All items · Other
Pet food, medicines and used pet bedding
Also covers: dog food, cat food, pet medication, flea treatment, pet bed
It depends
3 say no, 1 will consider it. Evidence: 4 direct.
Why shops refuse it
Food hygiene rules cover pet food too, and pet medicines can't be resupplied — even unopened.
What to do instead
Animal shelters take unopened, in-date pet food directly, and vets can dispose of pet medicines.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell
Their wording
“Pet equipment”
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Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Used animal beds and cages”
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Can't accept
Willen Hospice
Their wording
“Used pet supplies”
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Check first
Woodgreen Pets Charity
Only unopened, in-date pet food is accepted (no raw pet food); pet medications are never accepted even if unopened; pet toys and beds are welcomed.
Their wording
“we don't accept any medication, even if unopened”
Not mentioned in 40 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned British Heart Foundation
- Not mentioned British Red Cross
- Not mentioned Cancer Research UK
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Cornwall Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned DEBRA
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Dorothy House
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned FARA Charity Shops
- Not mentioned Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Overgate Hospice
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Princess Alice Hospice
- Not mentioned Salvation Army (SATCoL)
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shaw Trust
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- Not mentioned St Christopher's Hospice
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned Sue Ryder
- Not mentioned The Children's Trust
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Not mentioned Wales Air Ambulance
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)