00WHAT THE LAW AND VETS SAY

Five needs,
one promise.

A dog resting on a soft bed beside a sunny window in a calm living room — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Every pet comes with a legal duty of care.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 lists five needs that owners in England and Wales must meet, from a suitable home to protection from disease. Most owners have heard of the law; far fewer can name the five.

5 NEEDSevery pet, every dayUpdated 16 October 2026

See what owners do

01Principles

A safe home
The right food and water
Company, or space apart
Good practice, written into law

02THE SHORT ANSWER

Meet all five,
not just the obvious two.

Food and shelter come to mind first.
The law asks for more than that.

THE LAW

Five needs in one section

Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 lists a suitable environment, a suitable diet, normal behaviour, the right company and protection from pain, injury and disease.

What owners do

DIET

Water at all times

The government's dog code says dogs need fresh, clean water at all times, and that foods like grapes, raisins, chocolate or onions can be harmful or even fatal.

Daily habits

BEFORE YOU BUY

Count the cost first

In PDSA's 2024 survey, only 24% of owners looked into the cost of owning a pet before choosing one.

See the numbers

03BEFORE THE PET CAME HOME

What did owners
do first?

Pick a step to see how many UK pet owners took it before choosing their pet. The bar shows how common the step was in PDSA's 2024 survey.

Based on the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2024, a nationally representative YouGov survey of UK dog, cat and rabbit owners.

Owner check

Choose a stepSaw the puppy with its mumLooked on the internetLooked into the costAsked a vet or vet nurseDid nothing first

Saw the puppy with its mum75% of dog owners

Among owners who got a dog from a UK breeder, 75% saw it with its mum first. PDSA calls this a vital step.

Looked on the internet33% of owners

A third of owners looked online before choosing their pet. 9% looked on social media, where PDSA warns reliability is hard to judge.

Looked into the cost24% of owners

Up from 18% in 2022, but still low. PDSA's 2023 report found 60% of owners underestimate the minimum monthly cost of a pet.

Asked a vet or vet nurse9% of owners

The highest share in the seven years the question was asked, up from 5% in 2017, but still fewer than one in ten.

Did nothing first13% of owners

Down from 19% in February 2020. Cat owners were the most likely to have done nothing beforehand, at 18%.

Source: PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2024, Pet Acquisition.

04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Half of us have a pet,
few can name its needs.

One figure on how common pets are,
one on how well owners know the five needs.

51%

UK adults who own a pet

PDSA estimates 10.6 million pet dogs, 10.8 million pet cats and 800,000 pet rabbits live in the UK. 28% of adults own a dog and 24% a cat.

PET OWNERSHIP · PDSA 2024

13%

Owners who identified all five needs

In PDSA's 2018 report, only 13% of owners correctly identified all five welfare needs from a list. The companionship need was spotted by just 18%.

KNOWING THE NEEDS · PDSA 2018

The same 2018 report found just 38% of owners said they were familiar with the Animal Welfare Acts.

05FOUR HABITS FROM THE CODE

Good practice,
day to day.

These come from the government's code of practice for the welfare of dogs, which explains how to meet each need in everyday terms.

Keep fresh water down
Dogs need clean drinking water at all times. Carry some on walks where clean water is unlikely to be available.
Give a quiet place to rest
Provide a clean, dry, draught-free rest area, and somewhere your dog can go to avoid things that frighten it.
Make time to explore
A dog needs regular chances to walk, run, explore, play, sniff and investigate. The amount varies with age, breed and health.
Plan for when you are away
You stay legally responsible while away. Leave your pet only with someone who can meet its welfare needs.

A kitchen table with a closed notebook, a new dog lead and a pet carrier, ready for a new pet — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

06THE FORGOTTEN NEED

Company,
or space apart.

Hands setting down a bowl of fresh water and a bowl of food on a kitchen floor as a cat watches — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

The law says an animal needs to be housed with, or apart from, other animals. In PDSA's 2018 survey this was the least recognised need, and 29% of owners wrongly believed human company mattered more to pets than suitable contact with their own species.

Under the Act you are responsible for your pet's needs at all times, and a parent or guardian is responsible for any animal looked after by a child under 16. Failing to meet the needs or causing unnecessary suffering can lead to prosecution.

07Questions

Questions people ask

What are the five welfare needs?

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 lists the need for a suitable environment, a suitable diet, to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, to be housed with or apart from other animals, and to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Does the law apply to every pet?

GOV.UK says the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the principal animal welfare law, protecting all vertebrate animals. Section 9, the duty of care, applies in England and Wales.

What happens if an owner does not meet them?

GOV.UK says anyone who does not comply with the Act may be banned from owning animals, face an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 5 years.

Who is responsible when a child looks after a pet?

The government's dog code says a parent or guardian is responsible for any animal that a child under 16 looks after.

Are human foods safe to share with a dog?

Not always. The dog code says meals designed for people may not give balanced nutrition, and grapes, raisins, chocolate or onions can be harmful or even fatal. Ask a vet if unsure.

08Sources

Five needs,
one promise.