How does the USPCA help pet owners in Northern Ireland?

The USPCA provides pet parcels with food and essentials to food banks for owners facing financial hardship.

What is the Pet Parcel Scheme?

It's a service run by the USPCA that supplies necessary items to keep pets with owners experiencing poverty.

Who provided funding for the USPCA's pet support service?

The National Lottery Community Fund awarded a £20,000 grant to support and expand the Pet Parcel Scheme.

Home / Lifestyle / Pets Stay Home: Charity's Lifeline for Needy Owners

Pets Stay Home: Charity's Lifeline for Needy Owners

20 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Animal charity receives funding to expand pet support services.
Nearly 8,000 pet parcels are supplied annually to food banks.
Support ensures pets remain with owners facing financial hardship.

Pets Stay Home: Charity's Lifeline for Needy Owners

The Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has secured essential funding to bolster its Pet Parcel Scheme, a lifeline for vulnerable pet owners in Northern Ireland. This service, now enhanced by a £20,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, provides nearly 8,000 pet parcels each year. These parcels contain food, blankets, and other basic necessities distributed through local food banks, ensuring pets receive care despite their owners' financial struggles.

The initiative directly addresses the heartbreaking reality of owners needing to surrender pets due to economic hardship. Food banks report instances of individuals on benefits and those facing mental health challenges being able to keep their animals thanks to this support. USPCA chief executive Heather Weir emphasized the profound importance of pets for companionship and emotional well-being, particularly during challenging times.