“No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
A passionate team
Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Incorporated (MPDRI) was started in 2020 when a group of passionate, like-minded volunteers, came together around the united goal of rescuing and rehoming dogs in need.
With the unwavering commitment from a wide group of talented and devoted volunteers, MPDRI has achieved that goal, over and over, since its inception - placing dogs in the homes they were always meant to have.
Everything is a journey, and we are still finessing our processes to develop the best possible transitioning of dogs to their forever homes with the least amount of stress for the animals and their amazing fosterers and adopters.
But we are proud of our achievements since our inception, and the genuine happiness our program has been able to bring to so many dogs and their adoptive families.
And when we say family, we mean individuals, couples, parents and kids and everything in between. There is no one size fits all. It’s that perfect match between dog and owner(s) that drives our team to continue to locate and rehome dogs in need - from as far away as outback Queensland to around the corner in Dromana. We rescue them all, and set to work to find their long-term home.
And there is no judgement. No surrender is the same. We look forward, not backwards.
Our story is still being written… and we hope you’ll find your page somewhere in the book.
- The MPDRI team
Meet the MDPRI committee
-
Erin Shaw
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Hi Everyone, my name is Erin and I am the President. I founded the Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Incorporated in November 2020 as I felt there was a need for a people-centred, dog rescue that put their carers first.
I oversee logistics, so I liaise with transporters, and pounds and network with others in order to get the dogs into our care.
When receiving surrenders, I use my own dogs Questlove and Willie Bannister to do assessments to ensure that the dogs meet our criteria of being dog-friendly.
I am experienced with obedience training the bully breed type of dogs that enter our rescue such as Staffys, Bull Arabs, Mastiffs, Rottweilers etc. I assist foster carers with issues that come up with any of these breeds.
I am super proud of what we have accomplished and the foster carers and committee that are one big family.
-
Jess Munro
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi, my name’s Jess and I am one of the newer committee members in the MPDR family.
I joined the family as a foster carer and adored every minute of my experience.
I have a passion for rescue and have always believed in adopting my animals, including one of my fosters who I loved so much I couldn’t see him go.
Some of the roles I have assisted with are interviewing potential foster carers and adopters, and doing our best to find the right fit for both the dogs and the adopters.
I have assisted with meet and greets, transporting dogs to carers, and delivering foster carer packs, and food.
You may see me at adoption days, or at the dog drop-off points when they arrive from the pounds, where I have been known to take a dog or two with me until their foster carers are able to collect them.
I live in the south eastern suburbs closer to Melbourne and am able to assist with the carers and dogs over my side of town.
You might also see my name pop up with reminders for vet appointments or scheduling vaccinations.
-
Helen Lemon
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi, I'm Helen, the senior member of the group.
Retirement had me searching for something interesting and worthwhile to keep my mind and body active.
I commenced as a foster carer in late October 2022 and then offered to assist with paperwork without realising what I was getting myself into.
Participating as a foster carer and a committee member is rewarding in itself, but now I do so much more. I process all the paperwork necessary for adoptions, surrenders, and vet work for each dog’s file, and communicate with various vet clinics and National Database personnel, foster carers, and adopters.
Eleven foster dogs have been placed into my care and rehomed to loving families. All except Foghorn Leghorn, who captured all of my heart, and I adopted him.
My philosophy is simple. I believe every dog has a future family, and it's only a matter of time until they choose them.
Mutual support, dedication, and a common goal are how the group operates. I love what I do, but I couldn't achieve it without the dedicated group behind me.
-
Erin Rogers
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi all, my name is Erin and I just recently joined the MPDRI family.
My role within the rescue is to help organise foster carers for dogs coming into our rescue, help filter through the adoption applications and help them find their forever-loving homes.
I also help out with the social media side as well as being a foster carer myself.
It can be a lot of hard work but I really enjoy it especially once I see all those beautiful, caring souls within their forever homes getting the love they deserve.
We have such a wonderful team and such wonderful carers that we are really just a big loving family.