Can I foster if I have pets?

Having animals in your household does not automatically prevent you from fostering. The important consideration is whether your pets, their care arrangements and the home environment are compatible with the safety, wellbeing and individual needs of a child in foster care.

As part of the fostering assessment, you should expect to discuss:

• the type, number and size of your pets;
• their temperament, training and typical behaviour around children and unfamiliar people;
• where they sleep, eat and spend time in the home;
• how they are supervised and cared for;
• their veterinary care, vaccinations and general health; and
• how you would manage contact between the animal and a child.

Dogs often receive particular attention because their behaviour can vary according to age, breed, history, training and circumstances. A dog that is calm with your own family may still need careful management around a child who is anxious around animals or unfamiliar with dogs. Cats and smaller pets are also considered, particularly if they scratch, bite, carry health risks or require access to areas that would need to remain private.

Some children may have allergies, phobias, previous experiences of neglect or abuse involving animals, or difficulty understanding boundaries. Others may be especially attached to animals. The child’s information and needs will therefore be considered alongside your household circumstances before a placement is agreed. Having pets may affect which placements are suitable, rather than ending your fostering application altogether.

You may need to show how you would establish safe routines. These could include keeping animals and children separate when necessary, supervising interactions, using gates or other agreed barriers, providing the pet with a quiet area, and teaching the child how to behave safely around the animal. Pets should not be expected to tolerate rough handling, teasing or unwanted contact, and a child should not be left responsible for an animal’s care unless this has been specifically agreed as appropriate.

During assessment, be open about all animals living at or regularly visiting your home. This includes dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, birds, horses and any other animals kept on the property. Hiding a pet or failing to mention an animal that spends significant time in the household can create safeguarding and trust issues later in the process.

If you are approved, your supervising social worker and the child’s social worker can help consider whether a proposed placement is suitable. You may be asked to provide information about your pets, follow agreed safety measures and review arrangements as the child settles in. A placement should not begin until any identified risks have been considered and manageable arrangements are in place.

It is sensible to gather up-to-date veterinary records, check that your pets’ identification and insurance arrangements are current where relevant, and consider whether their behaviour has changed during illness, stress or household disruption. You should also think honestly about whether you have the time and space to meet the needs of both a foster child and your animals.

In short, pets are considered as part of the whole fostering assessment and matching process. They may be compatible with fostering when their behaviour and care can be managed safely, but the final decision will depend on the individual animals, your home and the needs of the child being considered.