Who We Are

Pets of the Homeless founder Yvonne assisting a homeless woman and her dog on the street

Pets Of The Homeless (POTH) was founded with a crucial mission in mind: to bridge the gap between human and animal welfare services.

We recognise the deep bond between vulnerable people and their pets and understand that, during times of crisis, this bond should not be broken due to a lack of essential pet care resources.

We understand that pets play a vital role in the lives of their guardians, providing not only physical support but also serving as emotional companions. By helping these pets, we are, in turn, offering a helping hand to their people to regain stability and get back on their feet. Our efforts also contribute to reducing the number of healthy pets that end up being surrendered to shelters and potentially euthanised due to lack of resources or options.

Through our mission, we strive to create an environment where vulnerable individuals can find support for their beloved pets, reducing the strain on animal shelters and promoting a society that values the profound impact of pets in our lives.

Our Mission

We work to help keep vulnerable people and their pets together by alleviating
the burden of providing essential pet care during times of hardship.

Our Vision

A community where no person is
separated from their pet due to
homelessness or disadvantage.

Our Values

Helping without judgement

Uphold dignity

Strength in working together

Maximising impact

Be accountable, transparent and outcomes focused

Continual learning and improvement

Our Story

Pets Of The Homeless was founded in 2015 by Yvonne Hong.

Fuelled by her volunteer work in animal rescue and at a local soup kitchen, Yvonne found herself drawn to those living on the streets with their faithful companions. Every encounter left her with a desire to offer more than just passing kindness.

Driven by empathy and a sense of duty, Yvonne looked into the existing support services for pet guardians experiencing homelessness, only to find a glaring absence. It became clear: a fundamental need was being overlooked. Thus, Pets of the Homeless was started.

Undeterred by the lack of resources, Yvonne took matters into her own hands, personally distributing pet supplies to those in need on the streets. Through heartfelt storytelling on social media, she shared her journey and she saw that people resonated with her work. The outpouring of support validated the importance of her cause and propelled her mission forward.

2024

We’ve expanded our fleet to two delivery vans to better meet the growing demand. Additionally, our team has grown to six dedicated staff members.

2023

POTH was named a finalist in the Melbourne Awards Community category. The Pet Food Bank reached its 1.5 million meals milestone to over 65 community partner organisations. 315 pets assisted so far through our Fix-A-Friend Desexing initiative.

2022

Two images showing people and their pets who have been helped by Pets of the Homeless with funding for veterinary services, highlighting the impact of the organisation's support.

1 million pet meals distributed! We introduced Fix-A-Friend, a subsidised low-cost desexing initiative, which aims to enhance accessibility to affordable preventive care for pets. In the same year, POTH was awarded the City of Kingston’s Community Group of the Year while Yvonne was named as Sunbites Charity Hero as well LG Australia’s Local Hero.

2021

Two images of Pets of the Homeless volunteers: one delivering a box of pet food outside the van and another receiving pet food at a distribution site, highlighting the support provided to pets and their owners.

We achieved a significant milestone as our Pet Food Bank extended support to its 50th Community Partner. We proudly expanded our Pet Food Program into regional Victoria. Yvonne was chosen as City of Kingston’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

2020

A woman wearing a mask and sunglasses hugging her cat, who has been helped by Pets of the Homeless, highlighting the positive impact of the charity's work.

Our Pet Food Bank distributed a staggering 300,000 pet meals, while our Foster Care Program reached a heartwarming milestone, caring for its 100th pet. We also celebrated the addition of POTH's first employee to our team. Yvonne was named as Westfield Southland’s Local Hero Of The Year.

2019

Pets of the Homeless team celebrating outside their office after a successful Giving Day fundraiser, with a close-up of the fundraising dashboard showing funds raised and donor engagement during the annual event.

We proudly opened Victoria's inaugural Pet Food Bank in Cheltenham. We welcomed Myf Warhurst as our Ambassador. We also launched our first major annual fundraiser. Our Never Tear Them Apart Giving Day campaign marked a milestone as we successfully raised an impressive $151,000 within 24 hours! Yvonne was a winner in the Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25 Awards, which recognises inspiring change makers making a positive impact in the social sector.

2018

A woman kneeling and showing affection to two dogs, a Beagle and a Shih Tzu, in an outdoor area, highlighting the compassionate care provided by Pets of the Homeless.

We introduced two groundbreaking initiatives aimed at ensuring the well-being of pets when their guardians faced homelessness or hardship. First, we rolled out our Emergency Boarding program, providing swift and short-term kenneling solutions. Recognising the need for more comprehensive support, we also launched our Foster Care program, allowing volunteer foster carers to open their homes to pets for an extended period of 12 weeks, giving their guardians the time they need to get back on their feet.

2017

A veterinarian wearing a Pets of the Homeless t-shirt using a stethoscope to check a fluffy cat, highlighting the care provided to pets in need.

We launched our veterinary care program, initiating a network of veterinary partners. This strategic collaboration enabled us to offer financial assistance or complete coverage for medical treatments for pets in need.

2016

Pets Of The Homeless was formally registered as a charity and we started establishing partnerships with community organisations to distribute pet food and supplies.