Life of Pikelet

About the shelter

If you follow more animals on Instagram than you do people, then you would have no doubt come across Australia’s “premier Rescue Ambassadog and big Foster Brother Extraordinaire” named Pikelet Butterwiggle Stoll. With more than 309,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook, the “pup with a purpose” is a red staffy that found himself on death row in one of Sydney’s council pounds back in 2013.

Rescued by Big Dog Rescue, they then placed him with Sydney foster parents Calley Gibson and Brad Stoll who fell in love with his sweet, playful, gentle nature, and eventually became his forever paw-rents. Calley and Brad called him Pikelet, which captured the essence of his sweet soul. What started as a stint as a foster carer turned into a full-time career for Calley, giving up her promising career in the media sector, as she dedicated herself to caring for rescue animals. Five years, a strong social media presence, and a Penguin Random House published memoir later, Life of Pikelet is more than a rescue foster family. It is now a registered business for charitable purposes and a powerful social media champion for rescued animals. A photographer by trade, Calley uses her talents to portray all her fostered animals in the best way she knows how, through delightful photographs that show snapshots of rescue life.

Pikelet and his younger brothers Patty Cakes and Pumpernickel use their social media channels to prove that rescue animals (which have included a fallow fawn, a piglet, fluffy little yellow ducklings, and even a goat) are more than their negative reputation. As an organisation, Life of Pikelet has successfully rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed more than 50 of Pikelet’s foster siblings, as well as assisted in the rehoming of hundreds of other companion animals.

Mission

• Life of Pikelet’s mission is to show the world just how rescue dogs and other companion animals can be.
• They aim to rescue animals in need and find them forever homes.

How you can help

Join Pikelet, his family, and his merry band of fostered siblings by becoming a fellow Life of Pikers on their website. With it, you’ll receive access to a variety of all things Pikey-related, and get their regular newsletters! Spread the word and join their growing online pack #LifeOfPikers on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Or check out the Shop section of the website to buy your own copy of The Extraordinary Life of Pikelet and the Life of Pikelet coffee table book.

Provide for animals in need by reviewing and donating items on their Wish List. You can also find your new fur-ever best friend by looking through the Pikey’s Adoptables section. Each profile contains a short bio of the adoptable dog, a photo, and a direct link to their rescue organization. These dogs come from Melbourne, Sydney, or Victoria.