May 19th, 2026Helping pets in need
Petstock Daylesford is encouraging people to adopt a pet in need this May, or donate to help with their care at Castlemaine’s Mt Alexander Animal Welfare Shelter.
Animal shelters are also feeling the cost of living pressure requiring additional help to cover daily essentials such as food, vet care and housing.
The Australia-wide Petstock initiative aims to raise $150,000 through in-store and online donations, and sales of Petstock Foundation’s very own range of Buddy plush pet toys.
Daylesford and Castlemaine Petstock co-owners Melissa and Matt Barnes are happy to be involved with the campaign.
“We do not have pets to rescue but we are doing other things such as pet donations and customers can purchase discounted cans that we can take to MAAWS,” Melissa said.
“We have food at the counter people can buy to donate and we also have the Buddy toys as well. If someone can’t make it to the store they can also donate online.
“There are so many dogs and cats looking for their forever homes and if anyone comes in looking for a pet we send them to Castlemaine. And then if they find the right adopted dog or a cat they can come back to us and we can help them with all they need.”
Melissa said she and Matt bought the Daylesford store a few years ago and it’s going well.
“We help so many people with their pets’ needs and if we can’t help then we refer them to the local vets we have here.
“We also have a lot of people from Melbourne who find their way here, on school holidays, that sort of thing. Our customer service is 100 per cent.”
Melissa said the store also got caught up in The Block fun, just over the road, providing strawbales for a bonfire night, and fish for one of the house’s pond.
“We were very busy during that time and it was a lot of fun to be involved.”
Meanwhile the rescue event is on until the end of May but even after that donations are still happily accepted.
“The Petstock Foundation has a different cause each month. It might be for guide dogs, or horse rescues, or they have even done one to help homeless people feed their pets.
“We love being a part of Petstock and all that they do.”
Daylesford Petstock has also supported The Local’s Pick Me, Pick Me article for many years. They really do treat pets like family!
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed
