05.08.26
Every day, animal rescue centres provide food, shelter and care for animals in need. But with rising costs and increasing numbers of animals needing help, many rescues are under more pressure than ever.
This World Animal Day on 4 October, you can make a real difference by taking part in Donate a Dinner, a simple campaign encouraging people to support their local rescue centres by donating pet food, treats or other essential supplies.
Launching Donate a Dinner 2026
To launch this year’s campaign, the Naturewatch Foundation team visited Teckels Animal Sanctuaries in Gloucestershire, where we donated enough food to provide a meal for every animal currently in their care.
You can read more about our visit here!
How to get involved
Taking part couldn’t be easier.
Before visiting your chosen rescue centre, check which food or supplies they need most. Every rescue is different, and many will share wish lists on their website or social media.
You could:
- Donate tins, pouches or bags of pet food.
- Purchase items from a rescue’s online wishlist.
- Donate treats, bedding or cleaning supplies.
- Give the cost of a meal through the rescue’s website.
- Encourage friends, family or colleagues to donate too.
Make your donation on or in the lead-up to World Animal Day on 4 October.
Participating rescue centres
This year, the following rescue centres in the UK are taking part in Donate a Dinner:
- Animal Concern Cumbria (Cumbria)
- Bath Dogs and Cats Home (Bath, Somerset)
- Cats in Distress (Bournemouth, Dorset)
- Cheltenham Animal Shelter (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)
- Chilterns Dog Rescue Society (Wendover, Buckinghamshire)
- Greenacres Rescue (Pembrokeshire, Wales)
- Guernsey SPCA (Guernsey, Channel Islands)
- Here for Cats (Southampton, Hampshire)
- Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary (Bristol)
- Labrador Lifeline Trust (National – UK-wide)
- Last Chance Animal Rescue (Kent)
- Leicester Animal Aid (Leicester, Leicestershire)
- Margaret Green Animal Rescue (Dorset & Devon)
- Mayflower Sanctuary (Plymouth, Devon)
- Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter (Newcastle upon Tyne)
- Oak Tree Animals’ Charity (Carlisle, Cumbria)
- One Wish Dog Foundation (Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire)
- People for Animal Care Trust (Norfolk)
- Portsmouth Cats Lost, Found & Re-homed (Portsmouth)
- RSPCA Central London Branch (London)
- RSPCA Coventry & District Branch (Coventry, Warwickshire)
- RSPCA Manchester & Salford Branch (Manchester & Salford)
- Saints Sled Dog Rescue (County Durham)
- Teckels Animal Sanctuaries (Gloucestershire)
Don’t see your local rescue listed? You can still support them by asking to donate as part of our Donate a Dinner campaign!
Share your kindness
We’d love to see your donations!
Take a photo of your food or supply donation and share it on social media using #DonateADinner and #WorldAnimalDay to inspire others to get involved.
Together, we can help ensure rescue animals receive the care they deserve, one bowl at a time!
