🤝 Guidance, resources and practical signposting
Find support for you and your pet
When life becomes difficult, finding the right support for both you and your companion animal can make a meaningful difference.
PAWP — The People & Animal Welfare Project — brings together practical information, trusted resources and support pathways to help people understand their options and find appropriate specialist services.
Whether you’re facing housing difficulties, financial pressure, concerns about your pet’s wellbeing or another challenging situation, this directory can help you identify where to start.
If a person is in immediate danger, call 999. If an animal needs urgent veterinary attention, contact an emergency veterinary service directly.
Immediate help
Is this an emergency?
If someone is in immediate danger or there is a serious threat to life, call 999.
If your pet is seriously ill, injured, experiencing significant pain or deteriorating rapidly, contact an emergency veterinary practice immediately.
PAWP is not an emergency response service and cannot arrange urgent animal collection, veterinary treatment or emergency accommodation.
Browse by situation
What do you need help with?
Explore practical guidance and support pathways relevant to your circumstances and your companion animal.
Our directory covers a range of people-and-pet welfare concerns. Some existing resources are specifically for dogs, and these are identified below. We aim to expand the range of companion-animal guidance over time.
One place to understand your options
Supporting people and pets, together.
Support for people and companion animals is often spread across animal welfare charities, veterinary services, housing organisations, specialist programmes and local community providers.
PAWP aims to make relevant information and pathways easier to find, helping people understand which organisations or services may be appropriate for their circumstances.
Understand where to start
Identify the type of guidance or support most relevant to your situation and explore possible next steps.
Find relevant organisations
Explore information about charities, professional services, animal welfare organisations and specialist support programmes.
Consider welfare-first options
Where it is safe and realistic, explore support that may help people and their companion animals remain together.
Important information
Understanding PAWP’s role
PAWP provides general information, practical guidance and signposting to independent organisations and specialist services.
PAWP does not provide emergency assistance, individual case management, direct animal rescue or veterinary treatment.
Mentioning or linking to an organisation does not mean PAWP accredits, regulates, endorses or guarantees that organisation or its services.
- Services may have eligibility requirements or geographic limits.
- Availability, opening hours and referral arrangements may change.
- Financial help, accommodation, fostering and rescue placements cannot be guaranteed.
- Confirm current information directly with the relevant organisation.
- Independent organisations remain responsible for their own services and decisions.
If there is an emergency, contact the appropriate emergency or specialist service directly. Do not wait for a response from PAWP.
Further information
Still unsure where to start?
Start by exploring the support categories above, which link to guidance and resources for different circumstances.
If you have a general enquiry about PAWP, our published resources or the information available on this website, you can contact us using the form below.
Please note that our contact service is not for emergency assistance, personal casework, arranging rescue placements or obtaining individual safeguarding advice.
💜 The People & Animal Welfare Project
For people, for pets, for purpose.
PAWP believes that human wellbeing and animal welfare should be considered together.
Our aim is to make practical guidance, trusted knowledge and appropriate support pathways more accessible, helping people make informed decisions about their companion animals.
Better recognition. Better access to information. Better outcomes for people and pets.