Welfare of Companion Animals During Owner Hospitalization

When owners are suddenly hospitalized, companion animals face abandonment, shelter surrender, or inadequate care — a welfare crisis that affects millions of animals annually.

Key Facts

Hospital admission is a leading cause of owner surrender to animal shelters in many countries
Animals left without care during owner emergencies may go without food and water for days
Pets confiscated from neglect situations linked to owner illness often have significant health problems
Hospital social workers rarely have protocols for companion animal welfare during patient admission
Programs like Elderdog and similar initiatives provide emergency fostering for companion animals of hospitalized owners

Welfare Considerations

The welfare connection between human health crises and companion animal welfare is underappreciated in both healthcare and animal welfare systems. When an owner has a stroke, falls, or is hospitalized without advance planning, their animals may suffer for days before anyone notices. Building companion animal emergency planning into healthcare intake processes — asking patients about their animals and connecting them with emergency fostering resources — is a simple intervention with significant welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Create an animal emergency plan that designates a carer for your pets if you are hospitalized
Support organizations providing emergency companion animal fostering for hospitalized owners
Advocate for hospitals and social services to include companion animal welfare in patient intake
Donate to programs that prevent shelter surrender linked to owner health crises