A special bond exists between people and animals.
Our mission is to nurture, support, and strengthen that connection.
Cherished Pets Foundation's purpose is to ensure that the enriching benefits of the human-animal bond are accessible to all, enhancing the health and wellbeing of pets, people, and the community.
We focus on supporting people whose personal circumstances put the human-animal bond with their own cherished pets, at risk.
By safeguarding the wellbeing of pets and their owners, we empower individuals facing vulnerability, promote healthier lives, and strengthen community connections. Together, we are creating a future where the human-animal bond drives positive social change.
Our compassionate multi-disciplinary team of Human-Animal Bond Practitioners, including Community Veterinary Nurses, Social Workers and Program and Support roles, and a dedicated team of volunteers, provide advice and a range of services, including Home Care Assistance, emergency pet respite through a human health referral service, pet transport to veterinary care and dog walking, all centered around preserving and strengthening the human-animal bond.
Vision
Our vision is a world where the human-animal bond creates and contributes to the development of connected and healthy communities.
Our Social Service Team helps ensure pets stay healthy, happy, and right where they belong — by their person’s side. This service provides tailored, ongoing support for people who may need a little extra assistance due to age, illness, disability, or other circumstances. By supporting pets at home, we reduce stress for owners and prevent unnecessary pet surrender.
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In-home assessments of pet and human needs
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Regular visits to monitor wellbeing
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Volunteer support with walking, feeding, and transport
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Emergency Pet Care Plans for peace of mind
Our Human–Animal Bond Practitioner Social Workers bridges the gap between human and animal welfare. Working alongside health and social service case managers, they help people navigate challenges such as insecure housing, domestic and family violence, or other barriers to pet care.
- Arrange emergency pet respite when someone can’t provide care
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Facilitate safe pathways for rehoming if ongoing ownership is not possible
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Provide clear information and guidance so people can make informed choices
- Dog walking – giving dogs the exercise, attention, and companionship they need
- Transport – helping pets get safely to the vet or other essential appointments
- In-home pet respite care – offering short-term support so pets are comfortable and cared for at home
Our Impact
With 69% of Australians owning a pet, and more than 85% of Australian pet owners feeling having pets impacts their lives positively, the human-animal bond holds significant potential for positive social change.
Cherished Pets Foundation measures the social impact of its services to understand areas of strength, service delivery, and community impact. All our surveyed pet owners reported experiencing health and wellbeing benefits from their pets, reaffirming the profound value of supporting the human-animal bond.
$4M+
Total Social Value for our community
5080
Total people and pets supported
2125
Vet Social Work Services Provided
1947
Nights Pet Respite Care
Board of Directors
Simon Fieldhouse
Simon is Chair of Cherished Pets Foundation and a dynamic facilitator with over 20 years’ experience in leadership, change and culture, supporting leaders to shift perspectives and drive meaningful transformation. He is the founder of Mush Consulting, an accredited Adaptive Cultures, PROSCI and PCI practitioner, holds an MBA, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Alicia Kennedy
Alicia (Dr Lissi) and national leader in veterinary social services in Australia. As founder of Cherished Pets Veterinary Clinic and Cherished Pets Foundation, she has led the integration of veterinary social work into community-based care, supporting people and pets experiencing vulnerability. Recognised with the 2024 AVA President’s Award, and a 2025 Churchill Fellowship, she champions the human-animal bond for lasting social change and creating thriving, connected communities.
Gail Rodgers
Gail has dedicated her career to both the community and corporate sectors, bringing a strong passion for the Geelong region and the Bellarine Peninsula, where she has lived for more than 30 years with her husband Peter and their Murray River Retriever, Charlie. She retired in 2024 after serving as CEO of Geelong Community Foundation. Her previous roles include Manager at Volunteering Geelong, Corporate Citizenship Manager at Ford Motor Company, and Executive Officer at United Way Geelong (now Give Where You Live). Gail has been instrumental in developing innovative partnerships that strengthen local communities.
Graham Phelps
Graham’s work with animals and people began in private veterinary practice, followed by roles as a zoo veterinarian and in senior government conservation and community development positions across the Northern Territory and Victoria. He has served with the Heads of Australian National Parks, the Council of Heads of Botanic Gardens, and Lort Smith Animal Hospital. Graham lives in Ocean Grove and his current cherished pet is an 8 year old Kelpie-Labrador cross called Thali-thali.
Carolyn Budai
Carolyn is a values-driven leader with experience across animal welfare, disability services, and community development. She spent 16 years in South Africa running a reptile conservation and education centre before returning to Tasmania to lead teams in the NDIS sector. Carolyn brings strengths in collaboration, service quality, and compassionate governance, along with a deep belief in the wellbeing benefits of human–animal bonds.
Duncan McNab
Duncan is Treasurer of Cherished Pets Foundation and has over 20 years’ experience across senior finance and leadership roles. He is currently CFO of a state-owned IT agency and runs his own CFO advisory practice. His expertise includes management reporting, cashflow, budgeting and forecasting, and board support to support entities to grow and realise their goals. Duncan is passionate about using his skills to give back to the community he lives in.
Christina Wyatt
Christina is an occupational therapist with over 20 years’ clinical experience in Australia and the UK, specialising in adult rehabilitation, disability and aged care. She works as Professional Practice Advisor at Occupational Therapy Australia, advocating for stronger aged care practice. Christina volunteers with Sacred Heart Mission’s St Kilda Women’s Shelter and volunteered for 10 years with her late dog Millie through the Delta Society.
Ben Fahey
Ben brings strong expertise in financial analysis, data and impact measurement, and is known for helping organisations turn numbers into insight. He supports teams to strengthen decision-making, improve performance and align strategy with impact through a practical, systems-focused approach. Ben’s love of animals is well known, particularly his bond with his dog, Boo
Advisory Board
Sarah Waddle
Sarah is a purpose-driven leader with over 20 years in fundraising, philanthropy, and impact evaluation, helping organisations tackle Australia’s most pressing social challenges. A Curtin University graduate, founder of Align Agency, and Social Impact Hub Fellow, she specialises in mobilising communities, securing sustainable funding, and driving measurable impact to help purpose-driven organisations scale and create lasting change.
Jane Boag
Jane has been a trusted advisor to Cherished Pets for nearly a decade, shaping its governance and service model for lasting impact. With expertise in risk management, quality, and compliance, she leads Quality, Risk & Compliance at Safe Steps, chairs Wintringham’s Clinical Governance Committee, and supports organisations through her consultancy, What’s The Plan.
Alicia Kennedy
Alicia (Dr Lissi) is a trailblazing veterinarian and pioneer of veterinary social services in Australia. As founder of Cherished Pets Veterinary Clinic and Cherished Pets Foundation, she has redefined veterinary care by integrating veterinary social work to support vulnerable people with pets. Recognised with the 2024 AVA President’s Award, and a 2025 Churchill Fellowship, she champions the human-animal bond for lasting social change.
Susan Hazel
Susan is a veterinarian and expert in animal behaviour, welfare, and ethics. She has worked in private practice, medical research, and public health before moving into veterinary education. Since 2006, she has taught at the University of Adelaide, developed the BSc (Animal Behaviour) program, and serves on the Dog & Cat Management Board of SA, RSPCA SA, and the SA Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and advises the University of Copenhagen’s Companion Animal Welfare Center.
Contact Us
Our small team receive a large volume of enquiries daily, so please have a look through our website for information, or send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Email: care@cherishedpetcare.com.au
(03) 5222 2804 – please leave a detailed voice message if we’re not available and we’ll return your call.
We work Mon – Fri (not public holidays) and may take up to 2 working days to respond as we’re often out and about working with our clients, both human and animal.
