THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS
Founded in 1917, PDSA is the UK's leading veterinary charity. Our mission is to improve the life of every pet. We prevent illness, suffering and unnecessary death of pets; educate people about their welfare needs, and treat pets needing our help across the UK. In 2018 we provided 2.5 million treatments to more than 430,000 pets. Our services are funded entirely by public support.
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY ARE: A) THE PROVISION OF FREE MEDICAL OR SURGICAL TREATMENT, OR SUCH TREATMENT AT REDUCED CHARGES, TO ANIMALS BELONGING TO PERSONS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE SERVICES OF A VETERINARY SURGEON;B) THE PREVENTION OF SUFFERING OF ANIMALS BY THE PROVISION OF PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT, CARE AND ADVICE (WHETHER FREE, AT A REDUCED CHARGE OR AT FULL CHARGE); C) THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN MATTERS CONCERNING ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE IN GENERAL; D) THE ADVANCEMENT OF ANIMAL WELFARE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY OTHER MEANS.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that PDSA reported a net income of £7.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2025, driven largely by a £5 million actuarial gain on its defined benefit pension scheme. Free reserves stood at £77.6 million, which is above the Trustees' stated policy range of £45 million to £60 million, providing significant headroom for future operations.
What the accounts disclose
“The basic salary of the Director General, who is the highest paid employee, was £183,656 as at 31 December 2025” — page 26
“Legacy income represents 63% of our net income available for charitable activities (2024: 68% - 2024 legacy income included an exceptional £9.1 million legacy gift from Mr Ionescu).”
“The table above shows that the cost of raising donations and legacy income overall from our supporters decreased from 10p per pound (£) in 2024 to 9p per pound in 2025.”
“Council has determined that the level of free reserves needed should fall within the range £45 million to £60 million. The policy should allow continuity for a minimum period of 18 months and for a maximum of three years.”
“Trading activities are carried out through three wholly owned subsidiary companies: PDSA Trading Limited, PDSA PetAid Enterprises Limited and PDSA Property Services Limited.”
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 1,950
- Employees paid over £60,000: 68 (£60,001–£70,000: 37; £70,001–£80,000: 14; £80,001–£90,000: 8; £90,001–£100,000: 3; £100,001–£110,000: 2; £110,001–£120,000: 1; £130,001–£140,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 1; £200,001–£250,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 2,000
- Government income: £35,000 — grants £35,000 (1); under 1% of the £128,887,000 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 76 (£60,001–£70,000: 43; £70,001–£80,000: 16; £80,001–£90,000: 6; £90,001–£100,000: 5; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £110,001–£120,000: 2; £130,001–£140,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 1; £200,001–£250,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 2,800
- Government income: £4,000 — grants £4,000 (1); under 1% of the £113,975,000 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 59 (£60,001–£70,000: 31; £70,001–£80,000: 13; £80,001–£90,000: 9; £90,001–£100,000: 1; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £120,001–£130,000: 1; £130,001–£140,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 1; £200,001–£250,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
In the news
- Donate to help People's Dispensary for Sick Animals with its excellent work
- Four Paws, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals embark on dog sterilisation drive
- Chips' People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal [Image 1 of 3]
- Maria Dickin and the history of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals
Corporate structure
- Trading subsidiary: PDSA TRADING LIMITED Companies House 01595637
- Trading subsidiary: PDSA PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED Companies House 02340793
- Trading subsidiary: PDSA PETAID ENTERPRISES LIMITED Companies House 04374375
- Turnover: £12.1m
- Profit before tax: £2.8m
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £2.8m
- The subsidiary has significant intercompany liabilities to the parent charity, which are interest-free and repayable on demand.
“The Directors report a profit for the financial year of £2,831,010 (2024: £2,057,448) and a payment under a charitable deed of covenant, under the Gift Aid scheme, to PDSA of £2,831 ,010 (2024: £2,057,448)”
- Turnover: £372k
- Profit before tax: £41k
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £41k
- Amounts due to parent of £22,120 (2024: £61,129) are interest free and repayable on demand. Additionally, staff costs and shared directors' costs are recharged/allocated from the parent charity.
“a payment under a charitable deed of covenant, under the Gift Aid scheme, to The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) of £41,159”
- Profit before tax: £198k
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £109k
“The Company makes a qualifying donation of all taxable profits to The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals net of any Corporation Tax liability.”
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (23/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (28/08/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (20/06/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (02/06/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (14/05/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (04/03/2025)
Trustees
- DAVID BRODIE LISTER
- David Morgan BSc Hons
- Elaine Deste
- Elizabeth Ruth Hutchinson BA Hons
- GORDON ANDREW HOCKEY
- Hannah Vickers
- Helen McEachern
- Ian Phoenix
- JOHN CHARLES MILLER
- MARY MARGARET REILLY
- Professor Gary England
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £126.2m | £125.6m |
| 31/12/2024 | £128.9m | £122.3m |
| 31/12/2023 | £114.0m | £114.5m |
| 31/12/2022 | £106.6m | £105.1m |
| 31/12/2021 | £105.4m | £91.7m |
Common questions
Is THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that PDSA reported a net income of £7.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2025, driven largely by a £5 million actuarial gain on its defined benefit pension scheme. Free reserves stood at £77.6 million, which is above the Trustees' stated policy range of £45 million to £60 million, providing significant headroom for future operations. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BDO LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £183,656 band.
Who funds THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS as a grant recipient include THE VIOLET TRUST, KENNETH MAURICE WILLIAMS WILL TRUST, THE HARRY BACON FOUNDATION, THE MACKAY AND BREWER CHARITABLE TRUST, THE LOPPYLUGS AND BARBARA MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 18/02/2025 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2025 |
| Postcode Lottery | 18/02/2025 | £15k | Win Win with Postcode Lottery |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2024 |
| Postcode Lottery | 24/11/2023 | £1.0m | A Happier Christmas - PDSA |
| Postcode Lottery | 02/11/2023 | £50k | Millionaire Street 2023 10w3 |
| Postcode Lottery | 29/03/2023 | £3.1m | Regular Grant 2023 |
| Postcode Lottery | 16/03/2022 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2022 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/11/2006 | £50k | Restoration of the Ilford PDSA animal cemetery |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| GRAFF FOUNDATION | 1 | £114k |
| THE SERTH AND GATES CHARITY | 1 | £91k |
| THE GERRICK ROSE ANIMAL TRUST | 1 | £54k |
| THE CELIA BLAKEY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £50k |
| Army Benevolent Fund | 1 | £42k |
| THE HARDY FOUNDATION | 1 | £23k |
| RJ AND AH DANIELS CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £22k |
| TOBY AND REGINA WYLES CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
Charities like this
- DISPENSARIO PORTUGUES DE SAUDE A ANIMAIS
- ANIMAL RESCUE
- BATTERSEA DOGS' AND CATS' HOME
- SERVICE DOGS UK
- BRITISH SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE PEOPLE'S DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS | £126.2m | £183,656 | — | unclear | 9.0% | no doubt |
| DISPENSARIO PORTUGUES DE SAUDE A ANIMAIS | £23k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ANIMAL RESCUE | £576k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BATTERSEA DOGS' AND CATS' HOME | £68.4m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SERVICE DOGS UK | £263k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BRITISH SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION | £6.2m | £110,947 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |