Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a registered animal rescue organisation?

Yes, Little Volunteers and Friends Animal Rescue is a volunteer based, non-profit registered animal rescue group. We have an assigned rescue source number renewed annually with the Pet Exchange Registry as issued by Animal Welfare Victoria and function as a Community Foster Care Network (CFCN).

We work together with a number of veterinary practices across Melbourne for the healthcare of our foster animals and we are a veterinary verified group on the PetRescue website.

Where are you located?

Little Volunteers and Friends is based in Greenvale, Victoria Australia. We help to rescue animals from regions all over Victoria and have carers located around Melbourne suburbs and surrounds.

Do you have a shelter where I can come to visit?

Our rescue group is classified as a CFCN under Animal Welfare Victoria and is comprised of a network of volunteers who care for our foster animals within their homes. We do not have a shelter facility but meet and greets with our fosters can be arranged by appointments.

What is your adoption process?

We pride ourselves on finding the best home for our animals and have a strict adoption process. If you are interested in adoption, you will be required to fill out an adoption application form which can be found here. A member of our team will be in contact via phone if we believe your home and lifestyle is suitable for the animal of interest. If your phone interview is successful then we will then arrange a meet and greet appointment. In this session, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with our foster animal to ensure that they are the right fit for you, and vice versa. If all goes well then the adoption process can be completed!

Please note that due to an overwhelming amount of enquiries, we will only be in contact with shortlisted applicants.

Why do I have to fill out an application to adopt?

Our adoption form is the first step in giving us the information we need to determine if your home and lifestyle is the right fit for our foster animal. Just like you and me, each animal has their own unique needs and personalities so it is very important that we match them to a family that is compatible. In this way, we can ensure that our foster animal will be able to find their perfect forever home.

What are your adoption fees?

We are a self funded volunteer group reliant on community donations to sustain our rescue work. 100% of our adoption fees are recycled into our rescue funds to assist with the care, essential supplies, medications and vet work for the succeeding animals that come into rescue care. As such, our adoption fees cannot be negotiated and ranges depending on the individual animal.

Do you offer a trial period for my new pet?

Yes, it is important to us that our foster animals are rehomed to the most compatible families. As such, we offer a 10 day cooling off period and will take the animal back into foster care for any reason, with a refund of the adoption fee minus an administration fee. This is agreed upon adoption by contract.

Our adoption agreement terms can be found here.

Do we take expressions of interest?

Yes, we do accept expressions of interest for our foster animals. You can follow along and support our social media pages to see if there is a kitten, cat or pup that piques your interest and contact our team via email to enquire.

What vet work do you provide for your foster animals prior to adoption?

All of our foster animals receive a veterinary health check and are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated prior to rehoming. They will also be up to date with flea and gastrointestinal worming treatments.

Your new kitten will receive at least the first of three core vaccines which is essential for every cat as they protect from serious diseases. These vaccines are often grouped together into a single injection called the F3 vaccine which immunise against the Feline Herpes Virus, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopaenia.

Our special needs foster animals may continue to receive ongoing care, medications or treatments with our guidance post-adoption, which is subject to individual needs. This will be agreed upon by contract on adoption.

How can I become involved with rescue work?

Rescue groups are always looking for helping hands to assist with tasks like foster care, transportation, fundraising, organising events and more. The best way to contribute is to find your local rescue group or shelter and enquire within.

Experience is preferable but not a necessity and it is most optimal for you to apply with a local rescue group. Our work often requires a considerable amount of travel to and from vet appointments and for emergencies, between foster homes, for collecting donations, etc.

If you are unable to assist as a volunteer in this manner, the best way to show your support is by making a donation.

How can I surrender an animal?

We do facilitate stray companion animals and community surrenders dependant on circumstances. This is subject to our available resources, funds and whether we have foster carers available to assist with intake at the time of enquiry. Please provide us with details and photos, and submit a surrender form to make an enquiry.

What do I do if I found a stray kitten?

If the kitten is looking emaciated, dishevelled, distressed or is in imminent danger to hypothermia, traffic, predators or environmental exposure, you will need to intervene.

Keep them warm, do NOT attempt to feed and contact your local vet clinic or rescue group ASAP!

If the kittens is in good condition, looks well fed and is warm to the touch, the mother is likely nearby. Stay at a distance and wait a few hours for her return. If she is sighted then it is best to organise a trap so that the family can be removed from the streets. It is very important that you do not separate a mother cat from her kittens as it will drastically decrease their chances of survival.

If you find kittens safe in a backyard with their mother, you may continue to provide food and shelter until the family can be trapped and brought into rescue care.

 If you have the knowledge and resources to help on your own, this will lessen the burden on rescue groups and shelters that are already inundated with many animals. Ask yourself what you personally can do to help, utilise veterinary advice and online resources for information (eg. Kitten Lady), know your community’s services and work within these amenities.