Temporary Pet Fostering and Domestic Abuse

If you or your pet are in immediate danger, call 999. If it is unsafe to speak, listen to the operator, cough or tap if you can, and press 55 when prompted so the call is passed to the police.

• Ring a domestic-abuse helpline to make a safety plan before you leave.
• Tell them you have pets and say what animals they are.
• Ask whether refuge or emergency accommodation can take pets, and whether fostering can be arranged at the same time.
• Do not delay your own safety while waiting for pet arrangements.

Dogs Trust Freedom is a free, confidential, specialist fostering service for dogs belonging to people escaping domestic abuse. Volunteer foster carers look after the dog until the owner is in a safe, settled home.

• The service is free to the owner and confidential.
• Coverage and available spaces vary, so contact the service directly.
• The dog remains the owner’s dog throughout.
• The foster carer’s address is normally kept confidential.

Cats Protection Lifeline provides free and confidential temporary fostering for cats whose families are fleeing domestic abuse. Referrals are often made through a domestic-abuse service, and there is also information on how to contact Lifeline.

Specialist services concentrate mainly on dogs and cats. For rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, horses or other animals, ask a domestic-abuse service, a local animal welfare organisation, a rescue centre or your veterinary practice what may be possible in your area.

• Explain what animals you have, their number, size and any health needs.
• Ask about temporary boarding as well as fostering.
• Never hand an animal to an unknown person found through social media or a selling site.

Temporary fostering, boarding or volunteer help may also be available during an unexpected hospital stay, a housing crisis, a fire or another emergency. Ask early, because arrangements take time.

• You contact the service, or a support worker refers you.
• The service checks whether it covers your area and has space.
• Details of the pet, its health and its routine are recorded.
• Collection or handover is arranged at a place that feels safe.
• The pet stays with a checked foster carer whose location is normally kept confidential.
• You are given a way to receive news about your pet.
• When you have safe, settled accommodation, arrangements are made for the pet to come home.

This is temporary care. It is not the same as permanently surrendering or rehoming a pet.

Before using any other fostering service, ask about identity checks, insurance, veterinary consent, costs, confidentiality, contact arrangements, emergencies and how the pet will be returned.

• Who will look after my pet, and are they checked?
• Is my information and my pet’s location kept confidential?
• Who pays for food, insurance and veterinary treatment?
• Who can consent to veterinary treatment in an emergency?
• How and how often will I hear about my pet?
• How long can the arrangement last, and how is my pet returned to me?
• What happens if the foster carer can no longer continue?

Never hand a pet to an unknown person found through social media.

Where safe, prepare details of the pet’s microchip, veterinary practice, medication, food, behaviour, routines and emergency contacts. A short written note is enough.

• Name, age, breed, colour and microchip number.
• Veterinary practice name and telephone number.
• Any medication, doses and when it is given.
• Usual food, how much and how often.
• Behaviour around people, children and other animals.
• Daily routine, walks, sleeping place and anything that frightens them.
• A safe contact number or email for you.

Do not collect documents or belongings if doing so would create additional danger.

• Do not post your location, your plans or a fostering request publicly on social media.
• Use a safer device, such as a friend’s phone or a library computer.
• Check who can see your accounts, photographs and location sharing.
• Remember that a quick exit does not clear your browser history.
• Ask a domestic-abuse worker for help with device and account safety.

• England: National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247 — nationaldahelpline.org.uk
• Wales: Live Fear Free — gov.wales
• Scotland: Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline — sdafmh.org.uk
• Northern Ireland: Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline — nidirect.gov.uk

The England number is only for England. Please use the service for your own nation.

Dogs Trust Freedom and Cats Protection Lifeline both describe their services as free and confidential temporary fostering for people escaping domestic abuse. Coverage, space and eligibility must be checked directly.

• Dogs Trust Freedom (opens in a new tab)
• Cats Protection Lifeline (opens in a new tab)
• Access Cats Protection Lifeline (opens in a new tab)
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline – England (opens in a new tab)
• Live Fear Free – Wales (opens in a new tab)
• Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline – Scotland (opens in a new tab)
• Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline – Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
• Silent Solution information (opens in a new tab)