Community Programs

Community programs at The Lost Dogs’ Home promote responsible pet ownership keeping pets safe, happy and at home.

About our community programs

Through vital partnerships with local councils, The Lost Dogs’ Home community programs support pets and people with education, services and outreach in schools, parks and neighbourhoods.

Why it matters

Our community programs aim to extend the care of The Lost Dogs’ Home beyond the shelter to support and empower communities through education, accessible services and early intervention. We aim to keep people and pets together, promote responsible pet ownership, encourage good animal welfare, and prevent animal surrender.
What’s on

Program highlights

Browse our range of community programs below.

Tailored events & workshops

The Lost Dogs’ Home offers tailored education presentations and workshops to suit a variety of audiences and event types. Whether you are hosting a pet-friendly event, community day, or looking to promote responsible pet ownership in your office or classes, our outreach team can adapt our content to engage participants of all ages. Topics can include dog and cat behaviour advice, educational presentations, or safety around pets. As part of our offering, we can also provide free behavioural advice on site, with experienced trainers available to speak directly with pet owners and answer questions. If you’re planning an event and would like to provide helpful information to support pet owners, we’d love to work with you to design something that fits.

Contact us

We’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, want to get involved, or simply need more information, our team is here to help.

Dogs in the Park

Free group training sessions for dogs.

Dogs in the Park brings free dog training to local parks across Melbourne. Using positive reinforcement techniques, our experienced animal behaviour trainers lead each session, teaching practical skills like loose-lead walking, recall and safe dog interactions.

This proactive prevention program is run in partnership with local councils. It helps dog owners build stronger bonds with their pets and access professional, force-free training before behaviour issues arise. In doing so, we aim to reduce the number of dogs surrendered due to manageable behaviour problems and prevent dog-related incidents in the community.

By offering sessions in accessible, familiar locations – and at no cost to participants – the program ensures all dog owners have the opportunity to set their dogs up for success. Councils can also opt to include a tailored online learning module, covering responsible pet ownership and local laws in more depth.

More than 500 dogs have participated in Dogs in the Park so far, and the program is growing fast. Most events book out, and participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

We welcome enquiries from all local councils (including metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria) interested in brining Dogs in the Park to their community. Please email outreach@dogshome.com for details.

Check the events page of our website for forthcoming sessions.

Additional pets

An educational program designed for primary school children.

Pawsitive Pals is an interactive program that helps primary students learn about responsible pet care and animal welfare.

Our team delivers fun, age appropriate sessions with hands on activities that build confidence, empathy, and safe behaviour around animals. We also provide follow up resources to support continued learning in your classroom.

We visit primary schools and local libraries across Melbourne.

Interested in a visit? Simply complete our online expression of interest form – we’d love to work with your community! Pawsitive Pals – Expression of Interest

Additional pets

A workshop for dog owners living in apartments.

Highrise Hounds is designed to support apartment dog owners in navigating city living with their pets. With Melbourne’s population growing rapidly, more dog owners are living in high-rise apartments, a shift which often brings unique challenges, such as noise complaints, limited access to outdoor space, and destructive behaviour.

Delivered by experienced trainers from The Lost Dogs’ Home, this interactive and engaging one-hour workshop offers practical guidance on responsible pet ownership tailored specifically to apartment life. The session covers key topics including managing common behaviour issues like barking, applying positive-reinforcement training, meeting dogs’ enrichment needs within small spaces, and understanding public space etiquette such as lift use, leash expectations, and shared areas.

By equipping owners with practical tools and knowledge, Highrise Hounds not only promotes responsible pet ownership but also helps reduce pet-related complaints. The program supports the creation of safer and more pet-friendly communities.

This program is ideal for councils and apartment managers looking to support pet-friendly housing initiatives and foster stronger community engagement. To bring Highrise Hounds to your building or community event, contact outreach@dogshome.com.

Chip Checker

Chip Checker helps pet owners stay on track with ID details.

The Chip Checking Station is a mobile service that helps reunite lost pets with their families faster and more successfully. While microchipping is a critical tool in identifying lost animals, many pets are never reclaimed simply because their contact details in the registry are out of date. This creates avoidable delays, places pressure on animal shelters and impacts the wellbeing of both pets and their owners.

To tackle this, we are bringing the Chip Checker station to events across Melbourne. This free service allows pet owners to have their dog’s microchip scanned and registry checked on the spot. Our team also provides guidance on updating contact details and walks owners through simple steps that can improve the chances of a safe reunion.

By helping pet owners keep their contact details current, the Chip Checker Station improves lost pet reunion rates, reduces strain on shelters, and supports better outcomes for animals and communities alike.

The Chip Checker Station is perfect for dog-friendly community events, such as Pet Expo, Pets in the Park, festival and more.

To book the Chip Checker Station for your event, contact outreach@dogshome.com.