The internet is a fantastic source useful information, resources and data. Everything you need to know is now available in your pocket, making research and education easier. However, with billions of sites competing for your views, it can be hard to find exactly what you are looking for.
To help you find the information you need, we’ve compiled the top 25 online publishers in the animal welfare and pets community. These organisations are experts in the field, have high site visitor traffic and publish factual, engaging content perfect to use for referencing and gathering information.
1. Animal Welfare League Australia
The Animal Welfare League Australia is the poster child for animal welfare publishing online. Established in 2007, they are one of Australia’s leading non-profit organisations and advocate for the fair treatment of companion animals (pets). Publishing relevant and authority content, the website is full of detailed and informative knowledge and advice. It is one of the most visited animal welfare websites in Australia and covers all aspects of animal welfare, ownership and rehoming. For those looking at creating content in the animal welfare and pets industry, this is a great starting point. The social media accounts are a great place to see what is hot among the audience. The additional educational resources help to simplify the learning process of animal welfare and are perfect for using as authority reference links.
AWLA Quick Resource Links
- Animal Welfare League Australia Blog
- About the organisation
- Animal Welfare legislation
- FaceBook Page and Twitter account
- Educational resources available for download
- Values and mission statement
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018.
2. PetRescue
PetRescue is an animal welfare organisation was established in 2004 and provides lots of up-to-date information covering pet adoption, no kill visions, breed specific legislation, cat management and TNR Advocacy. While cats and dogs are the main focus of the site, other animals are also covered in detail. The resources section offers up useful knowledge and is ideal for gathering sources and references for your content. The site also connects to various rescue groups. All of which provide more details covering each species.
PetRescue Quick Resource Links
- Adoption related information
- No Kill Movement information
- Breed Specific legislation
- FaceBook Page, Instagram feed and Twitter account
- Media campaigns and news
- Research and data sources
- About PetRescue
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018.
3. Shelter Mate
ShelterMate is a software that was developed by the RSPCA to help connect databases and the Activ4Pets platform. While the information is limited when compared to the other sites on this list, it gives a look at the technical side of animal welfare. The published content covers the workings of the software, the different platforms it is used with and how it is changing the way animal welfare databases operate. For those with an interest in the software and web-based side of the industry, it opens up the past, present and future of how information is stored, backed up and synced.
ShelterMate Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018.
4. RSPCA Queensland
RSPCA QLD is Australia’s original animal welfare organisation. The RSPCA was founded in in 1824 in London and was launched in Brisbane in 1848. With over 130 years experience in the animal welfare industry, the publisher has amassed a wealth of factual and relevant content. It is also among the most visited websites in the industry and focuses on the legislation and policies governing animal welfare in Australia. It makes up part of a larger network of state specific sites, with the QLD site being the most popular.
RSPCA QLD Quick Resource Links
- Latest important news
- RSPCA QLD blog
- FaceBook Page, Instagram, YouTube.
- Section for Stats and Fact Checking
- About RSPCA QLD
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
5. National Desexing Network
The National Desexing Network was formed in 2004. The site provides a wealth of information and data about pet welfare and current desexing policies. There is plenty of information surrounding government legislation and legal frameworks currently in force. The interactive map makes it easy to find local clinics who are part of the networks directory. Perfect for targeted local content and those interested in population control and governing laws. The site is definitely one of the best sources of animal health facts and there is plenty of confirming data.
NDN Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
6. Lort Smith
Lort Smith was constructed in 1936 in Melbourne by the Animal Welfare League of Victoria. It is currently the busiest Animal hospital in Australia and caters to all types of animal, both wild and domestic. There are more than 440 volunteers working with the non-profit organisation. The site is filled with fantastic blog posts, ranging from animal care, tips and advice, legislation, fundraising and success stories. There are also a lot of medical related information and animal welfare support, too.
Lort Smith Quick Resource Links
- Adoption policies and resources
- FaceBook Page, YouTube and Instagram
- Animal Health resources
- About Lort Smith
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
7. NØ kill Network
The nØkill Network provides lots of knowledge and data covering the no kill movement. It’s a great resource for humane rehoming information with lots of verified shelters who participate in the program by state. The PDF book is invaluable for accurate and in-depth information and facebook page content is great for discovering audience interests, research and resources. The site content can be on the morbid side at times. But it is a valuable cause that has a huge following and touches on some controversial topics.
NØ kill Network Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
8. Animals Australia
Animals Australia is one of Australia’s leading animal welfare organisations and currently represent forty different member groups and more than two million individual supporters. The website publishes lots of relevant investigative posts that expose animal cruelty. They also formulate campaigns to raise public awareness. A great source of government legislation and current laws, information and animal welfare knowledge.
Animals Australia Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Resource downloads
- Fact sheets
- FaceBook Page, YouTube and Twitter
- Issues information
- About Animals Australia
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
9. SA Dog Rescue
SA Dog Rescue is a great source of information about the rehoming and adoption process. SA Dog Rescue is a registered not-for-profit organisation and is run solely by unpaid volunteers and without any grants or government assistance. There are lots of details and insights about the process of animal adoption from start to finish and how the organisation is run.
SA Dog Rescue Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
10. Forever Friends
Forever friends started out in 2011 and is an Australian registered charity in the animal welfare industry. The non-profit organisation publishes fantastic content perfect for research and understanding. The news section is a great resource for animal rescue related info, advice, guides and fundraising ideas. Social media channels are active and there are lots of engaging posts covering all aspects of animal welfare, rescue and adoption.
Forever Friends Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
11. Blue Cross
BlueCross is a British animal welfare organisation that has been running since 1897. It is seen as one of the best examples of a non-profit entity. There is so much information on the site, both educational and scientific. It offers some great resources covering pet care, medical and illness, current EU legislation and learning. The pet advice section is very detailed and covers many of the more common questions people are asking.
Blue Cross Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
12. Pets At Home
Pets At Home is another British leader when it comes to animals, pets and welfare. The pet talk section at pets at home covers every type of animal from dogs and cats to hamsters and reptiles. Massive resource for information covering species specific nutrition, care, and surgeries. Also a huge Vlog on Youtube covering a range of topics from tips and tricks, advice, care guides and how to’s.
Pets At Home Quick Resource Links
- Pet care advice
- Responsible pet sourcing guide
- FaceBook Page, Instagram and Twitter
- About Pets at Home
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
13. The Dog Blog
The Dog Blog is an educational blog and podcast site filled with a plethora of dog related information. Information for teaching and understanding how and why animals behave as they do are well presented. Lots of interactive lessons can be found on the website and the community is very active. The publisher provides podcast and has developed an app for Iphones to further educate dog owners.
The Dog Blog Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Similar site links page
- Tv and news features
- FaceBook Page, YouTube and Twitter
- About The Dog Blog
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
14. Dogue
Dogue (pronounced the same way that Vogue is) is a fantastic canine related publisher that has a unique ezine format. It covers dog advice, dog care, dog DIY, dog fashion, dog food recipes, dog training videos and lots of engaging media. It is a great source of information relating to rehoming, care and the running of small animal welfare businesses. The blogs are detailed and light-hearted and come loaded with plenty of reference sources and historical timelines, and so on.
Dogue Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
15. Pet Welfare
Pet Welfare Australia offers a well designed website that is easy to navigate. There’s tons of useful information available. The majority of this surrounds companion animals, but there are external resources for other species. The 9 ways to save lives section is full of interesting and useful info, videos and data. Through education, research and advocacy they highlight many important causes in the animal welfare industry.
Pet Welfare Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
16. Pet Industry Association Australia
PIIA was founded in 1979. It is Australia’s only trade only association and plays a vital role in monitoring and protecting the Australian pet industry. As they are faced with government and organisational resistance and restrictions, it is an excellent place to discover legal and policy information. The site also offers up lots of educational, news, and public resources. The association regularly proceeds with formal submissions with governmental and regulatory agencies and aims to keep the pet industry thriving while maintaining standards.
PIIA Quick Resource Links
- About and overview of the association
- Education resources
- Public resources
- FaceBook Page and Twitter
- Supporting partners info
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
17. World Wildlife Fund Australia
WWF began its journey in Australia in 1978 with just 3 member of staff. Since then, it has grown to become a huge player in the animal welfare industry and has created an identity that is famed around the world. The website provides an invaluable source of information, data and posts covering wildlife, environments and ecosystems. The social media accounts are active and are a good source of audience opinions, questions and interests.
WWF Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Resource downloads
- Annual reports
- FaceBook Page, YouTube and Instagram
- Blogs
- About WWF
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
18. WildCare
WildCare was originally named the AKHAI (Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc) and was formed in 1993. It is located in Queensland and became a registered charity and incorporated association in 1994. The website provides detailed, in depth and useful information. Especially around native wildlife. The majority of information is easy to digest legislation and conservation guidelines. The data covering species information is extremely engaging and is great for using as a reference source.
WildCare Quick Resource Links
- Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
- Code of Practice for Sick, Injured or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland
- Nature Conservation Act 1992
- Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006
- Wildcare Rules of Association
- About WildCare
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
19. Wires
WIRES has been in operation since 1985. It wasn’t until 1986 that they launched as an organisation in Australia. Working to preserve and rehabilitate native wildlife, they currently have 28 different branches and more than 2,500 volunteers working with them. Training and wildlife tabs are fantastic resources regarding animal welfare policies, data, statistics, and so on. The blog is detailed and covers diseases, species numbers, avice, guides and how to style posts. Wires also has a mobile app that can be used for advice and assistance when dealing with injured animals.
Wires Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Information
- Factsheets
- FaceBook Page, Instagram and Twitter
- Seasonal advice
- Wildlife mobile app
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
20. Wildlife.Org
The Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland, also known as WPSQ was formed over 55 years ago. With a focus on both wildlife and ecosystems, the website offers loads of useful information. Great resources in the education, conservation, wildlife and news and events sections. Over all, the blog is very detailed and focuses on the society’s campaigns, current environmental emergencies and animal welfare policies.
Wildlife.org Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Projects
- Species profiles
- FaceBook Page and Twitter
- Blog and news
- About WPSQ
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
21. The Animal Rescue Site
The animal rescue site is a modern and effective way of fundraising for animal welfare. The entire website is based on a buy and click to feed system. The American based organisation is a great representation of how nonprofits can generate income and revenue aside from the usual asking for donations scheme. There is plenty of information covering how the platform works. Live data graphs show exactly how many bowls of food have been generated for shelters. And the blog is full of useful, targeted content covering the industry.
The Animal rescue Site Quick Resource Links
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
22. Animal Welfare League – South Australia
Animal Welfare League is another giant in the industry and offers an informative and educational website. Founded in 1964, they have one of the the biggest animal shelters in Australia. The advice and education section is very detailed and provides insights for both public and professional visitors. Approximately 12,000 dogs and cats are cared for at their 3 main shelters. Much of their efforts are community focussed and they aim to educated owners for better treatment of animals.
Animal Welfare League Quick Resource Links
- Blogs and media archives
- Pet advice
- FaceBook Page, YouTube and Twitter
- Positions and policies
- About Animals Welfare League Australia
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
23. Animal Welfare.Gov
Government website covering current laws and legislation. Useful resources include Animal Welfare Action Plan, Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, Animal welfare legislation, Our role in animal welfare, Committees, Domestic animal businesses, Electronic collar fact sheets, Humane vertebrate pest control, Aquatic animal welfare, Parliamentary inquiry into the RSPCA Changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, Record of prosecutions, Protecting fruit trees and wildlife Animals used in research and teaching Digital agriculture. Brilliant reference points. Up to date Australian information.
Animal welfare.Gov Quick Resource Links
- Animal welfare recommendations
- Animal welfare action plan Victoria
- Record of prosecutions
- Legislation and codes of practice
- Issues information
- Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
- Animal Health Australia
- Animal Welfare Standards
- Facebook, YouTube and Twitter
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
24. Second Chance Animal Rescue
Second Chance opened their first animal shelter in 2015. The organisation is non-profit and relies on public support. The website has lots of useful content published, ranging from animal welfare, guides, medical related information, data and legislation. The pet library is useful for researching content and finding sources. The Facebook page is well-received and offers additional off-site info.
Second Chance Quick Resource Links
- Blogs list
- Library content – very useful
- FaceBook Page and Instagram
- History
- Annual reports and data
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
25. Western Australia’s animal welfare law
Western Australia’s animal welfare law is part of the WA Gov website and covers all applicable laws and policies governing the industry. Being part of the government website, it is the most reliable source of information for data and resources. There are plenty of links covering different aspects of the law, ranging from agricultural to companion animals. The social media pages are active and also full of recent information and updates to the law, policies and news.
The Western Australia’s animal welfare law quick resource links
- Roles and responsibilities
- Act amendments
- YouTube and Instagram
- Animal welfare review
- Publications and resources
*All links have been checked and are working as of September 2018
So, there you have it. The top 25 organisations in the animal welfare online community. While the majority of these sites are from well-known leaders in the industry, some are relatively small. Why did they make this list? Well, partly because of their unique approaches to fundraising and cause recognition and partly because they cover many smaller, yet vitally important questions. Given the sensitive nature of animal welfare, each site has its own resource links and detailed information that may at times prove to be distressing.
We have verified each link on this list, reviewed the sites and taken a closer look at the analytics to create this list. It will prove to be invaluable for your research, understanding and execution of content in this industry category and provide you with all the information you could ever need. We are doing a series of these posts covering the most important industries. So, check the blog for more.
