New charity alliance sets out to help thousands of people and pets experiencing homelessness across the UK

The alliance, funded by a Battersea grant, will aim to directly help thousands of pet dogs, cats and other companion animals with preventative, routine and emergency vet care over the next five years.

With an estimated 300,000 people in the UK experiencing homelessness and as many as 25 per cent of those people owning a pet, this new strategic partnership will play a vital role in supporting people and their pets experiencing homelessness in local communities across the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall.

StreetVet, with Battersea’s support, will expand its volunteering outreach programme to deliver free veterinary care to pets and people experiencing homelessness. This includes people who are sleeping rough or outside, in temporary accommodation, living in insecure housing such as staying with friends and ‘sofa surfing’, or those applying for and receiving support from their local authority. 

There are currently more than 300 vets and veterinary nurses volunteering at 23 existing StreetVet locations across the UK, providing free food, pet essentials, and veterinary check-ups and preventative treatment for pets as well as building trust and providing reassurance to pet owners.

The StreetVet and Battersea alliance will work towards setting up further outreaches in new locations, almost doubling the support for pets and their owners experiencing homelessness in communities across the UK. 

Peter Laurie, Chief Executive at Battersea, said: “With ongoing cost of living challenges and tragically high levels of homelessness in this country, we’re proud to be launching this alliance with StreetVet to expand their vital services. By working together many more pets and people experiencing homelessness will be able to access essential veterinary care and life-changing support, and in doing so we’ll be helping to preserve the incredibly special human-animal bond.”

Zoe Abbotts, CEO at StreetVet said, "We are thrilled to announce the new alliance between StreetVet and Battersea. This alliance opens up exciting opportunities for us to work together in supporting more pets and their owners experiencing homelessness across the UK. The alliance will enable StreetVet to extend our reach to more locations, something we have been unable to achieve until now due to limited resources. We recognise the nationwide demand for our vital support and are committed to expanding our services to meet this need. In these challenging times, our mission to keep pets healthy, happy and by their owner's side is more crucial than ever."

Jade Statt, Co-Founder and Clinical Director at StreetVet said “Battersea has been part of the StreetVet story from the very beginning, and I am excited to see the next chapter of that story unfold. This alliance will level up the special relationship between StreetVet and Battersea and provide important new opportunities for us to reach more pets and their owners experiencing homelessness and deliver the essential care they need and deserve.”

The two charities have already worked together for a number of years, including Battersea funding the growth of the StreetVet Accredited Hostel Scheme, which provides training and support for hostels and temporary accommodation providers to become pet inclusive.

StreetVet and Battersea commissioned Homeless Link in 2024 to conduct a report to explore how pet ownership impacts homelessness in the UK.

Evidence highlights a significant gap in the availability of pet inclusive accommodation in the UK. The report shares that out of 960 homelessness accommodation-based services listed in the Homeless England database, only 21 per cent report that they accept dogs. There is no information available for other pets.       

Estimates of pet ownership among those experiencing homelessness in England suggest that between 10-25 per cent of homelessness service users have pets.  With less than 10 per cent of homeless hostels in the UK currently accepting pets, introducing a pet inclusive initiative is helping more people and pets experiencing homelessness to access accommodation and stay together.

For further information, images or interviews please contact press@battersea.org.uk 

ENDS

Notes to editors 

• The alliance between StreetVet and Battersea builds on StreetVet’s existing work to further improve access to veterinary care services for people and pets experiencing homelessness.
• The alliance will aim to directly help over 4,000 pet dogs, cats and other companion animals with preventative, routine and emergency vet care over the next five years.
• StreetVet, supported by Battersea will be able to reach more vulnerable people by delivering free street-based veterinary care across the UK.
• Alliance initiatives include facilitating access to wider support services, improving awareness of pet inclusive accommodation and supporting clients and pets into independent living.
• The alliance will also establish an advisory panel, which will unite representatives from homelessness services, housing providers, animal welfare organisations and local authorities to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness with their pets.
• The alliance is focused on delivering care for cats and dogs, but StreetVet offers tailored support for all companion animals. 

About Battersea: 

• At Battersea we offer our love and expert care to dogs and cats who need us by rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals at our centres, and by sharing our knowledge and resources with other organisations around the world. We do this because we want to help every dog and cat, everywhere.  
• In 2024 Battersea directly cared for 2,766 dogs and 2,454 cats at our three centres. We also helped thousands more through campaigning work, supporting other rescues and animal welfare advocates, and sharing knowledge and advice with pet owners.
• Battersea has three centres based in London; Old Windsor, Berkshire; and Brands Hatch, Kent.
• To find out more visit our website or follow Battersea on X @battersea_ , Instagram @battersea, Facebook facebook.com/Battersea and TikTok @battersea.  

About StreetVet: 

• Since 2016 StreetVet has supported the health and lives of over 3,200 pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness.
• There are now more than 300 vets and veterinary nurses volunteering for StreetVet throughout the UK.
• StreetVet vets and veterinary nurses, working with outreach organisations, are out in multiple communities across the UK weekly.
• StreetVet currently has 23 outreach locations across the UK from Scotland to Cornwall.
• The StreetVet Accredited Hostel & Day Centre Scheme has trained more than 165  staff, supported more than 270 pets and helped more than 70 pets and owners into independent living since it started in 2020.
• To find out more visit our website or follow StreetVet on Instagram @streetvetuk_, Facebook @streetvet and LinkedIn @streetvet 
   

References: 
Laine, L. Morris, N. Homeless Link 2024, Improving outcomes for pet owners experiencing homelessness: An evidence-base for Battersea and StreetVet.