Can I foster if I have pets in Kidderminster?

Pets are considered as part of the household and home-safety assessment when you apply to foster in Kidderminster. The focus is whether each animal can live safely with a child in care, taking account of the child’s age, experiences, health, behaviour and individual needs.

During the assessment, you will normally be asked about:

• the type, number and age of your pets;
• their temperament, training and behaviour around children and visitors;
• any history of aggression, biting, chasing, unpredictable behaviour or excessive anxiety;
• where the animals eat, sleep and spend time in the home;
• how they are exercised, supervised and kept separate when necessary;
• their veterinary care, vaccinations and general health; and
• any risks linked to allergies, infections, parasites or animal welfare.

You should be open about all the animals living at or regularly visiting your home, including dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles and other unusual pets. An assessor may need additional information from a veterinary professional or other relevant source to understand the risks and confirm that suitable safeguards are in place.

A pet’s behaviour is particularly important. An animal that is calm and accustomed to children may present different risks from one that guards food or toys, jumps up, becomes distressed easily or reacts to noise and sudden movements. This does not mean that every concern prevents approval, but it may lead to conditions such as supervised contact, using stair gates, keeping food and toys separate, or providing the pet with a secure area away from the child.

The child’s circumstances will also affect the decision. Some children may be frightened of animals, have allergies, struggle with boundaries, or have behaviours that could unsettle or harm a pet. Others may benefit from living with animals. Placement decisions should therefore consider both the child’s safety and emotional needs and the welfare of the animal, rather than treating pet ownership as a separate issue.

Before a child moves in, you may need a clear household plan covering:

• which rooms or areas are accessible to the pet and the child;
• when contact must be supervised;
• how the child will be taught to approach, handle and respect the animal;
• what to do during feeding, grooming or veterinary treatment;
• how the pet will be separated if either the child or animal becomes distressed; and
• who will take responsibility for supervision and daily animal care.

It is important not to assume that a child can safely handle or care for a pet simply because they have lived with animals before. Foster carers remain responsible for setting boundaries and supervising interactions. Children should not be left alone with an animal where the risk assessment says that supervision is needed.

If you buy, adopt or take responsibility for another animal after approval, tell your fostering service before introducing it into the household. A significant change in a pet’s health or behaviour should also be reported, so that the safety plan can be reviewed. The same applies if a child develops an allergy, becomes fearful of the animal or has difficulty following agreed boundaries.

Having pets should be discussed at the earliest stage of your application. Your local fostering team can explain what information is needed, help you identify practical safety measures and consider whether your animals and the type of fostering you are exploring are compatible.