🐾 PAWP | Supporting people and pets
Support to help you keep your pet
Difficult circumstances do not always have to mean saying goodbye to a much-loved companion animal.
Financial pressure, housing problems, illness, family changes or difficulties managing everyday care can leave people feeling that rehoming is their only option.
PAWP — The People & Animal Welfare Project — brings together practical guidance and support pathways to help you understand your options before making a permanent decision.
Whether you share your life with a dog, cat or another companion animal, exploring appropriate support early may help you find a safer, more manageable way forward.
You do not have to decide everything today
When circumstances become difficult, it can be overwhelming to consider what might happen to your pet.
Understanding the main difficulty and the type of assistance that would make the biggest difference may reveal options you had not previously considered.
Where there is no immediate safety or welfare emergency, taking time to explore realistic alternatives can help you make a more informed decision.
What is making things difficult?
You may be facing one specific problem or several pressures at the same time. Start by identifying what is having the greatest impact on your ability to meet your pet’s needs.
💷 Financial pressure
The cost of pet food, veterinary treatment, medication and essential supplies may have become difficult.
🏡 Housing difficulties
Landlord restrictions, tenancy problems, temporary accommodation or homelessness may threaten your ability to keep your pet.
🩺 Illness or hospital treatment
Your health, recovery or hospital treatment may temporarily affect your ability to provide essential care.
🐾 Behaviour concerns
Behaviour difficulties may place pressure on your household. Our current detailed behaviour guide focuses on dogs.
🕒 Work or routine changes
Longer working hours, caring responsibilities or changes at home may affect your pet’s usual routine.
🤝 Temporary caring difficulties
You may need short-term help with feeding, exercise, cleaning, medication, transport or other essential care.
🛟 A crisis or unsafe situation
Domestic abuse, relationship breakdown, emergency housing or other crises can affect the safety of people and pets.
💔 Bereavement or family change
Grief, separation or significant household changes can affect both you and the animals depending on your care.
♿ Disability or reduced mobility
Changes in physical health, mobility or energy may require accessible equipment, adapted routines or practical assistance.
A useful starting point
Focus on the problem that needs attention first
Trying to resolve everything at once can feel overwhelming. Identifying the most pressing concern may help you prioritise practical next steps.
Ask yourself:
- What has recently changed?
- Is the problem temporary or ongoing?
- Is my pet currently safe?
- Are their essential needs being met?
- Which care task is hardest to manage?
- What support would make the biggest difference?
- Who could I contact for appropriate help?
If your pet’s welfare is already compromised, seek appropriate veterinary or animal welfare assistance promptly.
Financial and practical assistance
Support with the cost of caring for your pet
Financial difficulties can arise unexpectedly. Depending on your circumstances and location, animal welfare charities, community groups or veterinary providers may offer some assistance.
🥫 Pet food support
Some food banks, community groups and animal welfare charities provide pet food or essential supplies, depending on availability.
🩺 Veterinary assistance
Certain charities and veterinary providers offer reduced-cost treatment or support for eligible households.
💊 Medication and ongoing care
If treatment costs are becoming difficult, speak with your veterinary practice about safe and appropriate options.
🐾 Essential equipment
Local organisations may sometimes help with bedding, carriers, feeding equipment, litter, enclosures or other supplies.
Could temporary help keep you together?
A temporary difficulty does not always require permanent separation. Suitable short-term arrangements may provide time to recover, resolve housing difficulties or stabilise other circumstances.
👨👩👧 Trusted friends or relatives
Someone you trust may be able to help with feeding, cleaning, exercise, veterinary transport or temporary pet care.
🏠 Temporary fostering or boarding
Some specialist organisations or professional providers may offer temporary care. Availability, eligibility and species coverage vary.
🐾 Home visits and practical help
Pet sitters, volunteers or suitable care providers may be able to assist with particular everyday tasks.
Before arranging temporary care
- Check the carer’s experience with your type of pet
- Explain your pet’s health and behavioural needs
- Provide written feeding and medication instructions
- Share your veterinary contact details
- Agree the expected duration and costs
- Clarify ownership, consent and decision-making
- Confirm the arrangement is safe and appropriate
Where licensing is required, check that the provider holds the appropriate authorisation.
Read our temporary dog care guide — specifically for dog owners.
Housing difficulties
Explore your housing options before rehoming
Housing problems may make it seem impossible to keep a pet, particularly if you have been told animals are not permitted or you need to move unexpectedly.
Before making a permanent decision, seek appropriate advice about your circumstances and the accommodation options available.
📄 Check your agreement
Review your tenancy, licence or housing agreement and identify any provisions relating to pets.
💬 Speak to your housing provider
Where safe and appropriate, ask about permission, reasonable arrangements or possible alternatives.
🧭 Seek independent advice
A qualified housing adviser can help explain relevant legal protections and options in your particular circumstances.
When illness or disability affects pet care
A health condition, disability, hospital admission or change in mobility may make particular aspects of animal care more difficult.
Accessible equipment, adapted routines and assistance from others may help you continue caring for your pet.
Prioritise essential care
Ensure your pet has suitable food, fresh water, appropriate housing, hygiene and necessary veterinary treatment.
Adapt routines appropriately
Consider adjustments to feeding, cleaning, exercise and enrichment that remain suitable for the animal’s species and individual needs.
Ask for specific assistance
Help may be easier to arrange when you identify individual tasks, such as cleaning a litter tray or arranging veterinary transport.
Prepare for hospital treatment
Keep written care instructions and emergency contacts ready in case you become temporarily unable to provide care.
Review accessibility
Consider suitable storage, cleaning tools, feeding arrangements and other equipment that could reduce physical strain.
Plan for fluctuating needs
A reliable backup arrangement can help protect your pet’s welfare when your ability to provide care changes.
Behaviour concerns
Understanding behaviour can help identify solutions
Behaviour difficulties can place significant pressure on a household, but they do not automatically mean a companion animal needs to be rehomed.
Seek veterinary advice where illness or pain may be contributing to behaviour changes. An appropriately qualified professional with experience of the relevant species may also help you explore safe, suitable approaches.
Our existing detailed behaviour guidance is specifically intended for dog owners.
Explore dog behaviour supportWhen you are facing a crisis
Your safety and your pet’s welfare matter
Domestic abuse, homelessness, a medical emergency or another unsafe situation may put both people and their pets at risk.
Specialist organisations may be able to assist with safety planning, appropriate temporary fostering or other practical arrangements.
Availability and eligibility vary, and some programmes only support particular types of companion animals.
PAWP is not an emergency, rescue, safeguarding or crisis-response service.
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent animal health concerns, contact an emergency veterinary practice directly.
View urgent supportYour next steps
Create a short-term support plan
A simple written plan may help you identify realistic steps and organise assistance.
My immediate plan
- The main difficulty I am facing is…
- The situation is temporary, ongoing or uncertain because…
- My pet’s most urgent need is…
- The first organisation or person I will contact is…
- The practical assistance I will ask for is…
- My backup arrangement is…
- I will review the situation again on…
Give yourself a clear review point. Any short-term arrangement should remain safe, appropriate and sustainable for both you and your pet.
When staying together may not be possible
Rehoming can sometimes be the responsible decision
Exploring support first does not mean that you must keep your pet regardless of the circumstances.
Sometimes a person’s health, housing, safety or long-term circumstances mean they cannot meet an animal’s essential welfare needs, even with appropriate support.
In those situations, responsible rehoming may be the safest and kindest outcome.
Seek advice from a reputable rescue or animal welfare organisation with experience of your pet’s species.
For dog owners: HomeWagger, PAWP’s dedicated dog-rehoming app, is being developed to support a structured, welfare-first rehoming process.
Explore responsible dog rehoming💜 The People & Animal Welfare Project
Support first. Welfare always.
PAWP believes the human–animal bond should be recognised when people face difficult circumstances.
We aim to make guidance, specialist knowledge and appropriate support pathways easier to find, helping people consider ways to remain with their companion animals wherever safe and realistic.
When rehoming is necessary, decisions should be informed, responsible and centred on animal welfare.
For people, for pets, for purpose.