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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?

Types of Fosters

  • 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.

 

  • 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 1 weeks – 1 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.

Community Service Hours

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
    • Pair 20hrs / week
    • Trio 25hrs / week

Housing Requirements for Rabbits (min. 4ft x 4ft enclosure)

  • Domestic rabbits should be housed and kept indoors at all times.
    NO: patios, porches, backyards, or walks/outdoor playtime.

 

  • Min. 4ft x 4ft* living area per rabbit when enclosed.   *depending on size.
    NO: Hutches or cages.

X-pen, hutch, cage

 

  • Rabbits need soft surfaces like carpets or area rugs to get around on.
    NO: tile, marble, or hardwood floor.

 

  • The enclosure should be in a bedroom or a central, high-traffic area like the living room.
    NO: laundry room, garages, patios, etc.

 

  • Cannot stay in the enclosure all of the time and need 3-4 hours of daily supervised free-roam time to explore and exercise in a bunny-proofed room.

Housing Requirements for Guinea Pigs (min. 2ft x 4ft enclosure)

  • Guinea Pigs are social and need to live in pairs or trios.

 

  • Guinea Pigs should be housed and kept indoors at all times.
    NO: patios, porches, backyards, or walks/outdoor playtime.

 

  • Minimum 2FT x 4FT living area when enclosed.
    NO: Hutches or cages.

  • Guinea pigs need soft surfaces like fleece or a cage liner.
    NO: plastic, wire bottom, or wood shavings.

 

  • The enclosure should be in a bedroom or a central, high-traffic area like the living room.
    NO: laundry room, garages, patios, etc.

Are Guinea Pigs easier to care for than Rabbits?

Yes, and also no.

Guinea pigs do not need to “free-roam” 3-4 hours per day and you will not need to guinea-pig proof your room or home as you would with a rabbit. A pair of guinea pigs also require half the living space a single rabbit would:

  • 4FT x 4FT (16sq ft) per rabbit
  • 2FT x 4FT (8sq ft) per guinea pig pair

Guinea pigs live half as long as rabbits do:

  • Life expectancy is 10+ years for rabbits
  • Life expectancy is 4-8 years for guinea pigs.

Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are not likely to litter-box train:

  • When cleaning up after rabbits; most of their pee/poop will be in the litterbox.
  • When cleaning up after guinea pigs; their entire enclosure will need to be cleaned.

Check out this Video on cleaning a Guinea Pigs enclosure.

Rehoming a Pet or Found Animal?

Please submit a Surrender Request before applying to Foster.

Surrender Request

Surrender Request






Are you looking to rehome a pet or surrender an animal you found?

Are you able to pay the $150* Surrender Fee at this time? *this fee is per animal and is non-refundable
Is the animal in danger or needing urgent medical care?
Are you able to pay for medical care?
How long are you able to keep this animal safe?
* the longer you are able to keep this animal safe the more likely we will be able to place them as foster homes become available.

Are you able to foster until an adoptive home is found (this can take 4-6 months)?

Name
Name

First

Last


Address
Address



City

State/Province

Zip/Postal


Select species and indicate how many
*if you are looking to surrender multiple species, you will need to submit a separate form for each species.

*if multiple rabbits / groups, please specify name, gender, age, breed, weight, who is bonded, if any are related and how.

* if multiple guinea pigs / groups, please specify name, gender, age, breed, who is living together, if any are related and how.
Is the animal spayed/neutered?

Have they been seen by a veterinarian in the last 6 months?



Does the animal have any known behavioural quirks, medical history or history of illness / disease?

* please specify what room in the home and if there is A/C

* specify quantities and how often, brand of pellets (if any), types of pellets greens / veggies / fruits (if any), type of treats (if any)


Maximum file size: 516MB

*if multiple submit individual pictures of all


Maximum file size: 516MB



Maximum file size: 516MB

* include hay, pellets, litter, treats, supplements, toys, etc.


Foster Agreement

• 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.

Foster Application

Foster Application

Name
Name
First
Last
Address
Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal
Country
Are you applying to foster an animal that you are rehoming / surrendering?
Have you submitted a Surrender Request form?
Are you applying to foster for Community Service Hours?
Parent/Guardian Name
Parent/Guardian Name
First
Last
Relationship
Do you live alone?
What animal(s) are you interested in fostering?
Please specify:
Guinea Pigs are social and must live in pairs or trios. Please specify:
Please select
Are you interested in fostering with the intention of adopting?