Refuge4Pets - Animal Fostering Service

Animals are often the silent victims of domestic violence and abuse, used as part of the pattern of coercion and control. Along with their families, animals are also often threatened, yelled at, beaten, kicked, and, in some cases, killed.

With domestic violence and abuse being one of the most significant public health concerns that we experience in the UK, combined with the fact that over half of all households have pets, our pet fostering service is vital.

Pet Fostering Service

We foster dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and other pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and fish. We will foster any animal (even livestock and exotics) as long as we have a suitable foster home. We foster animals for up to 6 months and provide everything the animals need while they are in foster care.

Our pet foster carers are volunteers who are committed to caring for animals. They are carefully recruited to make sure they offer the best possible temporary foster homes. Our foster families care for animals until it is safe for them to be reunited with their owners.

We understand that victims of domestic violence and abuse often have to leave with nothing. This is why we supply everything that their animals need, such as food, bedding, and toys, while the animals are being cared for by one of our pet foster carers. We also cover the cost of any veterinary treatment and medicines required during their time with us.

Do you need help?

If you are thinking about leaving a violent or abusive relationship, or if you have left and have nowhere for your pet to go while you access the safety and support that you need, we may be able to help by fostering your pet.

We take referrals from the local domestic and sexual violence and abuse services, refuges, the police, housing, social care, health, community mental health teams, and so on. 

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

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