Foster a Rescue Rabbit or Guinea Pig
Penny & Wild SOS FL is 100% foster home based and does not have a shelter facility. Our ability to take in new animals depends on the availability of a foster home.
Currently, our intakes are FROZEN and our waitlist of rabbits who need a foster home are FULL!
Can you help us by opening up your home for a few months to a rabbit or guinea pig who has no where else to go?
Foster Agreement [PLEASE READ]
• I understand that any animal(s) fostered by me are the property of Penny & Wild: Smalls of South Florida Animal Rescue (hereinafter referred to as Penny & Wild) and I agree to return them to Penny & Wild immediately upon request. If I refuse to return the animal(s), Penny & Wild reserves the right to impound them as legal owner of the animal(s).
• I understand that I do not have the right to keep, adopt, transfer, or place my foster animal(s) in other homes or with other individuals and I agree to return the animal(s) to Penny & Wild if I am no longer able to provide the care outlined in the Care-guide that was provided to me. If I would like to adopt my foster I will need to apply to adopt and pay the adoption fee.
• I certify that no person residing in the household where the animal(s) will be fostered has ever been charged with or convicted of animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment.
• I agree that my foster animal(s) will be housed and kept INDOORS ONLY and will not be allowed outdoors at any time.
• I agree to provide the animal(s) not only shelter but loving care, including at a minimum:
(Rabbits) (1) adequate food and water as outlined in the Care-guide that was provided to me; (2) 4FT x 4FT living space when enclosed that is clean, well-lit, with AC; (3) 3 – 4hrs per day of supervised “free-roam” time to exercise in a “bunny proofed” area.
(Guinea Pigs) (1) adequate food and water as outlined in the Care-guide that was provided to me; (2) 2FT x 4FT living space that is clean, well-lit, with AC.
• I agree to litter box train and provide daily socialization with the foster animal(s) daily to make sure they are ready to be adopted as explained to me by Penny & Wild.
• PROGRESS REPORTS: I agree to submit weekly / monthly progress report to Penny & Wild.
• TRANSPORTING: I understand that I will need to bring the animal(s) fostered by me to vet exams, spay/neuter surgery, nail trims, weight checks, Meet&Greets, or other reasons deemed necessary by Penny & Wild at an agreed-upon date and time.
• VETERINARY CARE: I understand that all veterinary care must be authorized in advance by Penny & Wild with one of their approved veterinarians. I agree to personally incur the cost for any treatment that has not been pre-authorized. I understand that any supplies or medications provided by Penny & Wild are for the foster animal(s) only and are not to be administered to any other animals. I understand that Penny & Wild will take every precaution to ensure that the animal(s) I foster are reasonably healthy and all known health problems will be disclosed to me prior to my taking the animal(s) into my home.
• CHILDREN: I agree to supervise and be responsible for any children handling any animal(s) fostered by me in a safe and hygienic manner, and will not hold Penny & Wild responsible for any injuries that may result from my failure to do so.
• PETS: I agree to keep my foster animal(s) separate from my own pets, and understand that the possibility of foster animal(s) fighting, injuring, or spreading illness to my own pets exists if I allow them to interact. I understand that if I choose to allow my foster animals and my own pets to have access to each other, I do so at my own risk, and will not hold Penny & Wild liable for any illness or injury that may occur to my own pet(s).
• DAMAGES: I agree to “bunny proof” the room / area where my foster will be housed and hold Penny&Wild SOS FL harmless from any direct or consequential damages arising out of fostering the animal(s).
• COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: I agree to foster for a minimum term of 4 months. Service hours will only be granted at the completion of the minimum term. If I return an animal(s) before the minimum term or break any other terms of this Foster Agreement I will be denied service hours.
(Rabbits) I understand that I will be receiving 15hrs per week for a single rabbit or 20hrs per week for a pair if approved.
(Guinea Pigs) I understand that I will be receiving 20hrs per week for a pair of guinea pigs or 25hrs per week for a trio if approved.
• SUPPLIES: Fosters will be provided a “starter pack” of supplies including (see below.) Hard Supplies (x-pen, cage, carrier, litter box) need to be returned undamaged and in the same condition as received. Damaged supplies (chewed carriers, not maintained litter boxes, etc.) will need to be reimbursed.
(Rabbit) X-pen, hard carrier, litter box, litter, hay, and pellets.
(Guinea Pig) Cage, hard carrier, litter, hay, and pellets.
AGE REQUIREMENTS: 18+ with valid Florida ID or Driver License.
LOCATIONS: At this time we are only accepting foster homes in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Fosters in Martin will be considered if they are willing to transport to Wellington / West Palm Beach.
* If you live outside of these areas we can recommend a closer rescue.
TERM FOSTER: fosters a rabbit or guinea pig for 4-6 months or until adoption. No experience necessary.
- FINDER FOSTER: those fostering an animal that they found.
- OWNER FOSTER: those fostering a pet that is being re-homed.
- COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: teens fostering for community service hours for high-school.
FOSTER TO ADOPT: fosters a rabbit or guinea pig for 2-4 weeks before committing to adoption or becoming a term foster. This program is for first time owners and/or those who want to make sure the rabbit or guinea pigs is the right fit. No experience necessary.
TEMP FOSTER: foster a rabbit for 2 weeks – 2 month or as needed. No experience necessary. *At this time this program is only for rabbits.
SANCTUARY FOSTER: long-term or life-long foster. Due to a medical condition or advanced age some rabbits and guinea pigs may not be eligible, or likely, to be adopted. Some will only be with us for a few weeks or a few months and will need a fospice “end of life” foster. Experience preferred but those willing to learn to administer medication and monitor medically fragile animals may apply.
MEDICAL FOSTER: as needed. Sometimes a rabbit or guinea pig needs to receive medication or treatment for a temporary condition. This will not be a life-long commitment, and once cleared, rabbits and guinea pigs will go to a term foster to wait for adoption. Experience preferred but those willing to learn to administer medication and monitor medically fragile animals may apply.
INTAKE FOSTER: fosters a new intake for 6 weeks. During this time rabbits and guinea pigs will receive a behavioral assessment, treatments for parasites and/or injuries, be spay / neutered and cleared to move to a term foster to wait for adoption. Experience required.
Minimum term 4 months. Service hours will only be granted at the completion of the minimum term.
Rabbits
- Single 15hrs / week
- Pair 20hrs / week
Guinea Pigs
- Single 15hrs / week
- Pair 20hrs / week
INDOORS ONLY: Domestic rabbits should be housed and kept indoors at all times. Taking rabbits outdoors is not only stressful for them but exposes them to many dangers, such as: RHDV II, predators, parasites (fleas, ticks, mites, lice, fly strike, bot flies, etc.) and heatstroke (rabbits begin to show signs of overheating at just 76°F / 24°C).
- NO: patios, porches, backyards, or walks/outdoor playtime.
CENTRAL: The rabbits enclosure should be in an adults bedroom or a central, high-traffic area like the living room.
- NO: laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, garages, patios, etc.
FREE ROAM TIME: The rabbit cannot stay in the enclosure all of the time and will need 3-4 hours of daily supervised free-roam time to explore and exercise in a “bunny-proofed” room.
MINIMUM RABBITAT SIZE:
4ft x 4ft, 16sq ft 1 dwarf sized rabbit (2-4lb)
4ft x 6ft, 24sq ft 1 medium sized rabbit (5-9lb) or a pair of dwarfs
6ft x 6ft, 36sq ft 1 large breed rabbit (10-14lb) or a pair of medium sized rabbits
FREE ROAM giant breed rabbits (15lb+)
A single dwarf rabbit needs a minimum 4ft x 4ft, 16sq ft living space when enclosed, preferably 4ft x 6ft.
This will be their “home-base” for when you cannot supervise them. For each additional rabbit (or 4lb of body weight), add 8-12sq ft to their living space to maintain a healthy and harmonious environment and prevent fighting and bulling due to resource guarding amongst multiple rabbits. Giant breeds will need an entire room to free roam all of the time.
Hutches, cages and dog crates DO NOT provide enough room for exercise and overall well-being for rabbits. Not providing enough space can lead to a host of problems due to depression and frustration. These often lead to rabbits pacing back and forth, cage chewing (which can damage their teeth), and cage aggression (growling, lunging and biting at hands that reach into their space or during cleaning). Health issues such as obesity, heart disease, muscle atrophy, skeletal changes, and infections are more common. Cages and hutches are also notoriously difficult to keep clean as rabbits end up using the entire space as a litter box.
NEVER SOLO: Guinea pigs are extremely social animals and should be kept in a herd with at least 1 other guinea pig.
INDOORS ONLY: Guinea pigs should be housed and kept indoors at all times. Taking them outdoors is not only stressful for them but exposes them to many dangers, such as: escaping, predators, parasites and heatstroke.
- NO: patios, porches, backyards, or walks/outdoor playtime.
CENTRAL: The enclosure should be in an adults bedroom or a central, high-traffic area like the living room.
- NO: laundry room, kitchen, garages, patios, etc.
MINIMUM ENCLOSURE SIZE:
2ft x 4ft, 8sq ft 1 or 2 guinea pigs
2ft x 5ft, 10sq ft 2 or 3 guinea pigs
2ft x 6ft, 12sq ft 3 or 4 guinea pigs
A pair of guinea pigs will need a minimum 2ft x 4ft, 8sq ft living space when enclosed, preferably 2ft x 5ft. For each additional guinea pig add 2-4 sq ft to their living space to maintain a healthy and harmonious environment and prevent fighting and bullying due to resource guarding.
Hutches, cages and dog crates DO NOT provide enough room for guinea pigs. This can lead to frustration and stress which presents as pacing, excessive squeaking, loud cage chewing and bar rattling, and aggression towards cage mates due to resource guarding. Guinea pigs that are confined to small cages often become withdrawn or even depressed, losing interest in food, play, and interaction. Because they do not have enough room to exercise they are prone to obesity, heart disease, and infections. Guinea pigs kept in hutches also frequently develop bumble-foot.
