The Canine Care Card is Dogs Trust’s free service giving dog owners peace of mind about what happens to their dog if they become seriously ill or pass away. Dogs Trust promise to take the dog in, help them settle, and find them a new home.

Their own application page is headed “Apply for a free Canine Care Card”. You fill in your details online, then receive an email asking about your dog and your wishes, and once accepted your card is emailed to you to print and keep in your wallet (they will post a copy if you have no printer). You are also asked to leave instructions in your will.

Applicants must be 18 or over, and the scheme covers dogs resident in the UK, including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.