What Happens to Pets When Their Owner Dies?

When someone dies and there is a pet in the home, someone needs to act quickly. The animal needs food, water, and reassurance - and it needs to know that someone is there.

If you are a family member or friend: Check the home for pets as soon as possible after the death. Dogs in particular can become distressed if left alone for long periods. Cats are more self-sufficient but still need food and water within 24 hours.

If you are the executor or administrator: The pet is part of the estate and you will usually be the person responsible for making sure it is looked after until permanent arrangements are made.

Immediate options for temporary care:

• A family member, friend, or neighbour who knows the pet
• Emergency boarding at a veterinary practice (call your local vet)
• Short-term fostering through an animal charity
• The Cinnamon Trust, if the deceased was elderly or terminally ill and had registered with them

What to look for in the home: Pet food and feeding instructions, medication (check the fridge and cupboards), the pet's registration and microchip documents, the name of the vet, any pet insurance policy documents, and any emergency pet card or wallet alert indicating that animals are at home and who to contact.

If you live alone with a pet, consider carrying a wallet card or keeping a visible notice at home so that police, paramedics, neighbours, or family know there is an animal inside and who to contact in an emergency.

The Dogs Trust Canine Care Card works this way for dogs. You can also make a simple card yourself with key details: how many animals, what type, who to call, and where the pet food and medication are kept. Some people keep a card in their wallet and a notice on the fridge or by the front door.

This is especially important for people who live alone. Without a visible alert, there may be no one who realises there is a pet in the home until a family member or executor visits, which could be hours or days later.

Under UK law, pets are treated as personal property. In practice, this means they are dealt with through the estate in a similar way to other possessions.

This means:

• Pets form part of the estate and are dealt with like other personal property
• The executor or administrator is responsible for arranging their care during probate
• If the will says nothing about pets, they are dealt with as part of the general estate
• If there is no will, the pet forms part of the estate and the administrator will need to decide how it is dealt with under the intestacy rules and who will actually care for it

This legal classification can feel uncomfortable, but it is important to understand because it determines who has authority over the animal's future.

The practical position is the same across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Whoever is administering the estate is responsible for making sure the animal is properly cared for until a permanent arrangement is in place.

If the pet has ongoing veterinary treatment, repeat prescriptions, or requires specialist food, contact the pet's vet promptly. This is especially urgent for animals on daily medication such as insulin, epilepsy drugs, heart medication, or controlled substances.

The vet can provide the clinical history to whoever is taking over care, and can make sure repeat prescriptions continue without a gap. If the pet is being rehomed to someone registered with a different practice, ask the original vet to transfer the records.

Gather the following from the home if you can: vaccination certificates, any medication packaging (which shows dosage and frequency), and the vet's contact details.

No. UK law does not allow you to leave money or property directly to an animal. A pet cannot be a beneficiary.

But there are several ways to achieve the same result.

Name a guardian in your will. Specify the person you want to care for your pet. Include their full name, contact details, and a backup person in case the first cannot take the animal. Add a letter of wishes with details about the pet's diet, routine, medication, and personality.

Leave a cash gift to the guardian. Leave a specific sum of money to the named person with a request that it be used for the pet's care. This is morally binding but not legally enforceable. Most people honour it.

Set up a trust for the pet's care. You cannot leave money directly to a pet, but a solicitor can help you structure your will or a trust so that a named person receives funds intended for the animal's care. You appoint a trustee (who manages the money) and a separate carer (who looks after the animal). The trustee ensures the funds are used for the pet's benefit: food, veterinary care, grooming, boarding. This provides stronger protection than a simple cash gift, though it costs more to set up. Speak to a solicitor about what would work for your situation.

Register with a charity care scheme. Several UK charities will take responsibility for your pet after you die, rehoming them or providing lifelong care. See the section below for details.

These charities specifically support pets whose owners have died or become unable to care for them. Registration is usually free and should be done well in advance. Charities may have limited emergency capacity for animals whose owners die without having registered, so planning ahead makes a real difference.

The Cinnamon Trust

The only UK charity dedicated to helping elderly and terminally ill people with their pets. Founded in 1985, they operate nationwide through a network of volunteers.

What they offer:

• Long-term foster care or rehoming for pets when an owner dies
• Temporary fostering during hospital stays
• Help with daily care (dog walking, vet visits) for owners who are struggling
• Planning ahead so owners know their pet's future is secure

Who should register: Anyone over 60, anyone with a terminal illness, or anyone who is concerned about what will happen to their pet.

Contact: cinnamon.org.uk

Dogs Trust Canine Care Card

The Dogs Trust will take care of your dog if you die, finding them a loving new home. Dogs Trust commits to never putting a healthy dog down.

How it works: Register for a free Canine Care Card. Carry it with you (like an organ donor card). When the Trust is notified of your death, they collect your dog and find a new home.

Contact: dogstrust.org.uk

Cats Protection Cat Guardians

Cats Protection takes cats to their rehoming centres when notified of an owner's death. Cats Protection commits to finding every cat a home, however long it takes, and will never put a healthy cat to sleep.

How it works: Register for a free Cat Guardians card. Notify your executor or next of kin that you are registered.

Contact: cats.org.uk

Blue Cross Pet Peace of Mind

A free scheme covering dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, and degus (up to four pets per household). Their trained rehoming team assesses each animal's medical and behavioural needs before placing them.

Contact: 0300 777 1910 or bluecross.org.uk/pet-peace-of-mind

RSPCA Home for Life

The RSPCA's Home for Life scheme takes responsibility for pets and finds them new homes. The scheme provides vaccinations and health checks before rehoming.

Important: The RSPCA says its Home for Life service is no longer accepting new requests for application packs. People who had already requested a pack can still submit eligible applications received by 31 March 2026. Existing registrations continue to be honoured.

Contact: rspca.org.uk

Pet insurance usually does not automatically transfer when the owner dies. Contact the insurer as soon as possible to ask whether the policy can continue temporarily, be transferred to the new carer, or must be replaced with a new policy. Policies vary, and some insurers may offer more flexibility than others.

If the pet is being rehomed to a family member or friend, acting quickly gives the best chance of maintaining continuous cover, especially for animals with pre-existing conditions that a new policy might exclude.

For the executor or administrator: Review any direct debit for pet insurance carefully before cancelling, so the pet is not left without cover unexpectedly while care arrangements are being made. Keep the policy documents so the new carer can provide medical history to their own insurer.

When a pet changes owner, the microchip registration must be updated. This is how the animal is identified and returned if lost.

Microchip obligations differ by species and by nation within the UK, but dogs and cats must be microchipped under current law, and keeper details should always be updated promptly after rehoming. GOV.UK covers the requirements for both dogs and cats.

What to do:

1. Find the microchip number (on the pet's registration documents, vaccination card, or by asking the vet to scan the chip)
2. Contact the relevant database (PETtrac, Microchip Central, Identibase, or another provider)
3. Update the registered owner's name, address, and contact details
4. Pay the transfer fee (usually £10 to £15)

Do this within the first few weeks of taking on the pet. If the animal goes missing before the chip is updated, it could be returned to the deceased's address.

A very common problem is that a willing family member cannot take the pet because of their living situation. Tenancy agreements, lease restrictions, landlord policies, allergies within the household, or simply not having enough space can all prevent someone from keeping an animal they would otherwise be happy to care for.

If this applies to you, it is worth checking your tenancy agreement or speaking to your landlord before assuming you cannot keep the pet. Some landlords will make exceptions, especially with a reference from the previous owner's vet. In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps tenancy deposits, but landlords can still include pet clauses in tenancy agreements.

If housing genuinely prevents you from taking the animal, the charity schemes listed above are designed for exactly this situation. There is no judgment in asking for help.

While care arrangements are being made, the estate may need to cover costs for the pet. These can include:

• Emergency boarding or kennelling fees
• Food and routine supplies
• Urgent veterinary treatment
• Transport (collecting the animal, taking it to a vet or charity)
• Microchip transfer fees

The executor or administrator can usually claim these as reasonable estate expenses, but it is worth keeping receipts and records. If the will left funds specifically for pet care, those should be used first.

Smaller pets can be rehomed relatively quickly. Larger animals and specialist species require more planning.

Horses and ponies need daily care: feeding, water, shelter, exercise, and hoof maintenance. If the deceased kept horses, someone needs to take over immediately. World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross (which covers horses) can help with rehoming. The British Horse Society can provide guidance on emergency care.

The new carer should gather the horse passport, veterinary history, farrier details, yard or livery agreement, feed routine, and insurance information as soon as possible. Horse passports are a legal requirement and must accompany the animal.

Horses must be valued as estate assets. If the owner did not specify who should inherit the horse, it forms part of the general estate. Co-ownership agreements set up during the owner's lifetime can include provisions for what happens if one owner dies.

Livestock (sheep, cattle, poultry, goats) may require immediate professional help. Contact neighbouring farmers, the local agricultural college, or the National Farmers' Union for emergency support. Livestock have legal welfare requirements that must be met daily.

Exotic pets (reptiles, parrots, amphibians) often need specialist housing, heating, and diet. Fewer rescue organisations exist for exotic species, but some zoos and specialist sanctuaries may be able to help. The RSPCA can provide initial advice.

For all large or specialist animals: Include detailed care instructions in your will and identify a specific person who is willing and able to take them. Leaving "my horse to my sister" in a will is not helpful if your sister lives in a flat.

Sometimes there is genuinely no family member or friend who can care for the animal. This is more common than you might expect, especially when the deceased was elderly and lived alone.

What happens:

• The executor or administrator should contact the charity schemes listed above
• Local rescue centres and breed-specific charities may be able to help, but many have waiting lists or limited emergency capacity
• The RSPCA and local council animal wardens can intervene as a last resort

Older animals and those with health problems may take longer to rehome. Dogs Trust and Cats Protection both commit to caring for animals for as long as it takes and not putting healthy animals down, but this commitment varies between organisations, so check the specific charity's policy.

The emotional reality: Giving up a loved one's pet can feel like a second loss. If keeping the pet is genuinely not possible, choosing a reputable charity or rescue gives the animal the best chance of a good life. There is no shame in asking for help.

For many bereaved people, their loved one's pet becomes a source of real comfort. The dog still needs walking. The cat still sits on the sofa in the same spot. There is routine and warmth in caring for an animal that also knew and loved the person who died.

If you can keep the pet and want to, that is often the best outcome for everyone. The animal stays in familiar surroundings with someone who loved the person they lost. The bereaved person has companionship and a reason to get up in the morning.

Pets may show behavioural changes after their owner dies: eating less, sleeping more, looking for the person, or becoming clingy with whoever is caring for them. This usually settles over weeks. If it continues, your vet can advise.

If you have a pet and want to make sure they are cared for after you die, these steps will give you peace of mind.

1. Name a pet guardian in your will. Choose someone who has agreed to take the animal and include a backup person.
2. Leave funds for their care. A specific cash gift in your will, or a trust arrangement if you want stronger protection. Speak to a solicitor about the best approach.
3. Register with a charity scheme. Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Blue Cross, or the Cinnamon Trust. Registration is free and takes minutes. Do this well in advance rather than waiting.
4. Write care instructions. Diet, medication, routine, vet details, likes and dislikes. Keep this with your will or in an accessible location at home.
5. Tell your executor. Make sure the person administering your estate knows about the pet, knows where the care instructions are, and knows who to contact.
6. Keep pet insurance documents accessible. So the new carer can contact the insurer quickly.
7. Update your microchip registration. Ensure your current address and contact details are correct, and include a secondary contact (the named guardian) on the record.
8. Carry an emergency pet card. Keep a card in your wallet or a notice at home alerting anyone who finds you that there are animals at home that need care. Include a contact name and number.

If you are administering an estate and there are pets involved:

Within 24 hours

• Check the home for animals
• Arrange immediate care (family, friends, neighbour, or emergency boarding)
• Locate pet food, medication, and vet details
• If the pet is on daily medication, contact the vet to ensure continuity

Within the first week

• Check the will for pet care instructions and a named guardian
• Contact the named guardian
• If no guardian was named, contact the charities listed above
• Locate pet insurance documents and contact the insurer about continuing or transferring cover

Within two weeks

• Finalise care arrangements (guardian, charity, or rehoming)
• Transfer the microchip registration to the new owner
• Provide the new carer with medical history, vaccination records, and care notes
• For horses: gather the passport, vet records, farrier details, and yard agreement

Before the estate is settled

• Document all pet-related expenses (boarding, vet fees, transport, food) for the estate accounts
• If the will left funds for pet care, ensure they reach the named carer or trustee