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Animal charities in the UK

There are 3,606 registered charities in England and Wales working on animals. 1,965 of them (54%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year.

Updated from the Charity Commission register.

Animal charities rescue and rehome pets, care for injured wildlife, look after horses and donkeys, and help owners who are struggling with vet bills. A lot of this work is done by small rescues and sanctuaries that rely on volunteers.

If you love animals, there's very likely a rescue near you that would be glad of your support. Many need more than money too, like fosterers, dog walkers and drivers, so your help can be your time as well.

Find the animal charities that fit you

Answer a few short questions and we'll pick the few that really fit what matters to you, with the reasons why. It takes a couple of minutes, and we never ask for any contact details.

Get my personal shortlist

Rescue, rehoming and sanctuaries

1,032 of these charities say this is part of their work. Here are a few of them.

  1. Wildlife Rescue

    BH24 · Small charity, income under £100k

    To relieve the suffering of wildlife in the need of care and attention. In particular, to provide and maintain rescue homes or other facilities for the reception, care and treatment of such wildlife. To enable…

    Charity Commission record

  2. International Wildlife Coalition Trust

    TN8 · Income £100k to £1m

    The main aim of the charity is to promote animal welfare and prevent cruelty, with an emphasis on the Philippines. We rescue rehabilitate and rehome domestic animals, we finance and support a veterinary hospital in the…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  3. Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust

    GL5 · Income £100k to £1m

    Conservation and protection of the natural environment in Southern Africa by providing grants and undertaking research in connection with animal welfare and the environment, including educating the public. Providing…

    Charity Commission record

  4. Tails Animal Welfare

    L8 · Small charity, income under £100k

    We promote humane behaviour towards animals providing appropriate care, protection, treatment, rehabilitation and security for animals in need of rescue and attention due to abandonment, sickness, maltreatment, poor…

    Their website Charity Commission record

Wildlife rescue and care

488 of these charities say this is part of their work. Here are a few of them.

  1. Pumpkin's Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre

    WD3 · Income £100k to £1m

    (1) The advancement of animal welfare through the provision of veterinary and rehabilitative care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife for release back into its natural habitat where possible; and (2) The advancement…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  2. The Rose Animal Welfare Trust CIO

    YO42 · Income £100k to £1m

    We are a grant making trust supporting many animal & wildlife charities throughout the UK but primarily in Yorkshire & Humberside.Grants are made each May & November to both local organisations but also local branches…

    Charity Commission record

  3. Forget-me-not Environment, Wildlife and Animal Protection

    DN4 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Providing a home for unwanted animals and birds and trying to rehome them if possible. Undertaking the development, enhancement and protection of the local flora and fauna. Community work through running an organic…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  4. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent Folkestone and District Branch CIO

    TN24 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Managed by volunteer trustees - and reliant entirely on donations. We employ an Animal Welfare Officer, who works in the community supporting pet owners and answering call-outs to wildlife rescues. Our officer manages…

    Charity Commission record

Horses, ponies and donkeys

251 of these charities say this is part of their work. Here are a few of them.

  1. Mane Chance Sanctuary

    W2 · Income £100k to £1m

    To relieve the suffering of animals, in particular but not exclusively horses. We promote humane behaviour by providing appropriate care, protection, & security for animals which need attention by reason of sickness,…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  2. Albert's Horse Sanctuary

    S75 · Small charity, income under £100k

    To promote humane behaviour towards animals and in particular horses by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security for animlals which are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness,…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  3. Patricia Long-leather Trust

    KT13 · Income under £10k

    Within the limits of our resources furthering animal welfare mainly by donations to other charities in UK and overseas but also directly by helping feral cats and to a lesser extent dogs and horses.

    Charity Commission record

  4. Horse Aid Care Knowledge

    LL12 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Rescue - Rehabilitation - Education. The rescue of horses, ponies and donkeys, to relieve the suffering of these animals and to rehabilitate them. To provide all necessary facilities that is required to support this…

    Their website Charity Commission record

Vet care and animal welfare

771 of these charities say this is part of their work. Here are a few of them.

  1. Laboratory Animals Limited

    OX2 · Income £100k to £1m

    Publication of Peer review journal and granting of bursaries for animal welfare

    Their website Charity Commission record

  2. Vincentian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals in the UK

    SW13 · Small charity, income under £100k

    To promote compassionate behavior towards animals on the islands of St. Vincent and Grenadines, by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security for animals which are in need of care and attention by…

    Charity Commission record

  3. Animal Foodbank UK

    B97 · Income under £10k

    Animal Foodbank UK operates a pet foodbank, providing essential nutrition to pets whose owners struggle financially. We distribute pet food to ensure pets remain healthy and well-fed, alleviating financial burdens on…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  4. The Friends of the Rspca Millbrook Animal Centre

    GU24 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Fund raising events-animal welfare.

    Charity Commission record

Small charities worth knowing

1,965 animal charities have an income under £100,000 a year. Most are run by a few people, often volunteers, and few of them can afford to advertise. Here are some of them, each with recent accounts on the register.

  1. Snow Leopard Trust (UK) Limited

    OX14 · Income under £10k

    Supports activities for the preservation of the Snow Leopard in Asia.Although there was no expenditure in this financial year, £30 000 was sent for work in Mongolia in April 2018

    Their website Charity Commission record

  2. Dogstar Foundation (Legacy)

    WC2A · Income under £10k

    Improving the health and welfare of animals by provision of sterilisation, rabies vaccinations, veterinary care, feeding and education. As part of the change in a legal status to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  3. Retired Greyhounds South Lakes

    LA11 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Retired Greyhounds South Lakes finds permanent retirement homes for ex racing greyhounds.

    Their website Charity Commission record

  4. The Woodspring Trust

    GU1 · Income under £10k

    The Trust provides grants towards organisations and other charities and individuals which are concerned with the Trust's objects. The Trustees meet at least twice a year to discuss who should benefit from the grants,…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  5. Lipu-UK

    LN6 · Small charity, income under £100k

    LIPU-UK exists to support the work of LIPU - the BirdLife International partner in Italy. LIPU-UK works to raise both funds and awareness of the challenges faced by LIPU in its work for the protection and conservation…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  6. The Lotus Charitable Foundation

    W1G · Income under £10k

    To help orphaned children, assist with education, mental and physical healthcare, welfare of the elderly and animal welfare

    Their website Charity Commission record

  7. South Devon Hedgehog Hospital

    TQ12 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The object of the charity is to promote humane behaviour towards hedgehogs and other wildlife by providing care and medical treatment for the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs and other wildlife…

    Their website Charity Commission record

  8. Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

    TN31 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The charity supports all aspects of the management of the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex by providing finance, volunteer assistance, staff accommodation and advice. Meetings and events for members of the…

    Their website Charity Commission record

Find the animal charities that fit you

Answer a few short questions and we'll pick the few that really fit what matters to you, with the reasons why. It takes a couple of minutes, and we never ask for any contact details.

Get my personal shortlist

Animal charities by town

The towns and cities with the most animal charities, counted by where each charity is registered. London's number includes national charities with a head office there.

Somewhere else? Search by postcode.

Questions people ask

How many animal charities are there in the UK?

There are 3,606 registered charities in England and Wales working on animals. 1,965 of them (54%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year. The figures come from the Charity Commission register for England and Wales, last refreshed in October 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland keep their own registers, so their charities aren't counted here.

What do animal charities do?

Going by what they say about themselves on the register, the most common kinds of work are rescue, rehoming and sanctuaries (1,032 charities), vet care and animal welfare (771 charities), and wildlife rescue and care (488 charities). Many do more than one of these.

Which animal charity should I give to?

The one that fits what matters to you. Tell us a little about it and we'll pick the few charities that fit you best, with the reasons why. It's free, takes a couple of minutes, and we never ask for any contact details. No charity can pay to appear on your list.

Why give to a small charity working on animals?

Small charities run on very little, so a regular gift, however modest, helps them plan ahead. They're often rooted in one place, so you can get to know the people doing the work and see what your help does. Every charity listed on this page has an income under £1 million a year and has sent the Charity Commission accounts in the last two and a half years.

How can I check a charity is genuine?

Look it up on the Charity Commission register by its name or charity number. Its page there shows what it does, who its trustees are and its latest accounts. Every charity on this page links straight to its register record.

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