Can I foster if I have pets at home?

Your fostering assessment will consider how each pet forms part of your household and whether suitable arrangements can be made for the safety and wellbeing of both the child and the animal. The decision is based on the circumstances of your home, your pets’ behaviour and the needs of children who may be placed with you, rather than on simply owning a pet.

You should provide full information about the animals you keep, including their species, age, health, temperament and usual routines. The fostering service may ask about:

• how your pet behaves around unfamiliar adults and children;
• any history of aggression, biting, scratching, escaping or destructive behaviour;
• how the animal responds to noise, sudden movements and changes in routine;
• where the pet sleeps, eats and spends time in the home;
• how hygiene, cleaning and veterinary care are managed; and
• whether the animal’s needs could conflict with the supervision and care a foster child requires.

It is important to disclose incidents involving your pet, even if they happened some time ago or you believe they were minor. Withholding relevant information can make it harder for the fostering service to assess risks properly. Be open about any previous bites, attacks, complaints, escapes or concerns raised by a vet, trainer or another professional.

Children’s individual needs will be considered. Some children may be frightened of animals, have allergies, have experienced harm involving pets or struggle to understand boundaries. Others may benefit from living alongside an animal. A fostering service will consider whether a particular pet is appropriate for a particular child, so approval does not mean that every child could automatically be placed in your home.

You may need a clear household plan for managing contact between the child and your pets. This could include:

• supervising all interactions until the child’s behaviour and comfort around the animal are understood;
• providing spaces where the child and pet can be separated safely;
• teaching the child how to approach, touch and feed the animal appropriately;
• keeping food, litter, medication and equipment away from children where necessary;
• maintaining cleaning and handwashing routines; and
• arranging alternative care for the pet if supervision or separation cannot be managed safely.

Dogs and cats are considered individually, but the same principle applies to birds, rabbits, reptiles, horses, livestock and other animals. The type of animal, its size and strength, its care requirements and the amount of contact it has with household members may all be relevant. Keeping an animal that requires specialist handling does not automatically rule out fostering, but you will need to show that its care and safe management can be maintained.

During the assessment, you may be asked to obtain information from your vet or another suitable professional. The fostering service may also discuss training, behaviour management and any changes that would make the home safer. This is part of the wider assessment of your household and is not a judgement on responsible pet ownership.

Pet arrangements should continue to be reviewed after approval. A child’s needs may change, a pet’s behaviour may alter, or a new animal may join the household. Tell your fostering service about significant changes so that risks can be considered and appropriate support or arrangements can be agreed.