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Foster On-Boarding

Penny & Wild Smalls of South Florida is a volunteer-run, foster-home-based rabbit and guinea pig rescue.

We don’t have a shelter building to house large numbers of animals. Instead, our rescue is made up of amazing volunteers and foster families just like yours across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Every rabbit and guinea pig in our care lives in loving, indoor no-cage / hutch foster home. This helps them feel safe, get used to living and interacting with people, and receive the daily care and attention they need while they wait for their forever home.

Thanks to the wonderful fosters and adopters who committed to opening their own homes in 2025 we:

TOOK IN: 28 rabbits

Louie, Alice, Adeline, Marble, Elliot, Gabby, Pumpkin, Romeo, Enya, Maxine, Rusty, Alicent, Jedi, Peaches, Dante, Loopy, Princess, Tiny, Betty, Cupcake, Bambi, Bunilla Ice, Indigo, Oreo, Tinkerbell, Luke, Leia, Juniper

ADOPTED OUT: 14 rabbits

Jett, Louie, Cooper, Quinn, Pumpkin, Ellion, Charlie, Jedi, Alice, Alani, Alicent, Dante, Enya, Maxine

TOOK IN: 28 guinea pigs

Elvis, Jax, Wednesday, Indigo, Leia, Syrup, Gigi, Cookie, Nemo, Dulce, Caramel, Darlene, Jackie, Nugget, Mocha, Veronica, Archie, Cheryl, Jughead, Reggie, Creampuff, Bowser, Pistachio, Walnut, Davie, Babette, Fleur, Belle

ADOPTED OUT: 10 guinea pigs

Liam, Cookie, Nemo, Dulce, Caramel, Preston, Teddy, Jasmin, Elvis, Creampuff

be a part of a rescue rabbit or guinea pig’s Happy Ever After in 2026

TYPES OF FOSTER HOMES:
  • Individual Foster Homes care for a single rabbit or a pair of guinea pigs either short or long term.
  • Group Foster Homes house multiple rabbits and guinea pigs. They are the homes of our Foster Coordinators and where:
    • animals typically enter the rescue and where they stay between placements in Individual Foster Homes
    • Meet & Greets with adopters take place and where fosters pick up and drop off supplies

Individual Foster Families must be able to transport foster animal to the nearest Group Foster Home (see below) once a month or so for nail trims, weight checks, vet visits or Meet & Greets with a potential adopter.

We do have a Transport Volunteer group that we can ask for occasional help but if no one is available fosters will need to transport atleast half way.

  • Miami-Dade County in Edgewater, FL
  • North Miami Beach area in Ojus, FL
  • Palm Beach County in Boca Raton, FL

STEP 1

Attend a Foster Orientation / Bunny (or Guinea Pig) 101 class either in-person or via Zoom

& complete the:

Post-Bunny101 Questionnaire
Post-Guinea-Pig101 Questionnaire

STEP 2

Bunny (or Guinea Pig) Proof

the room where your foster will be set up and have supervised roam around time

  • Hide or cover electrical cords with cord protectors

  • Block baseboards, furniture, and under beds/couches with C&C grids

  • Protect beds/couches with waterproof blankets

  • Remove plastic, rubber, and choking hazards from the floor

  • Remove houseplants which may be toxic if ingested

  • Remove scented plug-ins, candles, and incense

Take Photos or a Video Walk-through for the Foster Agreement 📸

STEP 3

Read & Sign the

Foster Agreement

* fosters under 18 will need a parent / guardian to co-sign the Foster Agreement.

SUPPLIES

Fosters will receive a Foster Starter Pack of supplies:

X-pen (rabbits) or Midwest (guinea pigs), carrier, litter box, litter, hay, pellets, treats & toys

Fosters are asked to make an effort to return permanent supplies (enclosures, carriers, and litter boxes) undamaged and in the same condition as received.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE: in the past we’ve encountered issues with rusted enclosures, chewed carriers, and soiled litter-boxes. To us help maintain supplies in good condition please store enclosures indoors only, remove carriers as soon as fosters exit, and soak the litter boxes with 1 cup distilled white vinegar weekly.

Fosters are responsible for providing fresh leafy greens and vegetables daily, and replenishing perishable supplies* (litter, hay, and food pellets) as needed.

If you can’t afford to replenish supplies, no worries! You can pick up supplies from the nearest Group Foster Home or request that supplies be shipped*.

* just give us 1 week notice before supplies run out to allow time for processing and shipping.

PROGRESS REPORTS

  • An “Intake” Progress Report will be completed during the Home-Visit / Drop-off
  • A “Weekly” Progress Report will be completed weekly for the first 4 weeks
  • A “Monthly” Progress Report will be completed monthly on the 1st of the month for the remainder of the foster term
Foster Progress Report