PAWP | Keeping people and pets together
Disability, mobility and pet care
Living with a disability, long-term health condition or reduced mobility can make some aspects of caring for a companion animal more challenging.
Practical adaptations, accessible equipment, support from others and changes to daily routines may help you continue caring for your pet safely and comfortably.
This guide explores options for people caring for dogs, cats and other companion animals, recognising that different animals have different care requirements.
Needing assistance with some aspects of pet care does not automatically mean you cannot provide a suitable home. The right arrangements can support both your wellbeing and your pet’s welfare.
Understanding your needs
Which parts of pet care are becoming difficult?
Disability and reduced mobility affect people differently. Start by considering which activities are painful, tiring, difficult or potentially unsafe.
Your pet’s species, age, temperament and health will influence which adjustments are suitable.
🚶 Exercise and activity
Walking a dog, providing opportunities for play or arranging species-appropriate exercise may require additional help.
🥣 Feeding and daily care
Bending, carrying food, changing water, preparing specialist diets or giving medication may become difficult.
🚗 Travel and appointments
Attending veterinary appointments, transporting carriers or accessing grooming services can present practical barriers.
🐾 Handling and lifting
Handling a strong dog, lifting a carrier or safely moving an animal may be difficult when strength, balance or mobility is reduced.
🧹 Cleaning and hygiene
Cleaning litter trays, cages, enclosures, bedding and animal living areas may require adapted tools or assistance.
🔋 Fatigue and fluctuating health
Some days may be manageable while others require a simpler routine, help from another person or temporary care.
Everyday adjustments
Ways to make caring for your pet easier
Small changes to your home, equipment and routine can help reduce physical strain while maintaining your pet’s wellbeing.
Organise essential supplies
Keep food, medication, cleaning materials and other frequently used items in accessible places. Reduce unnecessary lifting, carrying and bending.
Consider accessible equipment
Lightweight containers, long-handled cleaning tools, accessible litter arrangements, suitable feeding stations and easy-to-use equipment may help with particular care tasks.
Choose equipment that remains safe and appropriate for your pet. For example, raised bowls are not suitable for every animal.
Share specific responsibilities
You may only need assistance with particular tasks, such as walking a dog, cleaning an enclosure, collecting supplies or attending veterinary appointments.
Create a reliable backup plan
Identify someone who could help if your health changes, you experience a fall or you need an unexpected hospital stay.
Physical and mental wellbeing
Meeting your pet’s activity and enrichment needs
Every companion animal needs opportunities to express natural behaviours and maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
What this looks like depends on the species, individual animal and their health. Appropriate adaptations may help you meet these needs without placing unnecessary strain on yourself.
🐕 Dogs
Depending on your dog’s needs, shorter accessible walks, assistance from another walker, appropriate training and safe enrichment activities may help support their wellbeing.
Exercise requirements vary. Indoor activities alone may not meet every dog’s physical and behavioural needs.
🐈 Cats
Interactive toys, scratching opportunities, suitable climbing and resting spaces, puzzle feeders and predictable play routines can encourage natural behaviour.
Accessibility adjustments should not compromise the cat’s ability to move, hide or rest comfortably.
🐇 Other companion animals
Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other pets have specific needs for movement, social interaction, suitable environments and species-appropriate enrichment.
Seek reliable species-specific guidance before changing their routine or living arrangements.
Adapt care to your individual animal
Your pet’s species, age, health, behaviour and living environment affect the care they require. A veterinary professional can advise on appropriate adjustments where necessary.
Safety and confidence
When handling your pet becomes difficult
Reduced strength, balance, dexterity or mobility can make certain handling tasks more challenging.
This might include walking a strong dog, lifting a cat carrier, cleaning a large enclosure or managing an animal who becomes distressed during handling.
Consider a veterinary assessment
Pain, illness or discomfort may contribute to changes in behaviour. Seek veterinary advice if your pet’s behaviour changes unexpectedly.
Seek suitably qualified help
A qualified, species-appropriate behaviour professional may help identify safer ways to manage specific challenges.
Review handling equipment
Suitable carriers, non-slip surfaces, safe handling aids or properly fitted dog harnesses may help with some practical difficulties.
Equipment should be appropriate for the animal and should not cause discomfort or compromise welfare.
Avoid unsafe lifting or restraint
If moving or handling your pet presents a risk of injury, seek assistance and professional advice rather than attempting unsafe tasks alone.
Dog behaviour support
If you care for a dog, our separate behaviour guide provides information about accessing appropriate training and behaviour support.
View dog behaviour guidanceBuilding a support network
People and services that may be able to help
Support does not always need to come from one person or organisation. Different people may be able to assist with different aspects of your pet’s care.
Informal support
- Family members
- Friends and neighbours
- Trusted fellow pet owners
- Community organisations
- Local volunteer groups
- Existing support networks
Professional and specialist support
- Veterinary professionals
- Dog walkers
- Pet sitters and suitable boarding providers
- Groomers
- Species-specific care specialists
- Qualified training and behaviour professionals
Check care providers carefully
Ask about relevant experience, insurance, references, emergency arrangements and who will actually care for your animal.
Check any licensing requirements that apply to the provider and type of animal care in your area.
Ensure that anyone caring for your pet understands their species-specific, medical and behavioural needs.
When you need more help
Temporary pet care may provide breathing space
If you’re recovering from an operation, experiencing a health flare or temporarily unable to provide essential care, short-term arrangements may help prevent a rushed decision about permanent separation.
Options may include help at home, pet sitting, suitable boarding, temporary fostering or assistance from trusted friends or relatives.
The appropriate arrangement will depend on your pet’s species, health, temperament, care requirements and the availability of suitable services.
Temporary care for dogs
Our existing temporary dog care guide explains arrangements and questions to consider when organising short-term care for a dog.
View temporary dog care guideCosts and practical assistance
When additional care feels unaffordable
Paying for transport, cleaning assistance, pet sitting, grooming or veterinary care can be difficult, particularly when disability or long-term illness affects your income.
Prioritise essential needs
Identify which care tasks present the greatest immediate risk to your safety or your pet’s welfare and address those needs first.
Explore flexible arrangements
Some providers may offer shorter visits, occasional assistance or services tailored to particular tasks, depending on availability.
Look for charitable support
Animal welfare charities, community organisations and local voluntary groups may offer practical assistance or financial help to eligible people.
Financial and veterinary support
Explore information about veterinary charities, financial assistance, food support and other resources that may help with essential pet care.
View financial supportEmergency and longer-term planning
Make a plan before you urgently need one
Planning ahead can reduce uncertainty if your health changes suddenly or you are unexpectedly admitted to hospital.
A written care plan can help another person understand your pet’s needs and make appropriate arrangements quickly.
Your pet’s care information
- Species, age and identification
- Feeding and water requirements
- Medication and health conditions
- Exercise and enrichment needs
- Behaviour and handling guidance
- Veterinary and insurance details
- Housing and environmental requirements
Emergency arrangements
- Primary emergency carer
- Second backup contact
- Safe access to your home
- Transport and suitable carriers
- Veterinary consent arrangements
- Temporary care contacts
- A plan for longer hospital stays
When practical support is no longer enough
Sometimes a person’s circumstances change so significantly that they cannot continue meeting their pet’s essential needs safely, even with reasonable adaptations and support.
Before making a permanent decision, consider whether temporary care, specialist advice or additional practical assistance may provide a suitable alternative.
If responsible rehoming becomes necessary, seek advice from an appropriate rescue or species-specific welfare organisation.
HomeWagger, PAWP’s dedicated dog-rehoming app, focuses specifically on dogs. For other companion animals, contact an organisation with relevant species-specific expertise.
Explore responsible dog rehomingFurther support
Organisations and services that may be able to help
Availability, eligibility and geographic coverage vary. Contact organisations directly to confirm what assistance is available for your circumstances and your type of pet.
The Cinnamon Trust
May be able to provide practical pet care assistance for eligible older people or those living with terminal illness, depending on local volunteer availability.
Visit The Cinnamon Trust →Your local council
Adult social care and local community services may be able to provide information about wider support with daily living, accessibility and practical needs.
Find your local council →Local voluntary organisations
Community groups, volunteer centres and charities may offer transport, befriending or practical support depending on local availability.
Your veterinary practice
Your vet can advise on your pet’s specific care needs and may be familiar with suitable local support services.
Professional pet care providers
Suitably experienced pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers and species-specific care providers may help with individual tasks.
Financial assistance
Explore veterinary charities, community support and practical options that may help reduce the costs of essential pet care.
View financial support →💜 The People & Animal Welfare Project
Supporting people and pets, together.
PAWP recognises that disability, illness and changes in mobility can affect both the person and their companion animal.
Our aim is to make practical information and appropriate support pathways easier to find, helping people explore ways to continue caring for their animals wherever safe and realistic.
For people, for pets, for purpose.
Common questions
Disability, mobility and pet care FAQs
Does having a disability mean I cannot care for a pet?
No. Many disabled people successfully care for companion animals. What matters is whether the animal’s physical, behavioural, social and veterinary needs can be met appropriately, including through practical adaptations and assistance where needed.
What if I struggle with cleaning litter trays or animal enclosures?
Accessible cleaning tools, suitable enclosure arrangements or assistance from a trusted person may help. Any changes must preserve appropriate hygiene and species-specific welfare needs.
What can I do if I cannot walk my dog every day?
Consider assistance from trusted friends, relatives, volunteers or a professional dog walker. Shorter walks and suitable enrichment may also form part of the routine, depending on your dog’s needs.
Ask your veterinary practice for advice if you’re unsure how to meet their exercise requirements.
Can adult social care arrange help with my pet?
Adult social care generally focuses on assessed needs relating to the person. Pet care assistance is not automatically provided.
However, you can explain how your pet affects your daily living, safety and wellbeing, and ask about local community or voluntary support options.
What happens to my pet if I am admitted to hospital?
Ideally, a nominated person should be able to arrange appropriate temporary care.
Keep written information about feeding, medication, veterinary contacts and emergency arrangements ready in advance.
Can I arrange temporary care rather than permanently rehome my pet?
Depending on your circumstances, suitable temporary care may be available through trusted contacts, professional providers or specialist organisations.
Availability varies, and arrangements should account for your pet’s individual needs, safety and welfare.
What if I can no longer meet my pet’s needs?
Consider whether additional assistance, adaptations, specialist advice or temporary care could help.
If your pet’s needs cannot be met safely despite appropriate support, contact a reputable rescue or animal welfare organisation with expertise in that species to discuss responsible options.
Practical support can make a difference
Focus on the areas where you need help
Accessible equipment, practical changes, shared responsibilities and reliable backup arrangements may help you continue caring for your companion animal safely.
Important: This guide provides general information and signposting. It does not replace individual medical, veterinary, legal, disability or social care advice. Seek guidance from an appropriate professional if you have concerns about your safety or your pet’s welfare.
PAWP does not directly arrange personal care, temporary fostering, veterinary treatment or emergency animal accommodation. Contact relevant providers or emergency services directly when assistance is required.