The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - the UK's largest animal welfare charity. We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome hundreds of thousands of animals each year in England and Wales. We offer advice on caring for all animals and campaign to change laws that will protect them, which we will enforce through prosecution. Our work relies on your support, so get involved or donate today. You can make a difference.

1. Elderly Animal
Rehoming Scheme

2. Rehoming elderly animals...
It's a sad fact that rehoming some of the elderly
animals that come into our care can be a difficult
process. But the Elderly Animal Rehoming Scheme
(EARS) aims to change this by pairing older animals
with appropriate new owners.

3. About EARS
Many potential pet owners can be reluctant to take on
an older animal due to fears of increased demands on
time and money. EARS is designed to help alleviate
these worries.

4. How it all started…
The scheme was the brainchild of the RSPCA Halifax,
Huddersfield and District Branch after staff and
trustees vowed to find a new lease of life for their
elderly animals.

5. Assurances offered by EARS
EARS offers owners a range of assurances, including:
• discounted vet visits and food
• help with transport
• a vital 24-hour phone number to call in case of an
emergency.

6. Benefits for new owners
New owners under the scheme will also be given an ID
card, which qualifies their pet for a range of benefits,
including annual booster vaccinations, health checks,
routine worming tablets and flea treatments.

7. Small contribution of £5
All the branch asks for in
return is a small
contribution of £5 a
month, and that the new
owners provide the love,
care and attention the
animals deserve.

8. Expanding the scheme
Our Putney Animal Hospital in south-west London has
adopted a similar scheme. Putney Pensioners aims to find
loving new homes for elderly or disabled cats, whilst giving
owners total peace of mind by covering costs of all the
medical treatment carried out at the hospital.

9. Transforming animals' and
owners' twilight years
EARS provides invaluable
companionship for animals
and owners, particularly for
elderly people who may live
alone or who have recently
lost a loved one, and the
scheme has received the
backing of Help the Aged and
Age Concern.

10. For more information visit RSPCA