About us
A foster network, not a shelter.
Starting Over Dog Rescue was founded on a simple belief: every dog deserves a second chance, not a countdown clock.
- dogs saved a year
- 1,500+
- dogs a day into our care
- 5
- volunteer-run
- 100%
dogs saved a year
dogs a day into our care
volunteer-run
Our story
Why we exist
Starting Over Dog Rescue was founded in 2011 on a simple belief: every dog deserves a second chance, not a countdown clock. Victorian pounds euthanise adoptable dogs simply because there isn't enough space to hold them. We step in, often with only hours to spare, saving over 1,500 dogs a year and placing them into loving foster homes across Victoria instead of kennels.
We're entirely volunteer-run. There is no shelter building and no paid staff. Every dog in our care lives with a foster carer while we get to know their personality and find the right home for them, and every dollar donated goes straight to food, veterinary care and transport.
Through our Last Litter Program we also work upstream, helping people facing an unplanned pregnancy or accidental litter break the cycle at the source, rather than only responding after the fact.
Every dog we save gets what our name promises: a real starting over.
What we do
Three ways we help dogs start over
Foster & adopt
Dogs live with volunteer foster carers, not in kennels, while we find them the right forever home.
Meet the dogs →Last Litter Program
Support for unplanned pregnancies and accidental litters, so this really is the last litter.
Learn more →Community support
Foster carers, transport volunteers, sponsors and donors all keep our dogs out of the pound.
See how to help →
Our foster carers
The heart of everything we do
Behind every dog we save is a foster carer who opens up their home, their couch and their routine to a dog that needs one. It's not always easy, but it's how we get to know each dog properly before they're adopted into the right family for good.
Since 2011, hundreds of Victorian foster carers have given their time this way, and it's the reason we've never needed a shelter building to do this work.
Who we are
Registration details
- Legal name
- Starting Over Dog Rescue Ltd
- ABN
- 58 154 885 882
- ACN
- 154 885 882
- Source number
- RE100115
- Tax status
- DGR, all donations are tax deductible
- Based in
- Victoria, Australia
Want to be part of the story?
Foster a dog, volunteer your time, or make a donation. Every option gets a dog closer to their fresh start.