The pets are the conversation no one wants to have. Most people preparing for a prison sentence sort the bills, the bank, the kids and the landlord — and then realise three days before sentencing that there is no plan for the dog. This guide is the honest, practical answer to what happens to your pets when you go to prison in the UK in 2026: who will take them, what charities help, what the realistic options are, and the choices you must make in the four weeks before you walk into court.
Why Pets Get Forgotten
Two reasons. First, the pet is family — thinking about handing them over feels like another loss in a sentence that's already full of losses. Second, people assume someone will step up at the last minute. They sometimes don't, or they try and fail because no one prepared for the practical and financial realities of taking on someone else's animal for months or years.
Get this sorted in week 3 of your run-up, not week 1. Animal welfare law (Animal Welfare Act 2006) makes you legally responsible for your pet's needs being met. Leaving an animal without food, water and care for more than 24 hours can be a criminal offence in itself — adding to your problems is the last thing you need.
The Realistic Options
There are four routes for pet care during a prison sentence. Most prisoners use a mix.
1. Family or friends take the pet
The simplest, often the best for the animal — they go to a familiar face in a familiar setting. But it must be:
A common pattern: a relative says yes for six months, the dog stays for three years. Be honest about timeframes.
2. Fostering through a charity
Several UK charities specialise in temporary foster care for pets of people in prison, hospital, or fleeing domestic abuse. The pet stays in a foster home and is returned to you on release. The leading specialists:
Foster places are limited and fill quickly. Apply early — 6–8 weeks before sentencing if at all possible.
3. Rehoming permanently
For long sentences (4+ years), permanent rehoming is often the kindest option. The pet doesn't have to wait years for a home — they get one immediately.
A reputable rescue will assess your pet, neuter/microchip if needed, and find a vetted home. Some allow follow-up updates; most don't.
4. Boarding kennels or catteries (paid)
Long-term boarding is expensive — £15–£40 per day for dogs, £8–£20 for cats. For a 12-month sentence that's £5,000–£15,000. Almost no one can sustain this. Not a realistic main option, but useful for the first few weeks while a longer-term plan is finalised.
What NOT to Do
How to Prepare Your Pet for the Handover
If a friend, family member or foster carer is taking the pet:
For dogs, an introduction visit before you go in helps the dog settle. For cats, the new home should be set up with familiar items (litter tray, bedding) before arrival.
> **Insider tip:** Take a video of you with your pet, doing your normal routine — feeding, walking, playing. Send it to the new carer. It helps them learn your pet's habits and gives you something to remember when you're inside. A printed photo of your pet is usually allowed in your prison reception bag.
Insurance and Vet Bills
Pet insurance is a problem. Most policies have an "ownership change" clause — handing the pet to someone else (even temporarily) can void cover. Check your policy.
Options:
Charities like the PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA offer subsidised veterinary care for owners on certain benefits. The carer may be eligible if they're on Universal Credit.
What If You're Released and Want the Pet Back?
This depends on the route taken.
**Foster care**: by definition, the pet is returned to you. Confirm this in writing before the sentence starts. Most charities require the original owner's contact details to be kept current — your outside person should update them.
**Rehoming**: you have no legal right to the pet back. Once a charity rehomes, the new owners are the legal keepers. Some rescues will note your interest but make no guarantees.
**Family or friends**: depends on the relationship. Many informal arrangements turn into permanent ones — by the time you're released, the dog or cat is bonded to the new family and it would be cruel to move them again. Be prepared for this.
Multiple Pets
If you have several animals, splitting them is sometimes necessary. A foster carer might take one cat but not three. Try to keep bonded pairs together — siblings, lifelong companions — but accept that it may not always be possible. The Cats Protection and Cinnamon Trust both try to keep bonded pairs together where they can.
For dogs that are bonded to each other, separation can cause significant distress. Discuss with the rescue — they may be willing to rehome as a pair.
Exotic Pets and Reptiles
Snakes, lizards, parrots, fish and other exotic pets are harder to place. Specialist rescues exist (Reptile Rescue Network, Parrots Protection League) but capacity is small.
For fish tanks, equipment is often donated with the fish — most rescues won't take a tank without it. For reptiles, the heat lamps, vivarium and temperature controllers go with the animal.
For licensed dangerous wild animals (DWA), arrangements must be made with the local authority and the licence transferred. This is complex and needs a solicitor's help.
Horses
Horses are expensive and difficult to place at short notice. Options:
DEFRA has rules on horse passports and microchipping that must be followed for any transfer.
Service Dogs and Assistance Animals
If your dog is a registered assistance dog, contact the registering organisation (Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Canine Partners). They have specific protocols for owners who can no longer care for the dog. Many will rehome the dog within their network or arrange alternative placements.
Telling Children About the Pet
If you have children, the loss of a pet alongside the loss of a parent is a double grief. Be honest about where the pet is going and, if possible, arrange for the children to visit the pet at the new carer's home occasionally. For permanent rehoming, a clear goodbye visit helps.
What Prison Itself Allows
You cannot keep a pet in a UK prison. There is no provision in the prison rules for pets. The only animals routinely on prison estates are working dogs (drug detection, security) and occasional therapy animals brought in by external charities.
Some open prisons (Category D) have small animal husbandry programmes — chickens, rabbits, sheep — as part of education or work. These are not your pets, but caring for them can be therapeutic if you've lost yours.
Practical Timeline
FAQ
Can someone bring my dog to visit me in prison?
No. Pet visits are not permitted in UK prisons. Some Category D open prisons run occasional therapy-dog visits via charities, but these are not your own animal.
How long does the Cinnamon Trust take to arrange foster care?
Usually 4–8 weeks. They prioritise urgent cases but cannot guarantee placement. Apply as soon as you know a sentence is likely.
What if my pet has medical conditions?
Be honest with the carer or charity. Older animals with conditions are harder to place but specialists exist. Provide full vet records and pre-pay medications where possible.
Can my partner keep the pet without changing anything?
Yes — if your partner is staying in the property and can manage the daily care. Update microchip and vet records to their name as a precaution.
Will the prison help me arrange pet care?
Generally no. The induction process focuses on you, not external arrangements. Sort it before sentencing.
What if I have a court order requiring me to keep a pet (custody dispute)?
Rare, but speak to your family solicitor before sentencing. Court orders may need to be varied.
Is rehoming permanent?
Yes, in most cases. Once a rescue charity rehomes a pet, you have no legal right to recover the animal. Foster care, by contrast, is by definition temporary.
*Last updated: April 2026.*