Animal charities

PDSA - cares for the animals of needy people by providing free veterinary care to their sick and injured pets and by promoting responsible pet ownership.

RSPCA - works tirelessly to promote kindness and prevent cruelty to animals.

Blue Cross - aims to ensure the welfare of companion animals by providing practical care, highlighting the benefits of companionship between animals and people, and promoting responsibility towards animals in the community.

Animal Aid & Advice (North London) - a North London charity that finds homes for homeless animals. They mainly deal with cats and rabbits but also help other unwanted animals.

Cats Protection - Cats Protection, the UK's oldest and largest feline charity, rescues and rehomes unwanted and abandoned cats, and promotes responsible cat ownership.

Cat Chat - facilitates the rehoming of unowned cats and kittens nationally through cat rescue groups, and promotes kindness to all animals.

• Cat Chat UK database of rescue and rehoming centres

Celia Hammond Animal Trust - provides low cost neuter/vaccination clinics for animals belonging to people on benefit or unable to afford private veterinary fees and rescues and rehomes animals.

The Alternative Sanctuary - The Alternative Sanctuary is a non-profit making organisation, which cares for abandoned and unwanted animals. They are looking for volunteers to help especially with looking after the 30 old horses there; also to help raise funds.

Pethunters - an organisation dedicated to reuniting much loved missing pets with their worried owners

Volunteer and charity umbrella organisations

Charity Choice - provides links to thousands of UK charities and non-profit organisations who can provide information on all aspects of charity work, from charity formation, fundraising and events to voluntary work and numerous other issues and causes.

Do-it - the only national database of volunteering opportunities in the UK.