet checked by their vet and have a chat with them about travelling with your pet.

Below are some great resources to help you prepare:

Domestic Travel

• Pet Travel Preparation
• Taking dogs on road trips
• Taking cats on road trips
• VetWest - Air Travel tips
• Tips for flying with cats
• Air travel with a flat-faced dog
• How do anxious pets cope with travelling on a plane?
• Travelling for a holiday and coming home again afterwards?

  RSPCA Australia has some great tips for taking your dog or cat on holidays with you and keeping everyone safe and happy while travelling.

Internation Travel

• Exporting companion animals and other live animals
• Step-by-step guides: Travelling overseas with dogs and cats
• Information on international travel with cats, dogs and assistance dogs
• Cats and dogs returning to Australia

Just like people, pets don’t always get along. Some can become the best of friends with time, patience, and support. Others simply aren’t compatible - and that’s okay too. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is find one pet a more suitable home.

Here’s what to do if your pets are having trouble getting along:

If your pet is a fussy feline, take a look at these articles to help you assess and address your furry family dynamics:

• Cat-to-cat introductions: Think housemates, not besties
• Promoting Harmonious Cat Households and Navigating Social Interactions

If the problem is new and your pets have lived together happily until recently, it’s best to have them both checked by a vet. Pets who aren’t feeling well sometimes behave in ways they normally wouldn’t, or may be treated differently by our other pets, so it’s best to get a clean bill of health before taking any other action.

For dogs who aren’t getting along, and cats that need some extra help, we recommend an in-home consultation with an experienced trainer check out our Trainer guide.

🏡 While you work on things, keep everyone safe Some important tips on maintaining a safe and happy household while you get some professional help are:

• Separate them: Until your pets learn to get along, separate them and ensure that they aren’t alone with each other.

• Meet their needs: Ensure all pets have their needs met, including providing enrichment and reducing their exposure to stressors

  • For cats, assess how each cat’s current lifestyle fits the Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment, and if you note any areas that need improvement, visit Cat Friendly Homes for guidance on fixing things.
  • Dogs' needs can be a bit more varied than cats, but all dogs have basic needs that must be met for a happy, healthy dog!

• Use positive reinforcement and reward them with treats for good behaviour. If your pets are new ‘roomies’, find some great tips on multi-pet households.

Just like humans, pets have their own quirks and challenges. Getting the right support can help you understand, change or manage their behaviour.

✅ Step 1: Rule Out Pain or Illness

Sudden or significant behaviour changes?

For any adult pet with a sudden or significant behaviour change, a vet check is the first thing we'd strongly recommend.

Pain and sickness are often underlying causes of behavioural changes, with up to 82% of behaviour cases seen by Behaviour Veterinarians being related to pain.

Chronic pain can lead to subtle behaviour changes and may not be picked up in a standard vet health check. If you suspect that pain may be affecting your pet’s behaviour, ask your vet for about a pain relief trial. This is especially important for cats, as cats hide their pain, making it more difficult to recognise the impacts of pain on their wellbeing.

✅ Step 2: Get Behavioural Support

If health issues are ruled out, it’s best to get expert behavioural advice.

• Have your pet properly assessed by a qualified Animal Behaviourist or experienced and qualified behaviour trainer to help you understand what is going wrong in your relationship.
• Training is unregulated in Australia so it's important to get advice from the most appropriate person for the challenges you are experiencing with your pet. Find out ‘Who’s Who in the world of animal behaviour‘ and read our guide about how to find a force-free dog trainer and the recommended qualifications for force-free trainers.
• For cats with complex behaviour, you can find more resources to help.

If you’re in Victoria, you can access free help for dog or cat behaviour concerns via RSPCA Victoria’s Pet Behaviour Helpline:

• Includes a 20-minute Zoom consultation with a behaviourist.
• You’ll receive follow-up resources and a training plan if needed.

Book your consultation.

With slow, thoughtful introductions, most pets can adjust well to life with a new baby. The key is preparation, patience, and support.

Here are some valuable resources to help guide you on bringing a baby into a home with pets:

• Introducing your pets to your baby
• Dog and Kid Safety 101
• Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant - by Dr Lewis Kirkham
• Tell Your Cat You're Pregnant - by Dr Lewis Kirkham
• Cats and babies - Tips from International Cat Care
• Cats and Bubs - Tips from Dr Katrina Warren

There are also times when it may be best for your pet or your baby not to live together, such as when there are genuine safety concerns or when living together will severely impact the well-being of a family member.

If you’re not sure whether your pet and baby can live together safely, please seek in-person help from an experienced and qualified trainer. Learn more in our guide: How to Find a Force-Free Dog Trainer and the recommended qualifications for force-free trainers.

While many pet guardians reach out to Home2Home for advice when they receive an unexpected large vet bill, we know that many families who reach out are also struggling to make ends meet in day-to-day life as well.

Below are some general resources to help with financial challenges of keeping your pet.

Help with Vet fees

• Options for affordable desexing and other vet services in Australia
  Explore options for lower-cost veterinary care across the country.
• RSPCA - I can’t afford vet fees
  Practical advice and support pathways for pet owners
• VetPay is a private loan service that helps cover veterinary bills. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully, but many vets work with them, and they’ve helped thousands of pet owners manage unexpected costs.
• GoFundMe has a great blog post that lists many organisations around the country dedicated to helping pet owners with vet bills. You could also set up a GoFundMe for yourself - people love animals and are often very happy to donate to help!

Other supports for financial hardship

• Ask Izzy
  A free online tool that connects people in need with local support services for housing, meals, money help, counselling, family violence support, and more.
• If you are not familiar with Government-provided supports for people needing financial help, visit the Government help with money and Crisis and other help pages to find out more.
• The MoneySmart page Urgent Help With Money, links to government and community-based emergency financial services.

To find local service providers who may be able to support you and your pet during times of need, please use our Tailored Support Pathway.

Allergies can be tricky—there’s a lot of variation from person to person, and even between pets of so-called “low-allergenic” breeds.

Allergic reactions can be triggered by:

• Fur
• Dander (dead skin flakes)
• Proteins in saliva, which can spread to fur and skin

These allergens can vary even between pets of the same breed, making allergy management more complex than it might seem.

Understanding how your pet may be affecting a family member’s allergies - and creating a plan to manage it - can be surprisingly nuanced. That’s why we’ve pulled together some of the most helpful insights we’ve learned about navigating allergies and pets:

• Allergic to Adorable? Here’s what you can do if pet allergies are a challenge at home
• Can there be a completely Hypoallergenic pet

Thank you for looking out for this pet and keeping them safe while they find their way back home.

• Dog/puppy
• Cat/kitten
• Farm animals
• Wildlife

Whether you are going away, heading into hospital and need someone to care for your pet, or just need some help managing the day-to-day care of your pet, these articles and resources will hopefully help you find the service you need.

• Sitters, Minders, Boarding and Groomers
• Finding a fear-free vet
• The Dog Walker’s Guide To Choosing A Dog Walker

To find a Cat Friendly Vet Clinic, please visit the iCatCare searchable Cat Friendly Clinic Directory.

Search the Fear Free Directory to find a professional near you.

Caring for a pet with complex needs, whether due to age, disability, disease or chronic illness, can be one of the most demanding and emotional parts of our bond with them. It takes time, money, effort, and deep emotional commitment to ensure they continue to experience comfort, dignity, and joy.

Whether your pet is in their twilight years or because their body is not as strong as their love for their family, and facing health challenges that make life a little harder, you're not alone. The resources below will help you navigate this journey with love and confidence.

• Love is… caring for a senior pet
  Honouring the golden years and the special care they require.
• How will I know when ‘it’s time’?
  Guidance on making compassionate end-of-life decisions.
• We asked the PetRescue community about caring for blind pets
  Real-life advice and inspiration from fellow pet guardians.
• Coping while caring for pets with chronic illness – Tips from lap of love
  Emotional support and practical advice for caregivers.
• Providing care for pets with chronic conditions – MedVet
  Veterinary tips to help manage your pet’s ongoing health needs.

Sadly, sometimes life throws challenges our way that make it impossible to keep our beloved pets, no matter how much we wish things were different. If you’re facing the heartbreaking decision to rehome your pet, please take a moment to read: When rehoming is the best option.

We understand how stressful and overwhelming it can be, especially when time is limited and you're desperate to find a safe and loving home for your pet.

While many shelters and rescue groups do amazing work ensuring pets in their care are safe and loved, they often have long wait lists or limited capacity. They also may not have the facilities or resources to house pets longer term, or to ensure that pets receive care beyond the basics, and this can place pets in danger of an uncertain future.

This can make it difficult to know where to turn, and navigating the world of shelters and rescues can feel confusing and anxiety-inducing.

You're not alone in this. Support is available to help you make the best decision for your pet’s future. To help, we’ve gathered all the key information you might need to guide you through this journey: Options for Urgent Support in Rehoming Your Pet.

You can also:

• Use our Rescue Directory to contact local rescue organisations and shelters
• Speak with a veterinary clinic, as some may be able to assist with rehoming directly or connect you with people who can help

If you can continue caring for your pet for six or more weeks, you may be eligible for our Home2Home program.

Home2Home gets your pet in front of 30,000 potential adopters each day. You will have peace of mind knowing your pet is at home with you whilst you find the right home and meet potential adopters.

• Find out more about Home2Home
• See what pet owners are saying about Home2Home
• When rehoming is the best option