10 UK animal charities you can donate to
We love our animals. And that’s why there’s plenty of animal charities in the UK that you can donate to, ensuring our furry friends who need a little bit of extra help are well supported. If you want to help out, we’ve put together a list of the top UK animal charities you can donate to. And if you fancy doing some fundraising, you can start a GoFundMe today to support one of these.
List of top UK animal charities
We’ve included a list of top animal charities in the UK – ranging from Guide Dogs to the WWF, the RSPCA or The Donkey Sanctuary. This list is based on YouGov data that measures the percentage of people who have a good opinion on the charities. If you think you’d like to raise money, take a look at our blog on how to fundraise for animals here or take a look at other top charities here.
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
- WWF – UK
- Guide Dogs
- RSPCA
- Dogs Trust
- PDSA
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
- Cats Protection
- The Donkey Sanctuary
- World Animal Protection
1. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have been supporting needy animals for the past 160 years. Along with looking after and rehoming cats and dogs from their centres, they also offer advice and expertise to support pet owners everywhere, campaign over animal welfare issues (including things like having pets in rental properties) and work with other rescues.
2. WWF – UK
The WWF is a conservation charity, looking at helping to preserve the habitat of animals across the globe. They are based in the UK – having a HQ in Woking along with offices in Edinburgh and Cardiff. They are working towards reducing carbon emissions to help preserve rivers, forests and seas. You can help to support the WWF with a one-off or monthly donation online.
3. Guide Dogs
For those who are blind or with sight loss, guide dogs can be absolutely life-changing. Guide Dogs has been an organisation training guide dogs since 1931. Once a guide dog is trained and homed, they stay with their owner until retirement. You can support Guide Dogs by donating, either as a monthly donation or a one-off or leaving money in your will. You can also volunteer to foster a puppy who will go on to be a trained guide dog.
4. RSPCA
The RSPCA is the oldest welfare charity around. They introduced a law to protect animals in relation to work – and their continued campaigning and on the ground care means that those who deliberately harm animals are prosecuted and standards are raised. The RSPCA also have centres across the UK which look after and rehome animals, rehabilitate and provide care when needed and they also offer advice to pet owners to make sure they are receiving what they need. You can help to support the RSPCA in a number of ways – by becoming a sponsor, leaving a gift in your will or donating online.
5. Dogs Trust
Dogs provide comfort, support, friendship and companionship for thousands of people across the UK. And Dogs Trust believe that all dogs deserve to live life to the full. Dogs Trust has been working since 1891 to try and make sure that any dog in distress is supported, through rehoming, rehabilitation and services offering advice to owners. They have 22 rehoming centres across the UK and Ireland and also a fostering scheme so that pups who haven’t found their forever family are loved and cared for. Along with donating to support Dogs Trust, you can become a foster carer, sponsor a dog or volunteer.
6. PDSA
The PDSA is a charity which helps to support pet owners who can’t afford medical care for their furry friends. They’ve been established for over 100 years, with 48 pet hospitals across the country. They also work in communities and schools to help educate the public about pet wellbeing, plus offering out information to pet owners about how to prevent their animals getting ill in the first place and to try and ensure they can live as healthily and happily as possible.
7. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a charity providing a vital lifeline to independence for those with hearing loss. They train dogs to alert their deaf owners to sounds they otherwise may miss – like smoke alarms, alarm clocks and even a baby crying. Their dogs can save lives and they’ve helped thousands of people live with the often isolating condition of deafness.
8. Cats Protection
Cats Protection helps thousands of cats every year – from helping to get kittens into loving homes to providing information about cat health and the importance of neutering. Cats Protection offers education on how to best care for cats, campaigns on feline rights and can also help with the cost of neutering cats, which leads to less unwanted pregnancies and abandoned kittens. Cats Protection have rehomed over two million kittens and cats in the 100 years they have been active.
9. The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in the 1960s when Dr Elisabeth Svendsen bought a donkey called Naughty Face. She fell in love and bought Naughty Face a friend – the first donkeys of around 20,000 which would come under The Donkey Sanctuary’s care. The Donkey Sanctuary has six centres caring for donkeys across the UK, providing rehabilitation and rehoming for donkeys in need. They also work internationally in Africa, South Asia and Latin America, educating owners on donkey welfare. They also have campaign work such as stopping the donkey skin trade. You can support The Donkey Sanctuary by adopting a donkey or donating online.
10. World Animal Protection
World Animal Protection – originally the WSPA – is working to take on the systems globally which fuel animal abuse – such as tourism which exploits animals, protecting their habitats and transforming the global food system for the protection of animals. You can donate online to support World Animal Protection.
Fundraise for animals on GoFundMe
Along with donating or sponsoring any of these charities, there’s also the option for you to start your own GoFundMe to benefit them. We’ve got a range of fundraising ideas here that could inspire you to get started – from a marathon for the RSPCA or a coffee morning for Cats Protection – the possibilities are endless.
Thousands of pounds get raised to support animal charities on GoFundMe each year and you can discover some animal fundraisers to support here.