Sector toolkit
Local Authority Toolkit
Practical guidance and resources for local authority housing, homelessness, safeguarding, community support and customer-facing teams supporting residents whose housing, safety, health or social circumstances may be affecting the care, welfare or future of their dog.
It does not replace statutory assessment, homelessness duties, safeguarding procedures, emergency response, legal advice, veterinary advice or animal-welfare enforcement.
Getting started
When to use this toolkit
Use the pathway when a resident has a dog and housing, homelessness, financial hardship, safeguarding concerns, health needs or another local authority issue is affecting, or may soon affect, the dog’s care, welfare or living arrangements.
Housing or homelessness pressure
The resident is facing eviction, homelessness, temporary accommodation or a housing move that may not include their dog.
Safeguarding or crisis concerns
A safeguarding concern, emergency placement or household crisis may leave the dog without a safe and realistic care plan.
Difficulty maintaining dog care
The resident is struggling with feeding, walking, veterinary care, supervision or another essential aspect of daily dog care.
Financial hardship
The cost of food, veterinary treatment, transport, deposits or practical dog care is placing the household under pressure.
Accommodation restrictions
Pet restrictions, unsuitable temporary accommodation or limited dog-friendly options are obstructing a safe housing pathway.
Risk of avoidable relinquishment
The resident believes surrender or rehoming is the only option because suitable support or accommodation has not yet been identified.
Toolkit resources
Choose what you need
Work through the toolkit in order or open the individual resource most relevant to the resident or situation.
Professional guidance
Staff Guidance
Understand staff responsibilities, professional boundaries and how to include dog-related needs within council assessments and pathways.Resident conversations
Conversation Prompts
Use person-centred questions and suggested wording to explore how the resident and their dog are managing.Identify support needs
Dog-Support Assessment
Review practical needs, wellbeing pressures, support networks and the resident’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
Resident Information Leaflet
Give residents 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
Local Authority Learning Module
Build staff confidence through structured learning about dog-inclusive local authority practice, cross-service coordination and referral pathways.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 staff a clear route for recognising dog-related pressures and connecting clients with support.
Identify
Recognise that a client’s health, wellbeing or social circumstances may be affecting their dog.
Discuss
Explore what matters to the client and establish their preferred outcome for themselves and their dog.
Assess
Identify practical barriers, immediate concerns and existing personal or community support.
Refer
Obtain informed consent and submit a proportionate referral to HomeWagger.
Support
HomeWagger explores appropriate practical support, service navigation and welfare-first options.
Review
Review progress alongside the client’s wider wellbeing plan and existing professional support.
Roles and boundaries
What staff should and should not do
The pathway supports coordinated council practice without transferring statutory, safeguarding, housing or enforcement responsibility.
Staff should
- Ask whether the resident has a dog and record any immediate dog-related needs.
- Explore whether housing, financial, health or safety circumstances are affecting the resident’s ability to care for the dog.
- Identify immediate human, housing, safeguarding or animal-welfare concerns.
- Establish the resident’s preferred outcome and whether keeping the person and dog together is safe and realistic.
- Explain HomeWagger’s role, limits and available support pathways accurately.
- Obtain informed consent before referring.
- Continue all normal statutory, safeguarding, homelessness, housing and emergency 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.
- Transfer statutory, safeguarding, housing or enforcement responsibility.
- Use HomeWagger instead of urgent, emergency, homelessness or safeguarding procedures.
- Guarantee a particular support outcome.
Organisation implementation
Your toolkit progress
Track the practical steps involved in introducing the Local Authority Toolkit across relevant council services and teams.
Implementation progress
Local Authority Toolkit
Printable resources
Toolkit downloads
Download resources for staff briefings, resident 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 resident conversations.Pathway resource
Referral Flowchart
Printable decision pathway for staff and teams.Client resource
Support for You and Your Dog
Clear information for clients 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 clients or used during support planning.
Welfare-first outcomes
What this pathway aims to achieve
The goal is to reduce practical pressures, strengthen wellbeing plans 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.
Practical support during a difficult or transitional period.
Access to food, veterinary, walking, transport or behaviour support.
A realistic contingency plan for the resident and their dog.
Reduced isolation and pressure linked to dog care.
Responsible rehoming only where necessary and appropriate.
Toolkit support
Need help with a client 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.