Passionate animal welfare campaigner and founder of the Hospital, Mrs Louisa Lort Smith, was born in 1875. In 1928 Louisa established an executive committee of socially prominent women to form the Animal Welfare League of Victoria.

Following the closure of the veterinary school at the University of Melbourne in 1929, its free clinic was transferred to the Animal Welfare League on the initiative of Mrs Lort Smith. She became honorary secretary to the League and in the first year 2,150 animals were treated, including 188 horses.

Believing that there was sufficient demand for a public animal hospital, Mrs Lort Smith secured land in Villiers Street, North Melbourne and convinced her good friend Lady Lyle (wife of Sir Thomas Lyle), a passionate animal lover herself, to donate £5,000 to the project. The Lort Smith-Lyle Hospital for Sick and Injured Animals opened in April 1936.

Although Mrs Lort Smith was often criticized for being over-sentimental in her devotion to animals, she showed a hard headed business ability in finance as well as managing the hospital and soon became a well-known figure in Melbourne, associated with almost every animal welfare deputation to successive Victorian governments.

In 1952 Mrs Lort Smith took over the presidency of the Animal Welfare League. Petite and impeccably groomed, she was a woman of courage and determination, with the ability to win the interest and support of influential people.

Mrs Lort Smith retired as president of the League six weeks before her death. She died on 15th July 1956 and the bulk of her estate was used to set up The Lort Smith Trust for Animals.

By 1997, despite various extensions and refurbishments, it was clear that a new building was required to provide for the increasing demand on the Hospital’s veterinary services. Following a successful major fundraising appeal, the new state-of-the-art hospital opened its doors in November 2000.

Today, Mrs Louisa Lort Smith’s legacy is as strong as ever. Since the Hospital first opened its doors in 1936 we have cared for over 5 million animals and re-homed and re-united around 200,000 pets to loving families.