Can I foster if I have pets?

Fostering with pets is considered case by case as part of your household assessment and placement planning. The key question is whether the home can remain safe and suitable for both the child and the animals, with sensible arrangements for supervision, boundaries and separation when needed.

Different pets raise different considerations. Dogs are usually looked at in detail because of their size, strength, behaviour and access to the home and garden. Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other small animals will also be considered, particularly where they live, how they respond to handling and whether a child can reach them easily. Reptiles, working animals, horses, livestock and animals kept in outdoor buildings may require additional discussion about hygiene, access and supervision.

Your fostering team will need an accurate picture of your animals and their usual routines. This may include:

• where each animal is kept and which parts of the home it can access;
• how the animal behaves around unfamiliar adults, children, noise and sudden movement;
• whether it has shown guarding, aggressive or unpredictable behaviour;
• who will feed, exercise and care for it during the school day and other household commitments;
• how the animal can be kept apart from a child during meals, play, visitors or other busy periods; and
• what veterinary care, vaccinations and preventative treatments it receives.

Children entering foster care may have had upsetting experiences involving animals, may be frightened of particular species or may not understand how to behave safely around them. Some children may also be impulsive, overly familiar with animals or interested in testing boundaries. Information available before a placement should therefore be considered alongside the child’s age, needs, history and assessed risks.

Safe arrangements are more important than simply owning a well-behaved pet. You may need to introduce clear household rules, use stair gates or other barriers, keep food and animal equipment separate, and provide the pet with a quiet area where it cannot be disturbed. Children should not be expected to take responsibility for an animal, and they should not be left alone with a pet where supervision is required. These arrangements should protect the animal as well as the child.

Pet-related questions will normally form part of your fostering assessment and home visits. Be open about all animals, including those kept outside or by another household member. The assessment is not limited to whether an animal has ever bitten or attacked someone; its daily routine, reactions, living arrangements and the way adults manage it are also relevant. If concerns are identified, your fostering team can discuss practical controls or whether a particular type of placement would be unsuitable.

Having pets can also affect matching. A child who is allergic to animals, highly fearful of them or unable to follow safety instructions may not be suitable for a household with particular pets. Conversely, another child may be comfortable around animals, provided contact is managed appropriately. Matching should never be based on a child being expected to care for, train or provide emotional support to a family pet.

Before applying, consider whether you could change your pet’s routine, restrict access to parts of your home or maintain separation for the duration of a placement. You should also think about who would care for the animal if you needed to attend meetings, training or appointments. Discussing these points early gives your fostering team the information needed to assess your circumstances properly and identify placements that fit your household.