It’s always best to have a back-up plan in place with friends, family or a local pet sitter but if you’re caught off guard, help is available.

If you're unable to care for your pet due to illness, hospitalisation, homelessness or domestic abuse, the Pet Fostering Service Scotland may be able to provide temporary foster care. Call them on 0344 811 9909 or visit their website.

For those aged 65 or over, or anyone living with a terminal illness, the Cinnamon Trust also offers short- or long-term support with pet care. You can reach them on 01736 757 900 or via their website..

If you're fleeing domestic violence and can’t take your pet with you, confidential fostering is also available through the Dogs Trust Freedom Project (0808 169 4315) and Cats Protection Lifeline (0300 012 0286), both of which cover Scotland. They provide safe, temporary care so you can focus on getting to safety, knowing your pet is protected.

If you're worried about vet bills, speak to your vet first—many practices can offer payment plans or help you access financial support. It’s also a good idea to either take out pet insurance or pay a small regular amount into your vet account to build up credit for emergencies.

If you're struggling with vet costs, the PDSA provides free and reduced-cost treatment for pet owners who meet certain criteria, such as receiving means-tested benefits and living within a catchment area of one of their pet hospitals. You can check your eligibility here or by calling 08007312502.

Dog Aid Society of Scotland offers emergency vet care grants—particularly for urgent treatment. To apply, call 0131 668 3633 or visit their website for more details.

The Scottish SPCA’s Pet Aid Vet scheme offers vet care and advice through drop-in clinics at various food banks and community larders around Scotland For more information visit their website

StreetVet offers free veterinary care to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness in the UK. Visit their website for more information

The British Hen Welfare Trust offer a hen health helpline and can advise on health issues, behaviour and general care. Calls are charged at £5 per call. More information can be found here



If you're looking for hep with training your pet, start by exploring the Animal Behaviour Training. Council (ABTC) website to find a registered instructor. ABTC‑registered Animal Training Instructors have been assessed to ensure they use humane, science‑based, reward‑focused methods and have the necessary skills to support both you and your animal. Observing a class in person before joining is a great way to make sure the approach aligns with your pet’s comfort and learning style.

For more complex or persistent issues—such as aggression, anxiety or compulsive behaviours—your vet can refer you to a properly qualified behaviour expert. Look for professionals registered as Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CABs) or Veterinary Behaviourists on the ABTC register. These specialists are trained to assess underlying causes and create structured, ethical treatment plans. If you have pet insurance, many providers now cover consultations with these ABTC‑accredited behaviourists, which can make expert support more accessible.

The Dogs Trust Behaviour Support Line offers free, expert advice for dog guardians struggling with behaviour issues. Whether you're dealing with barking, separation anxiety, aggression, or something else, their qualified team can guide you with kind, reward-based solutions. The helpline is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30am–5pm, on 0303 003 6666. You don’t need to have adopted from Dogs Trust to access support.

Neutering is an important part of responsible pet care and can help prevent unwanted litters, roaming, and certain health problems. If cost is a barrier, help is available.

The Dog Aid Society of Scotland offers a £100 neutering voucher for dogs—contact them directly to apply on 0300 365 2500.

Cats Protection offer help with neutering for low-income households and feral cat and can be reached on 03000 121212.

The Scottish SPCA also operates a Low Cost Neutering Scheme in certain postcode areas—call 03000 999999 to check if you're eligible.

If you need to rehome your pet, contact a reputable rescue or rehoming organisation rather than giving them away online or through private ads. Charities have the experience to match animals with suitable homes and ensure they receive the care they need. Rescues offer non-judgemental help, even in difficult circumstances. You may be asked to provide information about your pet’s health, behaviour, and history to help them find the right placement. Waiting lists can be long, so contact organisations as early as possible. If you're struggling to meet your pet’s needs, some groups can also offer temporary fostering or support to help you keep them.

To rehome poultry, please contact us here. The Cat Chat website maintains a list of cat rescues broken down by counties and the Kennel Club offers a handy list of breed specific rescues for dogs. You can also try contacting;

Arthurshiel Rescue Centre, Borders

Tel: 07581 878393

Website: www.arthurshiel-rescue.org

Borders Pet Rescue

Tel: 01896 849 090

Website: www.borderspetrescue.org

Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre

Tel: 01387 770210

Website: www.caninerescue.co.uk

Islay Dog Rescue, Ayrshire 

Website: https://www.islaydogrescue.org.uk/

Underheugh Ark Rescue, Inverclyde

Website: www.underheugharkrescue.co.uk

DAWGS, Alford

Tel: 01224 208989

Website: www.dawgs.co.uk

Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Angus

Website: https://www.redwings.org.uk/

Willows Animal Sanctuary, Aberdeenshire

Website: www.willowsanimals.com

The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice, Dumfries & Galloway

Website: www.maggiefleming.org.uk

Mrs Murrays Dog and Cats Home, Aberdeen

Tel: 01224 483624

Website: www.mrsmurrays.co.uk

Dogs Trust, West Calder

Tel: 01506 873459

Website: www.dogstrust.org.uk

World Horse Welfare, Aberdeenshire

Website: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/visit-us/belwade-farm

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Tel: 0131 669 5331

Website: www.edch.org.uk

Dogs Trust, Glasgow

Tel: 0141 773 5130

Website: www.dogstrust.org.uk/glasgow

3Rs Horse Rescue Centre, Dumfries & Galloway

Website: www.3rshorserescuecentre.co.uk

Beloved Rabbits, Glasgow

Website :https://belovedrabbits.org/

Perthshire Abandoned Dogs Society (PADS)

Tel: 01764 684491

Website: https://padsdogrescue.com/

Tribe Sanctuary, South Lanarkshire

Website: www.tribesanctuary.co.uk

Brown Street Kennels, Dundee

Tel: 01382 432100

Website: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/kennels

Collective Animal Rescue, Edinburgh

Website: https://collectiveanimalrescue.co.uk/

Baby Blue Bee Bunnies, Lanarkshire

Website: www.babybluebeebunnies.com

Ayr’s Guinea Pig Rescue and Rehoming Centre

Website: https://ayrsguineapigrescueandrehoming.weebly.com/

Dog Aid Society of Scotland (Assisted Rehoming Scheme)

Tel: 0131 668 3633

Website: www.dogaidsociety.com

Parrot Trust Scotland

Website: www.parrottrustscotland.org.uk

Scottish Exotic Animal Rescue (SEAR), Nairn

Tel: 07918 019 583

Email: info@scottishexotic.co.uk

Scottish Ferret Club

Website: www.scottishferrets.org

Birdline UK Parrot Rescue

Tel: 0845 643 1785

Website: www.birdline.co.uk

British Hen Welfare Trust

Tel: 01884 860084

Email: info@bhwt.org.uk

If your pet goes missing, act quickly. Start by checking your home and local area thoroughly, then notify neighbours and ask them to check sheds and garages. Contact your pet’s microchip company immediately to report them as lost and ensure your contact details are up to date. Notify local vets and rescue centres as well as your local authority dog warden if you have lost a dog. Post clear, recent photos on social media, lost pet groups, and community pages. You can also register your pet as missing on national databases like DogLost or Pets Reunited to widen the search.

Stray dogs are the legal responsibility of your local authority, which may employ a dedicated dog warden or animal control officer. Even if no dog warden is in place, the council still holds this responsibility. Out of hours this responsibility transfers to the Police. If you find a stray dog outside normal working hours, contact Police Scotland on 101—they’ll direct you to the nearest police station where the dog can be safely handed in.

For other stray or found animals, including cats or small pets, contact the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999 for advice and assistance. It's always. a good idea the post as much information as you can and if possible, a photograph, on the local social media community page

Various organisations offer help and support for people with. pets experiencing homelessness.

If you're unable to care for your pet due to homelessness or temporary accommodation restrictions, the Pet Fostering Service Scotland may be able to provide temporary foster care. Call them on 0344 811 9909 or visit their website.

Local councils should help you arrange care for pets if you are entering temporary accommodation and can not take your pet although there may be a charge for this. For more advise contact Shelter Scotland on 0808 800 4444

The Dog's Trust Together Through Homelessness project offers support accessing vet care and accommodation for people experiencing homelessness with a dog. Visit their website for more information.

All4Paws is a student-led outreach project run by the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. They provide support and advice to homeless people with animals in Edinburgh. Find out more here

StreetVet offers free veterinary care to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness in the UK. Visit their website for more information

Trusty Paws offers a monthly drop-in service in Glasgow providing free accessible veterinary care to the pets of any person experiencing homelessness. Their clinics are organized in partnership with local established homeless support charities in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.