Pet care

If you have friends, neighbours or family members who live close by, they may be able to help you. They may be able to visit your home to feed your pet and provide extra care, such as walking your dog.

Family or friends who live farther away may also be able to help. It might be possible for them to care for your pet in their home, although this will take more planning.

If you ask someone to walk your dog, make sure that you tell them how your dog behaves around:

• traffic
• people
• children
• dogs
• wildlife.

Explain any training aids you use to help with walking and calling them back. This might include:

• a harness
• a long lead
• toys and treats.

It may be better to suggest they keep your dog on the lead at first.

Your local vet may be able to help. They might have a volunteer support scheme, or be able to recommend one. In these schemes, volunteers visit your home to care for your pet. Or they may temporarily look after pets in their own home. Your vet might also know of animal shelters that can help.

Charities or organisations may be able to find someone to look after your pet. Volunteers may be able to:

• feed them
• walk them
• take them to the vets
• provide companionship.

Organisations such as the The Cinnamon Trust or Petpals may be able to help with this. DogBuddy and Borrow My Doggy offer similar services but just for dogs. 

If you are using a charity, check any reviews and recommendations. You could also check whether their volunteers:

• have had any animal training, including in animal first aid
• are DBS checked
• are insured.

Social workers may be able to give you advice about pet care while you are in hospital. Your local social services department has a duty to protect your property if you are admitted to hospital. This includes any pets, if there is no one else to take care of them. You may be charged for this service.

Most cancer centres have a social worker you can speak to. If not, your GP should be able to refer you to one.

If you have to go into a nursing or residential home, you can try finding one that will allow pets. Many are listed on the Elderly Accommodation Counsel website.

Fostering is when someone else temporarily takes care of your pet. They usually do this in their own home or in a care centre. Many organisations will try to find a fosterer with a similar home to your own, so that your pet finds it easier to adjust.

Some fostering organisations will send photographs or updates about your pet while you are in hospital.

Most fostering services are provided by small charities and run by volunteers. Examples include the following:

• The Cinnamon Trust and RSPCA in England and Wales.
• The Blue Cross in England, Wales and Scotland.
• Pet Fostering Service Scotland and the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Scotland.
• Rosie’s Trust in Northern Ireland.

Many fostering services are provided free of charge to pet owners. You may be asked to pay for, or supply, your pet's food, and to pay for any vet bills.

Your vet may be able to tell you about local fostering services in your area. You could also find these services online or in your local newspaper.

Sometimes you may have to go into hospital at very short notice, and it might not be possible to arrange care for your pets. But you can plan for ahead for an emergency.

Think about who could look after your pets for you at short notice. This could be a neighbour or a nearby family member or friend. You may want to write their details on a card that you carry in your wallet or purse.

You can also write down:

• your vet’s contact details and out-of-hours contact number
• whether your pet needs treatment for any medical conditions, or a special diet.

Another option is to leave contact details of family members or friends with your solicitor and carry an emergency card that has the solicitor's details on it.

You may feel that you can no longer care for your pet. Or you may want to plan ahead in case you become unable to care for them.

You may want to ask any family members or friends if they are able to take on the care of your pet. If no one can help, you can ask your local vet.

If you have to find a new home for your pet, use an organisation or charity that specialises in finding the right home, such as National Animal Welfare Trust.

The following charities may also be able to help:

• Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
• Dogs Trust
• Cats Protection
• RSPCA
• Blue Cross.

These charities all have free services that give your pet a home if you:

• cannot look after your pet any more
• die before them.

If you have thought about who you would like to look after your pet, it is important to make sure your wishes are recorded somewhere or written in your will. We have more information about making a will.