National Pet Month - Can Foster Carers Have Pets?

Did you know that April 1st to May 1st is National Pet Month? National Pet Month is a yearly campaign that aims to promote responsible pet ownership, and to raise awareness of the many benefits associated with living with pets. So what better time to explore the topic of pet ownership while fostering, and answer the frequently asked question - ‘Can foster carers have pets?’

Can I Foster If I Have Pets?

This is a question we get asked a lot, and if you’re a pet owner who’s considering fostering, you’ll be delighted to hear that the short answer is…yes!

Having pets won’t stop you from being approved as a foster carer, and in fact it may even be seen as a bonus (more on that later!) However, if you’re applying to foster and have pets living with you, there are some important factors you’ll need to consider.

Fostering With Animals in the Home - Things to Consider

On the whole, pet ownership is usually considered a positive asset for potential foster carers. But your fostering agency or local authority will still need to make certain that your pet/s won’t put a foster child at risk, and to be sure that you’re a responsible pet owner.

Social workers must be confident that your home meets health and safety requirements, and for that reason, your pets will be included as part of your assessment process.

This will involve your assessing social worker finding out more information about the types of pet/s you own, their routines and behaviours, and how this might impact any children coming into the home.

Your social worker will need to know:

• What types of pet/s you have. For example, whether you have a single dog or cat, or perhaps you have several different species and breeds of animal.

• Where your pet/s eat and sleep.

• The spaces in your home where a pet could be kept away from a foster child or vice versa, if needed.

• How your pet/s would react to potential situations that might arise during a fostering placement, for example, loud noises or sudden movements from young children, disrupted routines, new people coming into the home etc.

• Any potential issues, for example, does your pet require regular medication that needs to be securely stored? Is your pet large and excitable and likely to knock a small child over, albeit accidentally? How would they react if their toys or food were moved or taken?

• Whether your home is kept at an acceptable standard of cleanliness. For example, are litter trays, cages or pens kept clean? Is your furniture free of fur (as much as possible!)

• Is your pet up-to-date with preventative healthcare, for example, flea and worm treatments and vaccinations?

There are only a few exceptional circumstances that might lead to your application to foster not being approved because of the pets in your home.

• You own a banned breed or a dog that is required to be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991).

• You own a dog that has previously bitten or injured a person or another dog

• Your pet shows signs of aggression towards people or other animals during the assessment process.

• Anyone in your home has ever been found guilty of animal neglect or abuse.

If you (and your pet/s) are approved to become a foster carer, there’s a small chance that having pets could affect the children that are placed with you in the future. However, this would only be in very specific circumstances, for example, if a foster child has a known allergy so can’t be placed in a home with pets, if they have a severe phobia of dogs or have shown harmful behaviours towards animals in the past.

Fostering Pet Assessments

As part of the assessment process your pet/s will be assessed for their suitability to be around children and your social worker will discuss how you’ll manage the needs of any potential foster child/ren alongside those of your pets.

Sometimes, an animal behaviour expert will be brought in to meet your pet/s and to observe their behaviours in the home.

If you have any concerns about your pets, be sure to discuss them with your social worker early on in the assessment process. Don’t forget that your fostering agency will have assessed many potential foster carers with pets, and unless you have a particularly unusual situation or species of animal, they will have probably seen and heard it all before! This means your social worker should be able to reassure you, and suggest potential solutions or ways forward if any issues arise.

The Benefits of Having Pets For Foster Children

As mentioned, having pets in the home is usually seen as a good thing for foster carers. This is because pets are known to have a positive impact on both the physical and mental health of the people living with and caring for them. This includes not only you, as their owner, but also any foster children coming into the home will benefit from their presence too.

Here are just some of the reasons why living with pets can be good for children coming into foster care.

Unconditional Love

Animals are, by their nature, non-judgmental and accepting. You don’t need to explain yourself to a pet, as pets accept us for who we are and don’t expect us to change. This can be a wonderful thing for children and young people who may not have experienced this kind of unconditional love and acceptance before.

A Safe Way to Express Affection

Some children and young people may have difficulties showing and accepting affection. For example, they may be uncomfortable with physical affection like hugs or kisses, or find it difficult to express their affection verbally or accept praise or compliments. Having a pet they can stroke or confide in, whether it’s a dog, cat or guinea pig, can be a great way for them to learn how to give and receive gentle affection without any pressure to communicate.

Therapy Animals

The therapeutic benefits of having pets are extensive, and pet therapy is now used widely across a range of settings, such as schools, hospitals and care homes. Animals can also be trained to support people with a variety of needs, whether it’s supporting people living with sensory impairment, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, or providing support to neurodiverse children or those living with anxiety or depression.

Comfort and Companionship

Pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and horses make great companions, and can help combat feelings of isolation that some foster children may experience. They can also be a great source of comfort and a much-needed constant for children and young people who may have experienced significant disruption to their personal relationships and home lives when coming into care.

Routines and Responsibility

Having a pet living in the home can help foster children to learn and embrace household routines, for example, getting up at a certain time to feed the cat or going for regular walks with the dog. It also encourages older children to take responsibility in small but meaningful ways, whether it’s refilling a dog’s water bowl, cleaning a hamster cage or grooming a pony. This can do wonders for a child’s confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping them become more responsible at an age-appropriate pace.

Physical Benefits

Living with pets can also improve the health of foster children. Stroking pets such as dogs and cats releases oxytocin, a mood-boosting hormone that can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress and anxiety, and help to build trust and strengthen bonds. If you have a dog that needs walking, or animals that live outside your home, such as horses or chickens, this is also a great way to build regular exercise into a child’s life in a fun way.

There’s also some evidence that suggests growing up in a home with pets may decrease the risk of children developing food allergies later in life.

Fostering With Olive Branch

If you’re a pet-owner who’s considering fostering, we’d love to hear from you.

At Olive Branch Fostering, we have many foster families with pets, and we know what a positive influence animals can be on children and young people in foster care.

We also understand that you’ll probably have questions about what will be involved for both you and your pets, and we’re happy to talk you through the application process and what to expect.

For an informal chat, contact our friendly team. You can also call us on 01706 558910 or book a call back to find out more.