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.
- 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.
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.