Sometimes pets escape. And unfortunately, some pet owners believe it is kind to release their pets when they can no longer care for them. But pets in the wild can:
- find it stressful and hazardous, and face injury, disease, or death
- harm native wildlife, the environment, and even our health, if they survive and become invasive
You could be breaking the law if you release your pet into the wild.
To protect the welfare of native wildlife and your pets:
- Keep pets securely – make sure live food containers are secure too!
- Dispose of waste responsibly – your pet’s bedding and other materials could contain other plants and animals that could become invasive species.
- Rehome with care if you can no longer look after your animal – Don’t let them loose!
Keep pets securely
Enclosures
Does your pet have a suitable enclosure and is it safe and secure? Regularly check doors, lids, catches, locks and netting to ensure there’s no easy escape route for your animals when you’re not with them.
Can you microchip?
Consider microchipping your pet animal, or ringing your pet birds, so that it’s easier to be reunited if they escape and are found.
Consider neutering
Neutering your animals, or keeping same sex populations, will prevent unwanted young and means you don’t have to worry about what to do with additional animals.
Transporting pets
When taking your pet to the vet, for example, make sure the carrier you use is secure and stays in your sight to prevent escapes.
Live food
Live food can also be harmful if it escapes. Keep it in a secure container before use and make sure it can’t escape from your pet’s enclosure.
Sometimes pets escape!
Find out:
Dispose of waste responsibly
Your pet’s materials (for example food, bedding, and substrate) could contain plants and animals that could become invasive non-native species if they enter the wild. For example, live food, eggs, or young from your pet or other species that you keep with them, such as cleaner species in an aquarium or a naturalistic terrarium.
To prevent this:
- Place waste bedding and substrate (including plants) in a strong, sealed bag or container before disposing of it in the appropriate bin. If you can, treat it before you do this, by freezing it for 48 hours or baking it in an oven.
- Freeze used live food bags and tubs for 48 hours before disposing of them to ensure there is no surviving live food that could escape.
- Find out what to do if you find a ‘hitchhiker’ (something that shouldn’t be there).
If you have an aquarium
Empty used aquarium water onto your lawn or flowerbed, or into the sink or toilet if you don’t have access to a garden. Do not empty it into or near outdoor drains, ponds, or other watercourses.
Dispose of unwanted aquatic plants responsibly, for example by adding them to your garden compost or using them as mulch (away from waterbodies or drains) - do not wash them down drains or place them in rivers or other waterbodies as they could become invasive. Check out the Be Plant Wise campaign for more information.
Check any aquatic plants you remove for ‘hitchhikers’, such as crustacea, molluscs or cleaner species and return these to your aquarium or place them in a sealed container and freeze for at least 48 hours before disposing of them. View more information on what to do if you find a ‘hitchhiker’.
A care sheet with more information on disposing of ‘hitchhikers’ and decontaminating your aquarium is also available from the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA).
Rehome with care
If you are no longer able to care for your pet, you should ensure it goes to a suitable new home. You must not release it as:
- abandoning your animal in the wild could cause it to suffer and may harm native wildlife
- you could be breaking the law.
What to do with a pet you can no longer look after
If your pet is a species of special concern there are specific considerations that you must check here:
- England and Wales: Invasive non-native (alien) animal species: rules in England and Wales - GOV.UK
- Scotland: Legislation and responsibilities.
Otherwise, you could:
- give your animal to another keeper
- sell it as a pet
- pass it to a rescue and rehoming centre (see examples of organisations that may be able to help rehome your animal below).
Organisations that may be able to help rehome your animal
- The organisation or seller you adopted / purchased your animal from, who may be able to take the animal back from you.
- A local rescue centre or rehoming service, for example:
- A local pet shop, zoo, vet, charity, or animal college.
- A hobby group or society that specialises in the type of animal you have, for example:
- Birds: Parrot Society UK
- Mammals: Specialist Wildlife Services.
- Reptiles: British Chelonia Group (for tortoises, turtles and terrapins) International Herpetological Society.
If you are taken into hospital or care
If you can't look after your pet because you've been taken into hospital or care, see if there are any friends or family who can assist. Social workers may be able to give you advice about pet care while you are in hospital. Your local social services department has a duty to protect your property if you are admitted to hospital. This includes any pets, if there is no one else to take care of them. You may be charged for this service.
If none of the options above are possible
If none of the options above are possible then you may need to consider taking the animal to a vet to be put to sleep.
Guidance on humane euthanasia for exotic species is available for veterinarians from UK-VET Companion Animal, and for ornamental fish from the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association’s website.
Links to guidance on choosing a pet
- How to Buy a Pet
- Pet Know-How - take a test and receive a certificate to demonstrate to sellers that you understand the responsibility you are taking on.