Dogs’ Refuge Home

For nearly a century, Dogs’ Refuge Home has been a place of safety for Western Australian dogs with nowhere else to turn. Opened in 1935, it remains one of Australia’s oldest animal welfare organisations and a vital part of the WA community.

Each year, the Refuge rescues and rehomes more than 1,000 dogs. Some arrive after abuse or neglect. Others have been loved but can no longer be cared for. Some are simply unwanted. What unites them is simple. Every dog deserves the same love and respect they so freely give.

At Dogs’ Refuge Home, rescue does more than provide shelter. It gives dogs a real second lease on life.

Care That Begins Early

A typical day at the Refuge starts early.

From 6:30am, volunteers arrive to take every dog out for their morning walk. Feeding begins. Medications are administered. Kennels are cleaned. It happens for every dog on site, every single day.

Once the essentials are complete, the focus shifts to enrichment and connection. Staff and volunteers spend time playing with the dogs, providing one on one attention, and taking them to on site playgrounds for exercise and stimulation.

There are around 150 dogs at the Shenton Park facility and a further 250 in foster care across Western Australia. Some come from metropolitan Perth, others from regional towns as far as Kalgoorlie. Many have been rescued from backyard breeding situations.

The Refuge operates under a Pro Life Policy enshrined in its Constitution. Healthy dogs are not euthanised. There is no time limit. Dogs remain in care until the right family comes along. It is a long term commitment to giving every dog the opportunity to start again.

When the Gates Open

Dogs’ Refuge Home operates entirely on donations and volunteer support. Community generosity keeps the gates open and ensures every dog receives the care it deserves.

Through Cars for Good, the easyauto123 Cannington team proudly donated $1,000 to support the Refuge’s ongoing work. The funding will help purchase additional kibble and specialised food, along with enrichment toys to keep dogs stimulated and engaged. With hundreds of dogs in care at any given time, these essentials are used quickly.

When asked what makes the work worthwhile, Georgia from the Refuge shared a simple reflection.

“One of the most rewarding moments for our team is seeing the dogs we have loved and cared for find homes where they will be cherished and given the very best life. Watching families take them home, filled with excitement, makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

Moments like these do not just change the lives of the dogs. They change people too. Inspired by the work being done, Jamie from the easyauto123 Cannington team recently persuaded her partner to welcome another rescue dog from Dogs’ Refuge Home into their own household.

Second chances have a way of spreading.

At easyauto123, we believe in the power of a second start. It is why Cars for Good exists and why supporting organisations like Dogs’ Refuge Home feels so natural.

If you are ready to welcome a canine companion into your life, consider a rescue dog first. You can also support Dogs’ Refuge Home by donating, fostering or volunteering.

Learn more about their work here:
https://www.dogshome.org.au/about-us/