The UK Animal Charities To Know

Looking for the best animal charities in the UK to support? I’ve rounded up ten of my favourites that support both pets and wildlife or fight animal cruelty.

Animal charities play a key role in society – whether that’s helping abandoned pets, creatures in need of help, or supporting our native wildlife.

Whilst they do great work, charities need public support to be able to continue their services. As such most charities rely on the support of donors, and the help of volunteers. So if you are looking to support an animal charity, either financially or with your time – then I’ve rounded up ten of my favourites. Whether you are looking to help save red squirrels or help support mistreated pets, I’ve got the charity for you.

The UK Animal Charities To Know

Here are ten UK animal charities to help you find the one closest to your heart. In a hurry? Use the quick links below to jump to a specific animal charity, or keep scrolling to read the full guide:

• The Wildlife Trusts
• PDSA
• National Animal Welfare Trust
• Cats Protection
• Dogs Trust
• RSPCA
• Battersea Dogs & Cats
• World Animal Protection
• Animal Free Research UK
• Blue Cross

The Wildlife Trusts

Formed in 1912, The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from across the UK with one common thread – life and a passion for nature. It works to save wildlife (both on land and in the sea) and wild places, increase people’s awareness and understanding of the natural world, and deepen people’s relationship with nature.

It also runs targeted conservation programmes to help save water voles, red squirrels, barn owls, hedgehogs and other native British wildlife.

There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts across the UK, each of which is an independent charity. Each was formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife, in their local communities. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts, which encompasses 900,000 members, 39,000 volunteers, 3,600 staff and 600 trustees.

PDSA

The PDSA (short for People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), was established way back in 1917 and is now the UK’s leading veterinary charity, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of pets in need.

PDSA operates a network of Pet Hospitals and mobile clinics across the UK, providing free and low-cost veterinary care to the pets of people in financial hardship. Its services include vaccinations, surgeries, emergency treatments, and routine health checks, ensuring that pets receive essential medical care regardless of the owner’s financial situation.

Beyond clinical services, PDSA runs educational programs to promote responsible pet ownership. Here it offers advice on nutrition, exercise, and preventive healthcare. It also campaigns for better animal welfare standards and raises public awareness about issues affecting pet health.

National Animal Welfare Trust

The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT), established in 1971, is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned and neglected animals. Operating from six centres in the south of England, NAWT cares for a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

As well as rescuing and rehoming, NAWT also focuses on rehabilitation through veterinary care and behavioural support. Its comprehensive adoption process ensures a good match between pets and adopters, promoting long-term successful placements.

Education and community outreach are also key components of NAWT’s work. It offers pet care advice, runs workshops, and engages with schools to foster responsible pet ownership from a young age. NAWT advocates for animal welfare policies and collaborates with other organisations to amplify its impact.

Cats Protection

Cats Protection is the UK’s largest feline welfare charity. Founded in 1927, it works to improve the lives of cats across the country by rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming stray, unwanted, or homeless cats.

The charity operates through a network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 36 centres. Each year, it helps around 200,000 cats and kittens. But that’s not the limit of its work. Cats Protection also works to campaign for better feline welfare laws, whilst its education team focuses heavily on educating the public about responsible cat ownership.

Dogs Trust

Since its founding in 1891, the Dogs Trust has grown to become the largest dog welfare charity in the UK, with a focus on a range of compassionate activities.

The Dogs Trust believe that all dogs deserve to live life to the fullest. As such it offers rescue and rehoming services and helps to spread the word about responsible dog ownership. The charity also works with the homeless community, providing free veterinary services for their dogs.

Beyond direct care, the Dog’s Trust advocates for changes in legislation to improve dog welfare standards. It works with policymakers to tackle issues like puppy farming, dangerous dog legislation, and more.

RSPCA

Founded in 1824, the RSPCA (short for the Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has a long history of protecting animals from cruelty and promoting their welfare.

The charity operates a nationwide network of animal rescue teams and centres that respond to reports of animal cruelty, neglect, and abandonment. These teams work tirelessly to rescue animals from harmful situations, whether it’s a pet experiencing abuse, or wildlife in danger. Once rescued, animals receive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Domestic animals are then rehomed, and with wild animals, the ultimate goal is to release them back into their natural habitats.

As well as rescuing animals, one of the RSPCA’s key roles is enforcing animal welfare laws. It has a team of inspectors who investigate allegations of animal cruelty and take legal action against offenders.

Advocating for legislation that protects animals is another key part of the RSPCA’s mission. Its campaigns address a wide range of issues, from improving farm animal welfare standards to banning inhumane practices, such as the use of animals in circuses.

Battersea Dogs & Cats

Battersea Dogs & Cats, established in 1860, is one of the UK’s oldest and most renowned animal rescue charities. It offers love and expert care to dogs and cats who need it by rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals at its centres, and by sharing its expert knowledge and resources with rescue organisations around the world.

Caring for over 7,000 animals each year across its three centres in London, Berkshire, and Kent. Battersea has a commitment to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help.

As well as caring for cats and dogs in need of a temporary home, Battersea Cats & Dogs also works to ensure its homes are a last resort. As such, it runs advocacy and education programs that promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection is a global charity based in London that’s on a mission to permanently end animal cruelty and suffering. In operation for more than 70 years, its two key aims are:

• Helping give every farmed animal a good life
• Giving wild animals the right to a wild life, by helping to transform the industries, such as tourism, that fuel the never-ending exploitation of wild animals.

It also helps to provide emergency relief to animals affected by natural disasters.

Animal Free Research UK

Animal Free Research UK works to champion better medical research for the good of animals, patients and science. Its overall vision is to create a world where human diseases are cured faster with animal-free human-specific technologies.

It helps to support and fund research into healthcare and medicine that uses non-animal methods. Since 1970, Animal Free Research UK has awarded grants to over 260 projects. These include research into cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney, heart and liver disease, and more.

Blue Cross

Blue Cross has been providing specialist care, services and support for sick, injured and homeless pets for over 125 years. Founded in 1897, its work originally focused on aiding working horses during wartime, but it now covers a variety of pets in need.

The charity helps to care for sick and injured pets when their family can’t afford private veterinary treatment. It also runs pet food banks for people struggling to afford food, bedding or litter for their dog, cat, or small pet. Additionally, Blue Cross offers pet bereavement support to owners struggling after the loss of a beloved pet.

In addition to direct care, Blue Cross engages in advocacy to improve animal welfare laws and policies. Plus its team work with schools and communities to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Other Charities

Looking for other charities to support? I’ve rounded up lots of my favourites. These include:

• UK Environmental Charities
• UK Charities That Plant Trees
• UK Bee Charities
• Marine Conservation Charities