PET FAQ

As a branch we are entirely self-funded and rely on donations to keep our animal centre running. We therefore do not have the capacity to support members of the public with veterinary costs.

We understand how stressful it is when your pet is unwell and if you’re also worried about money this can make the situation feel worse. The longer your pet is unwell the worse their illness can become. Seeking advice quickly will likely reduce costs overall and be best for your pet’s health.

The first step towards helping your pet is contacting your local vet. It’s good to speak honestly with your vet about what you can afford as there may be alternative options.

Some charities can offer support with vet costs, these include: PDSA, Cat’s Protection and Dog’s Trust.

For further advice about your situation, please call the National RSPCA Advice Team on 0300 123 0650.

Did you know eight out of 10 dogs struggle when separated from their owner? So please know you are not alone if your pet is struggling with separation anxiety, or separation-related behaviours.

For more information on how to support your pet with separation anxiety please visit our separation-related behaviours blog post.

As an independent local branch, our priority is the cruelty cases brought into our care by the National RSPCA Inspectorate. We therefore have a waiting list for any members of the public wanting to rehome their pets with us.

If you would like to email hello@rspcahull.org.uk you will be sent an application form to complete. Once completed you will be placed on the waiting list and contacted if a space becomes available. Please note that spaces are not guaranteed and may not become available quickly.

It is a legal requirement to have any dog over the age of eight weeks microchipped and to keep your details up-to-date. It is also a dog breeder’s responsibility to ensure puppies are microchipped before selling them.

Cat owners now have until June 2024 to microchip their feline pets, before it becomes a legal requirement. These new rules mean cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach 20 weeks of age and their contact details must be kept up-to-date.

We can arrange for your pet to be microchipped at our branch for a discounted price. Please send an email to hello@rspcahull.org.uk to book a microchipping appointment. 

You can arrange for your local vet to microchip your dog. Prices will vary, but they’ll usually charge around £20.

When you begin toilet training, you need to give your dog plenty of opportunities to go to the toilet in an appropriate place. Take them out when they way up, after every meal, after playtime, before bed, before you leave them and when you come back, and then every 45 minutes.

If you notice your dog about to go in the wrong place, interrupt them but in a way that doesn’t punish them, e.g. calling their name. Take them calmly towards the correct place and give them lots of praise when they toilet there. Don’t shout, otherwise your dog may learn that it’s only safe to go when you’re not around.

For more information about toilet training, please see our blog post. 

Providing housing that meets your rabbits’ complex environmental and behavioural needs is an important part of responsible ownership. A traditional small hutch is not a suitable sole and permanent home for any rabbit, as it will not meet their needs for exercise and stimulation and could cause health and behavioural problems.

Rabbits are active animals, so they need to be able to hop, run, jump, dig and stand fully upright on their back legs. 

Unfortunately, we do not have an onsite vet at our branch and we therefore cannot provide any medical or health advice for your pets.

If you are concerned about your pet’s health, please contact your local vet immediately. 

You can also use the Vet Help Direct page, which allows you to find a local vet and/or input their symptoms.

If your pet suddenly develops a behaviour problem, you should contact your local vet. They will be able to check whether your pet is ill or injured, as this could be contributing to the behaviour changes.

Unfortunately, as a branch we cannot respond to reports of stray cats.

Please visit the National RSPCA website for further information on how you can help stray or lost cats. 

Tethering compromises a horse’s well-being and is not a practice we recommend, however tethering itself is not illegal in the UK. National RSPCA officers must work within the law, so they cannot be sent out to tethered horses unless the horse’s welfare is affected (e.g. an injury caused by improper tethering equipment).

If you have concerns about the wellbeing of a tethered horse, please contact the the National RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. A genuine animal welfare emergency is one where an animal that is sick, injured or trapped and it is not safe or suitable for a member of public to assist. Or where an animal is in a situation that results in risk to life or imminent danger of it being harmed.

Unfortunately we cannot respond to reports of animal cruelty, as we are a local independent branch who only have the capacity to rehabilitate and rehome the animals brought into our care.

Reports of animal cruelty and neglect must be directed to the National RSPCA Control Centre, who then send the National RSPCA’s Inspectorate team to respond.

If you suspect cruelty or neglect, please gather all the information you can about the situation and report this to the NCC’s cruelty line 0300 1234 999. Alternatively you can report online here.