Pet Circle and animal welfare charity PetRescue have launched a new national campaign aimed at rehoming large dogs across Australia.
The “Looking for Love” campaign hopes to find families for more than 100 big dogs by the end of June. It comes as new data shows large dogs are adopted at half the rate of smaller breeds, receiving 78 per cent fewer adoption enquiries.
Patima Tantiprasut, Managing Director and CEO at PetRescue, said it’s heartbreaking to see that big dogs can be waiting almost twice as long to find a home when compared to the average time it takes the smaller ones.
“This campaign encourages people to look beyond appearance alone when considering a pet, and instead, focusing on their individual personality. It might surprise many that a big friendly giant might actually be the most suitable and compatible companion for their lifestyle and household.”
The initiative will focus on promoting the adoption of large-sized dogs of all ages currently listed on PetRescue, with over 1,000 big dogs still waiting for homes.
Teagan Lever, Head Vet at Pet Circle, said there is a misconception that large dogs are more challenging to care for but that’s really not the case.
“They can be the most loving companions and it’s just a matter of finding a dog whose personality and needs fit your lifestyle and family.”
Pet Circle is also offering a $100 voucher to the first 200 people who adopt a large dog through PetRescue between 13 May and 13 June 2025.
Chloe, a large dog at Shoalhaven Animal Shelter in NSW, has been waiting over 650 days to be adopted. Described as a playful and affectionate companion, she is one of many dogs featured in the campaign.
“With the help of amazing partners like Pet Circle, we can give them the chance to be seen and adopted,” Tantiprasut said. “The data tells us that big dogs need an even bigger boost to generate more interest.”
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