Our Story...

Hi, I'm Alysha — proud mum to Digga and Nelson, founder of Don't Forget My Pet, and very much the junior partner to our Chief Treat Officer, Digga.

Don't Forget My Pet was born out of something a lot of us felt but few of us talked about: how invisible you can become when you live alone. When COVID lockdowns hit, people living on their own were left out of the conversation entirely — even though we make up over a quarter of Australia's population.

Digga and I moved from Melbourne to Geelong between the first two lockdowns. We knew no one. Overnight, every friend, every support network, every familiar face was out of reach. It took a toll on my mental health, and I'll be honest — if it hadn't been for Digga, it would have been so much harder. When restrictions finally lifted, it was Digga who got me out the door, talking to people, building a new life in a new city.

The more I looked for support services for people with pets facing isolation, illness, or mental health challenges, the more I realised how little exists — especially for people over 65. So I started asking questions.

Here's what I learned:

Rescue services told me a lot surrendered animals come from people over 65 who can no longer care for them.
Healthcare providers told me people delay critical medical treatment because they're terrified of who will look after their pet.
And there is no provision in Home Care Packages for the care of someone's animal.
That last one stopped me in my tracks. Because I knew exactly what Digga had done for me — and the thought of someone being forced to give up their best friend, just when they need them most, broke my heart.

Did you know:

Over 1/4 of Australians live alone, and that number climbs every year as the population ages.
3 in 5 Aussie households have a pet.
Time with animals lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and blood pressure.
Pets reduce loneliness, build feelings of social support, and lift mood — protecting against mental health issues before they start.
By 2050, Australians aged 65–84 are expected to double, and those 85 and over to more than quadruple, to 1.8 million.
By 2066, more than 4.5 million people will be aged 65–74.
Loneliness costs Australia $2.7 billion every year.

Animals are extraordinary for people living with dementia, for anyone facing loneliness, and for our physical and mental health. With an ageing population and a shared goal of helping people stay in their homes longer, keeping people and their pets together isn't just kind — it makes perfect sense.

Digga got me through one of the hardest times of my life. So I founded Don't Forget My Pet to make sure no one has to face life's challenges without their best friend beside them — built with the help of some incredible people, and the best sidekicks anyone could ask for in Digga and Nelson.