Most owners never write down what should happen to a pet if they are taken into hospital, move into care or die. Charities in the UK run free schemes for exactly this, and they also publish guidance for people who have decided they can no longer keep an animal. This guide summarises what Cats Protection and Dogs Trust say about their services, and what owners are legally responsible for in England and Wales. It is general information; a solicitor can advise on wording a Will.
Why a plan matters
Under section 3 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, a person who owns an animal is always regarded as responsible for it, and the section is marked on legislation.gov.uk as applying to England and Wales. That stays true even when someone else is looking after the animal, so a named person and written instructions make a difference. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own animal welfare legislation, although the two charity schemes described below operate across the UK.
Cat Guardians from Cats Protection
Cats Protection describes Cat Guardians as a free service. An owner registers in advance, and once the charity is told that the owner has died, it arranges for the cat or cats to come into the care of a nearby branch or centre. Staff and volunteers then look after them while trying to find a home that suits each cat’s personality and needs. Cats Protection states that it never puts a healthy cat to sleep and will care for a cat for as long as it takes to find a new home.
The registration form gives the charity useful details such as the food the cat likes, which its own case study says helped staff settle a cat whose owner had died. Cats Protection also notes that many people who register choose to remember the charity in their Will, but registering does not depend on that.
The Dogs Trust Canine Care Card
Dogs Trust says that if a Canine Care Card holder becomes seriously ill or dies, it will look after the dog and find them a home. The process it describes has four steps: a short online application, a follow-up email asking about the dog and the owner’s wishes, receipt of a card to keep in a wallet or purse, and a line in the owner’s Will. Its suggested wording is “It is also my wish that Dogs Trust cares for and rehomes my dog at the time of my death”.
Some practical points from the Dogs Trust page:
- A Dog Guardian, such as a neighbour or relative, is named on the application. The guardian tells Dogs Trust, and is responsible for arranging interim care until the dog can come into one of its rehoming centres.
- Each dog is assessed by qualified behaviourists, and Dogs Trust says it never puts down a healthy dog.
- Dogs Trust says it cannot activate a card for a dog showing extreme aggression, one categorised as an index dog or otherwise restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, or one living overseas.
- Card holders are asked to keep microchip details, vaccination information and the guardian’s details up to date, and to tell the charity if they get another dog or if their dog dies.
- The charity says it does not have facilities for other species, and suggests contacting other animal welfare charities for a similar service.
If you are thinking of giving up a pet
Cats Protection’s guidance on giving up a cat begins by asking owners to consider whether the reason can be resolved. It points, for example, to charity help with neutering costs, vet payment plans, and support from PDSA or Blue Cross where bills are a worry. It says a change in behaviour is worth discussing with a vet before any decision, and it says tenants in England now have a right to request a pet that cannot be unreasonably refused under the Renters’ Rights Act. For more on that, see the guide to renting with a pet in England.
Where rehoming is the right decision, Cats Protection sets out these steps:
- Plan early, because there can be waiting lists for space.
- Contact the local branch, which arranges a time to bring the cat to a centre or a volunteer fosterer. Charity shops cannot help with rehoming.
- Complete a questionnaire about the cat’s history, diet and needs.
- Bring the cat in a suitable carrier, ideally with familiar toys or blankets.
The charity asks owners not to abandon a cat or advertise one for free online, saying this can be dangerous for the animal, and to tell the local branch if the situation is urgent. It also runs a free, confidential temporary fostering service called Lifeline for people leaving domestic abuse, as a short-term option.
The guide to adopting a rescue dog or cat explains what the process looks like from the adopter’s side.
Frequently asked questions
Do these services replace a Will?
No. Dogs Trust asks card holders to confirm their wishes in their Will and suggests specific wording. Cats Protection describes Cat Guardians as a registration service and says many registrants also leave a gift in their Will, which is optional.
The bottom line
An owner is always regarded as responsible for a pet in England and Wales, so a written plan is worth having. Cats Protection’s Cat Guardians and Dogs Trust’s Canine Care Card are free schemes that provide one for cats and dogs, though each has limits. For cat owners considering giving up a pet, Cats Protection recommends looking for practical help first and then rehoming through a charity rather than an online giveaway.