In the absence of clear guidance from government or regulators on pets and companion animals in residential care settings, Care England, has produced new guidance in partnership with RSPCA.
This guidance aims to provide clarity to care providers across the country, enabling meaningful animal interaction in care settings, while maintaining effective and proportionate infection prevention and control (IPC) and sustaining high standards of animal welfare.
This guidance focuses on pets, companion and community animals (referred to as “animals”) in residential care homes, which aims to ensure that:
- Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are robust and proportionate
- High standards of animal welfare are upheld
- Resident wellbeing, choice, and quality of life and promoted
A short message from RSPCA
At the RSPCA, we believe that compassion should shape every aspect of our lives – not just in how we treat each other, but in how we treat all animals. That belief underpins our work across communities, policy, and frontline enforcement. It is also what brings us proudly together with Care England in co-authoring this important guidance.
We are grateful to Care England for their leadership on this issue and to the many individuals who have contributed their expertise. Together, we hope this work can inspire a shared commitment to kindness and ensure that wherever animals are present in care settings, their welfare is protected, promoted, and improved.
This guidance details the following considerations
- Companion animal(s)
- Community animal(s)
- Exotic & wild animals
- Family pets visiting care settings
- Unsuitable community owned animals
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
Staff and Recruitment Considerations
Care providers must conduct thorough risk assessments and are responsible for high standards of welfare for both animals and those who reside in, work at, or visit the care service, in line with the ethos of risk-enabled person-centered care, that respects the values of the one health, one welfare principle.
Conclusion
Care England and RSPCA recognise that no everyone will agree with some of the points made. However, due to a void of clarity from government, and until guidance is produced for the care sector, we hope this guidance will help care leaders make the choices on animal welfare and the positive impacts they provide to care home residents who use the services.