Preventing pet relinquishment grants
We support projects that help keep pets in loving homes and out of rescue.
We offer both one-off and multi-year funding for initiatives that help pet owners during challenging times or help reduce stray populations.
What we can support
- Staffing and staff on-costs
- Veterinary care
- Equipment
- Vehicles
- Associated activity costs – including costs that help deliver, promote or support your project
All projects must clearly demonstrate how they improve animal welfare and help prevent pets from entering rescue.
What makes a strong application
We prioritise applications that:
- Clearly show how funding will improve animal welfare
- Set out a well-defined project with realistic and transparent costs
- Demonstrate clear need (e.g. demand or gaps in provision)
- Show strong financial planning and long-term sustainability
What you’ll need to demonstrate:
- A clear and detailed project budget
- An estimate of impact
- How you will measure success
Examples of projects we fund
We support a range of preventative work. Examples of projects we’ve funded include:
- Pet food banks
- Outreach support for pet owners experiencing homelessness
- Temporary fostering for pets in crisis situations
- Subsidised neutering programmes (for example, for owned cats)
- Pop-up events offering guidance on behaviour and preventative healthcare
How to apply
Before getting started, please take the time to read our Grant Criteria and FAQ fully in downloads below.
Please only request an application form if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Once you've submitted your application, a member of our team may get in touch if we need more information or to arrange a meeting (either virtual or in person).
What you need to provide
- Recent accounts (and up-to-date draft figures if your accounts are more than 12 months old).
- A clear and defined budget for your proposed activity.
- Evidence of the costs involved, such as vehicle listings, job descriptions, equipment quotes or other supporting documentation
Timescales
- Applications are reviewed three times a year
- Due to the volume of applications we receive, decisions can take up to 4–5 months
- If we need more information, this may extend the timeframe
Funding guidance
- As a guide, we’re unlikely to award more than £100,000 as a one-off grant
- For multi-year funding, grants are capped at a maximum of £50,000 per year, for up to three years
- All projects must be based inside the UK
Request Grant Application Form
Downloads
For more information please contact the the Pets Foundation team at:
Preventing-pet-relinquishment-grant-criteria-2026
Download (PDF, 322 KB) Grant-programme-FAQ-March-2026
Download (PDF, 266 KB)
Helping pets stay together
See how funding from our Preventing Pet Relinquishment Grants is helping organisations provide support that keeps pets and the people who care for them together.
AdvoCATS rescue Ruth and her family
Ruth* found herself in a bad way after recently splitting up from her long-term partner. She was a single mum to a teen and a pre-teen, looking for a new place for her family, which also included three cats and one dog.
Transforming Lives Through Pet Aid Vet
Thanks to £80,000 a year for 3 years of funding from the Pets Foundation, the Scottish SPCA is trialling a groundbreaking new service, Pet Aid Vet, across communities in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dumfries, and Galloway. This pilot program is a lifeline for those struggling to provide the best care for their beloved pets.
Scottish SPCA – Pet Aid Project Case Study
We awarded the Scottish SPCA £240,000, £80k every year for three years, towards their Pet Aid project, specifically the veterinary element.