Why can't I search by breed?
PetRescue has thoughtfully created the filter options in our searches to encourage adopters to look beyond broad generalisations about breed, and focus more on the pet's personality, your lifestyle, and your family. Our hope is that we can change the narrative and open minds so that every pet, no matter what they look like, has a chance at finding a loving home. Since our launch in 2004, we have seen and spoken with many happy families who searched beyond what they thought looked like the ideal pet and chose their pet based on their personality.
We understand that people tend to gravitate toward breeds they find cute or perceive to have desirable behaviours. There has been some groundbreaking peer-reviewed research in the US showing that individual pets vary more within a breed than the breed averages for behaviour vary (please read more here or listen to a podcast available here). This means, for example, that a Labrador is more likely than a Greyhound to be very food-driven, and the Greyhound is more likely to enjoy chasing after a fluffy toy. However, knowing that doesn't tell you how any individual dog of those two breeds will react in either scenario.
We also recognise that breed labels are not accurate, even when they are based on DNA tests, and especially not when they are based on visual ID. As the vast majority of pets coming through rehoming pathways are of unknown heritage (e.g. we don't know their parents and they appear to be mixed breeds), any guesses about their behaviour based on their looks are based on inaccurate information. Lots of crossbreeds end up looking like bull breed or herding breed mixes, but they may have none of those breed types in them at all, and that's important when looking for a family member.
With these factors in mind, PetRescue's search filters are based on what we know makes a difference in how successful a pet is in their new homes - their basic physical characteristics (size, age, sex) and their behaviour. This way, we are helping adopters to filter the available pets using information that is as accurate as it can be and that will give them the best chance of finding a pet that matches their hopes and expectations for their new furry family member.
That being said, some PetRescue member organisations care for and rehome specific breeds, so for individuals that are set on adopting a particular breed, we recommend searching that breed name in our Rescue Directory.
Our goal is to help all of Australia's homeless pets find their perfect match. By relying on a rehoming organisation's guess as to a pet's breed or mix, families may be excluding the very pet that would be the perfect match!