What to do if…
you find pets left alone after their owner has died and you need urgent care for them

What to do now

1. Make the pets safe in the room or space they are already in.
   Close doors and windows, move obvious hazards out of reach, and keep dogs, cats, and small pets separated unless you know they normally live safely together.

2. Give basic care only.
   Put down fresh water. If you find their normal food, offer a small amount. Check litter trays, bedding, cages, hutches, heat, ventilation, and whether any animal has access to toilet space.

3. Call a vet urgently if any pet looks unwell or unsafe.
   Phone a local veterinary practice or the pet’s usual vet if you can identify one. Say the owner has died and you need emergency advice. Call now if an animal is collapsed, struggling to breathe, severely injured, trapped, unable to stand, has uncontrolled bleeding, may have eaten something toxic, or is in extreme heat or cold.

4. If you cannot lawfully access the pets, do not improvise entry.
   Contact the next of kin, executor, property manager, landlord, or another clearly authorised person. If no authorised person can be reached and an animal’s welfare may be at immediate risk, call the police non-emergency number, 101, and explain that animals are locked inside after a death.

5. Do a quick scan for pet information.
   Check only obvious places: fridge door, kitchen drawer, pet food area, medicine area, noticeboard, handbag, wallet, phone contacts if you have lawful access, or paperwork near the front door. Look for the vet’s name, feeding instructions, medication, microchip details, insurance details, and any named temporary carer.

6. Get one person to take responsibility for decisions today.
   If you know the next of kin, ask them to name one temporary carer for the next 24 to 48 hours. If you can identify the executor, contact them too. A text message confirming the temporary arrangement is enough for now.

7. Write a simple handover note before any pet leaves the property.
   Record the date and time, number and type of pets, where each pet is now, what food or water was given, any medication found or given, the vet or council contacted, and your contact number. Leave a copy at the property and keep a photo.

8. For a dog with no available owner or carer, contact the local council or local authority dog service.
   If you know who the owner is, try the family or executor first. If no owner or authorised carer is available, use the local council route for the area and follow their instructions. Tell them the dog is connected to a person who has died and that urgent temporary care is needed.

9. For cats and other pets, use a vet or recognised animal charity route.
   A vet or recognised charity may be able to scan for a microchip and advise on safe temporary care. For cats, avoid moving a healthy roaming cat unless you are reasonably sure it belongs to the deceased person, appears unwell, is shut in, or has no safe access to food, water, or shelter.

10. If family cannot act today, ask about short-term placement rather than rehoming.
    Ask the vet, local council service, or a recognised animal welfare charity about emergency boarding, short-term fostering, or a reputable temporary carer. The Cinnamon Trust may be relevant in some cases involving an owner who has died, but availability and eligibility are not guaranteed.