In the excitement of preparing for a holiday or weekend away, don't forget to make arrangements for your pets. It can take time to sort out their care, so you should always do this well in advance.
 

If you are not taking your pet with you when you go away they will still need looking after when you’re not there. Never leave your pet on their own without a responsible person to care for them, you must make sure they get the care they need. When someone else is looking after your pet they too have a legal responsibility to ensure its welfare and you should ensure that they understand your pet's needs and any special requirements that they may have.

There are a number of options to ensure your pet is cared for when you are away. You can leave them with friends or family, have a pet-sitter or take them to a boarding establishment. For information on all these options read our Keeping pets safe while you are away (225KB) factsheet.

If you decide that you would like to take your pet on holiday with you, see our information on Taking your pet on holiday.

It is a criminal offence to leave any animal without making proper arrangements for their welfare.