When Brittany Bloomer started Pound Paws as a Year 12 hobby, she never imagined it would grow into one of Australia’s most loved rescue charities. What began with sharing “death row” pound listings on her lunch breaks has become a national movement that’s rehomed hundreds of dogs, rallied thousands of volunteers, and inspired a new generation of animal advocates.
In our conversation, Brittany talks about the evolution of Pound Paws, the inspiration behind her much-loved Puppy Cup event, and how she keeps her compassion and creativity alive while running a national charity. She also shares what she’s learned about leadership, purpose, and finding joy in the work that truly matters.
What inspired your passion for animal welfare, and how did Pound Paws begin?
Pound Paws started as a hobby project and blog when I was in Year 12 at Kambala High School. Back in 2011, up to 250,000 happy and healthy pets were being euthanised every year in Australia, that statistic completely shocked me.
I’d spend my lunch breaks in the library, scrolling through council pound websites, looking at the latest pets listed for adoption. I started resharing them with friends and on my social media, trying to help connect people with pets in need. My favourite activity was helping people find their pet, by browsing through all the latest listings, getting so excited if I would find a match for someone.
Each listing had a “due out” date – basically a death row deadline. Pets with microchips had 14 days to be reunited or adopted; those without had just 7. That urgency lit something inside me. I began volunteering at local shelters, fundraising through school, and speaking in assemblies to raise awareness. As I continued on my mission, new ideas naturally began to form around how to improve the situation for animals, like creating an online search engine to make adoption easier.
How do you look after your own wellbeing while caring for so many others?
Honestly, the joy of seeing pets find their forever homes is what keeps me going. There’s no better feeling than receiving an update from a family who adopted through Pound Paws, that sense of love and transformation recharges me every time.
These days, the rescue community is incredibly supportive. If an animal ends up on death row, there’s usually a network of carers, rescues, and foster groups who step in. Knowing we’re all in it together makes the work feel lighter – you never really feel alone.
What does a typical day look like for you, balancing Pound Paws with events like Puppy Cup?
Pound Paws is a mix of digital operations and hands-on community work. Our online search engine connects people with pets available for adoption from pounds and rescues across Australia – it’s live-streamed, so it always shows the most up-to-date listings. Users can filter by breed, age, or location, and we also personally assist via email – whether someone’s looking to adopt or needs help rehoming.
We’re always running new campaigns, like the Online Warriors Campaign, which tackles “free to good home” listings — a practice that sadly often leads to animal cruelty. Our volunteers reach out to these posters and help them safely rehome their pets through registered rescue groups instead.
Another key initiative is our Rescue Directory, where we visit shelters to film and photograph adoptable pets complimentary for them. Many smaller rescue groups simply don’t have the resources or tech know-how to market themselves, so we step in to help, especially breed-specific rescues that might otherwise go unnoticed. It’s always great to be able to inform someone, who’s looking for a Chihuahua (for example) that they can adopt from a dedicated Chihuahua rescue group, instead of buying from a backyard breeder / Gumtree.
We’ve just launched our Puppy Adoption Playdate Workshops, which is a series of classes for kids aged 4-12 years old, which involves them adopting a plush dog toy, whilst learning about pet adoption, responsible pet ownership, as well as vet care with Dr Geoff from Vet HQ. Through creative play — from decorating kennels and making collars to completing a puppy “health check” – kids learn what it truly means to care for an animal with love and empathy. The workshops are all about inspiring the next generation to think compassionately and choose adoption when it comes to finding their future pets.
And of course, there are our Dog Day events, held across NSW with the support of local councils. These are fun, family-friendly community days filled with rescue stalls, live music, and education around responsible pet ownership. My favourite part is seeing dogs who were once listed on our site return with their new families, it’s a beautiful full-circle moment.
I’m constantly exploring new ways to raise awareness about pet adoption; from Rescue Dog Visits to aged care homes (to reduce loneliness for residents while giving pups socialisation), to Pup Pilates sessions with adoptable dogs, an International Viral campaign (Petflair) which involved printing your pet on swimsuits and masks, to even a Rescue Dog Runway Show during the week of Fashion Week Australia, as a way to raise awareness about pet adoption to leading media outlets. I love thinking outside the box and finding creative ways to spark conversations about adoption and animal welfare. It keeps the mission fresh and exciting.
The Puppy Cup reimagines a traditional event in a compassionate way. How do you stay creative and avoid burnout?
For me, emotion fuels creativity. I’m genuinely excited to use fun, engaging ideas to raise awareness about serious issues like animal cruelty. The Puppy Cup, in partnership with Mon Petit Amour Manolo, is a great example of that, it’s our playful, cruelty-free alternative to the Melbourne Cup.
Instead of horse racing (which sadly results in horse deaths many years), we host a Rescue Dog Adoption Race, where guests make playful “bets” (donations) on which rescue pup they think will be adopted first. We also have Emma Hurst MP speaking on her amazing work in animal welfare. It’s a beautiful, light-hearted way to celebrate compassion, everyone gets to dress up, sip champagne, and support a good cause.
What have you learned about leadership and teamwork through building a national charity?
Community is everything. Pound Paws wouldn’t be what it is without the collective effort of volunteers, pet lovers, councils, and rescue partners. Every post shared, every event attended, every adoption – it all adds up. Together, we’re changing perceptions and showing that rescue pets aren’t “damaged goods” – they’re loyal, loving, and hands down the best companions you’ll ever have.
What advice would you give to people wanting to do purpose-driven work but worried about burnout?
If it’s something you’re really passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work, it energises you. Purpose has a way of fuelling you through the challenges. I can’t believe it’s already been nearly ten years since Pound Paws became a registered charity, the time has just flown by. That’s how I know I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing.
