Pets Foundation: Rescue Centre Grants

Overview

The Pets Foundation provides funding to charitable organisations whose main activity is one or more of the following: 

• the rehoming of UK domestic pets (Rescuing and Rehoming) 
• the provision of temporary or ongoing assistance to ensure pets can remain with their owners, where rehoming takes place only when it is not possible to reunite the pet with their owner 
• changing the lives of adults and children through the provision of pet-based activities and practical assistance

Funding level

They provide grants from £250 upwards; their biggest rescue grant last year was £180,000 towards a kennel build.

What do they fund?

They fund the following:

• Vet bills
• Boarding fees
• Trap and neuter schemes
• Food
• Equipment
• Vehicles
• Building work
• Utility bills

Decisions are made on a monthly basis, with larger sums (over £75k) reviewed three times a year

12 months must have elapsed since your charity last received funds from the Pets Foundation (aka Pets at Home Foundation)

Criteria

• Applications can only be made by an individual known to the organisation and authorised to make grant applications on the organisation’s behalf.
• The organisation must have been operating for a minimum of 2 years and can provide financial information for a 12 month period.
• The organisation is based within the UK, Isle of Man or Guernsey and carries out its activities within these areas.
• Organisations based within England, Wales or Scotland must be a Registered Charity, either with the Charity Commission or the OSCR in Scotland (or Companies House for CICs). All organisations based in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man must be registered as a charity with the relevant local body.
• All organisations (Registered Charity or CIC) must have a board of at least three unrelated trustees or directors.
• 12 months must have lapsed since the organisation last received a grant from the Pets Foundation before an organisation can apply again.
• The Pets Foundation prioritises the funding of medium and small charitable organisations. They are unlikely to fund any organisation which is, itself, a grant-making organisation. Any large charity or grant-giving charity should contact us before making an application.

About the organisation applying

• The Pets Foundation provides funding to pet rescues for purposes which:
  • make a real difference to the welfare of UK domestic pets in rescue
  • aim to reduce the number of domestic pets in rescue
• The organisation’s main charitable activity must be the rescue and rehoming of domestic pets.
• All funding requests must be for purposes which have a direct impact on the welfare of domestic pets1 in rescue.
• Organisations can be:
  • national pet rescue charities and their branches
  • independent pet rescue and rehoming organisations either centre, boarding or foster based
• The significant majority of each pet species the organisation rescues must be from within the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.
• All organisations will, where applicable, vaccinate, microchip, neuter, and treat all pets for fleas and worms prior to rehoming, except where a vet advises otherwise. If it is not possible to neuter an animal prior to adoption, the rescue should have a contract in place with the new owner that states they are committed to neutering their pet at a later date, if not paid for by the rescue (checks may be made with the rescue’s vet).
• The charitable purpose of the application must have a direct impact on the welfare of domestic pets.
• Any dog and/or cat rescue and rehoming charity with an income of over £1m must be a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes.

What will they fund?

• The Pets at Home Foundation will not retrospectively award funds towards a project that has already been started or completed.
• They will only consider applications for the following:
  • vet bills to a maximum of 25% of that cost centre (annual) or £10,000 (whichever is lesser) in relation to non-permanent resident pets only
  • boarding costs to a maximum of 25% of that cost centre (annual) or £10,000 (whichever is lesser)
  • utility bills (electricity, gas, water) to a maximum of 25% of that cost centre (annual) or £10,000 (whichever is lesser)
  • trap and neuter schemes for feral or stray cats
  • food/bedding/litter to a maximum of 25% of that cost centre (annual) or £10,000 (whichever is lesser)
  • funding towards capital projects, including vehicles, equipment and building work

See Guidance for requirements for building work including fencing, renovations and new builds. 

All organisations must provide a copy of their safeguarding policy.

See Guidance for further details.