Sector toolkit
Community Support Toolkit
Practical guidance and resources for community organisations, charities, voluntary groups and frontline services supporting people whose circumstances may affect the care, welfare or future of their dog.
It does not replace safeguarding procedures, emergency services, statutory responsibilities, specialist casework, veterinary advice or animal-welfare enforcement.
Getting started
When to use this toolkit
Use the pathway when someone you support has a dog and their current circumstances are affecting, or may soon affect, the dog’s care, welfare or living arrangements.
A personal or family crisis
Bereavement, relationship breakdown, illness or another crisis is disrupting everyday dog care.
Temporary caring difficulties
The person needs short-term help with walking, feeding, transport, supervision or another practical task.
Reduced mobility or health
Illness, disability, age or reduced mobility is making daily dog care harder to manage.
Financial pressure
Food, veterinary costs, transport or other dog-related expenses are becoming unaffordable.
Housing or accommodation problems
The person is facing homelessness, eviction, unsuitable housing or pet-related accommodation restrictions.
Isolation or limited support
The person has little practical support and is worried that separation or rehoming may become unavoidable.
Toolkit resources
Choose what you need
Work through the toolkit in order or open the individual resource most relevant to the client or situation.
Professional guidance
Staff Guidance
Understand staff and volunteer responsibilities, boundaries and how to introduce dog-inclusive support.Client conversations
Conversation Prompts
Use sensitive questions and suggested wording to explore how the person and their dog are managing.Identify support needs
Dog-Support Assessment
Review practical needs, immediate concerns, available support networks and the person’s preferred outcome.Decision support
Referral Flowchart
Follow the pathway from initial identification through consent, referral and ongoing review.Secure referral
Professional Referral Form
Submit a proportionate professional referral after discussing the pathway and obtaining informed consent.Information to share
Client Leaflet
Give people clear information about HomeWagger, available support and what happens after a referral.Practical support
Support Directory
Explore services and support options that may help someone continue caring safely for their dog.Staff learning
Community Support Learning Module
Build staff and volunteer confidence through structured learning about dog-inclusive support and referral practice.Printable resources
Toolkit Downloads
Access quick-reference sheets, flowcharts, client materials and staff briefing resources.Implementation review
Annual Pathway Review
Review toolkit usage, staff feedback, referral outcomes and any changes needed within your organisation.Standard pathway
From concern to coordinated support
The toolkit gives community teams a clear route for recognising dog-related pressures and responding proportionately.
Identify
Recognise that a person’s circumstances may be affecting their dog.
Discuss
Explore the situation sensitively and establish the person’s preferred outcome.
Assess
Identify immediate risks, practical barriers and existing sources of support.
Refer
Obtain informed consent and submit a proportionate referral to HomeWagger.
Support
HomeWagger explores appropriate support, navigation and welfare-first options.
Review
Review progress alongside any existing community, care or support plan.
Roles and boundaries
What staff should and should not do
The pathway supports proportionate community action without transferring safeguarding, statutory or specialist responsibility.
Staff should
- Ask whether the person has a dog.
- Explore whether the dog is affected by current circumstances.
- Identify immediate human or animal welfare risks.
- Establish the person’s preferred outcome.
- Explain HomeWagger’s role accurately.
- Obtain informed consent before referring.
- Continue normal organisational and safeguarding procedures.
Staff are not expected to
- Diagnose dog behaviour or provide veterinary advice.
- Promise funding, temporary care or rehoming.
- Investigate suspected animal-welfare offences.
- Assess whether a dog is legally dangerous.
- Take on safeguarding, statutory or specialist responsibility outside their role.
- Use HomeWagger instead of emergency or safeguarding procedures.
- Guarantee a particular support outcome.
Organisation implementation
Your toolkit progress
Track the practical steps involved in introducing the Community Support Toolkit across your organisation.
Implementation progress
Community Support Toolkit
Printable resources
Toolkit downloads
Download resources for staff and volunteer briefings, community conversations and internal pathway implementation.
Staff resource
Staff Guidance Document
Professional responsibilities, pathway use and boundaries.Quick reference
Conversation Prompt Card
Suggested questions for sensitive community conversations.Pathway resource
Referral Flowchart
Printable decision pathway for staff and teams.Client resource
Support for You and Your Dog
Clear information for people considering a referral.Implementation resource
Staff Briefing Pack
Introduce the pathway and toolkit to colleagues.Desk reference
Staff Quick Reference
A concise summary of triggers, actions and referral steps.Related support
HomeWagger guidance to use with clients
These public guides provide practical information that can be shared directly with community members or used during support planning.
Welfare-first outcomes
What this pathway aims to achieve
The goal is to reduce uncertainty, identify realistic options and protect the relationship between people and their dogs wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Safe continuation of the person–dog relationship wherever possible.
Temporary practical support during a crisis or difficult period.
Access to food, veterinary, walking, transport or behaviour support.
A realistic contingency plan for the person and their dog.
Reduced distress and isolation caused by uncertainty about the dog.
Responsible rehoming only where necessary and appropriate.
Toolkit support
Need help with a community member or your organisation’s pathway?
Contact HomeWagger for implementation guidance, referral support or help deciding which resource to use.
The HomeWagger Promise
Support first. Welfare always.
HomeWagger helps professionals explore realistic support before a permanent decision is made about a dog’s future. Where rehoming becomes necessary, the aim is to support a responsible, informed and welfare-first pathway.