Foster animals need a safe, clutter-free space in your home to sleep, play, and recover. This space should have enough room for essentials such as a pet bed, litter box (if needed), food and water dishes, and space to sleep and play. Ideally, this space has easy-to-clean floors, like tile or laminate to help prevent spreading disease between animals or to humans.
Make sure to remove dangerous items, such as cleaning supplies, medications, food or plants toxic to animals, and store them in a safe place. If you’re using a bathroom or spare room, be sure to remove breakables, close the toilet lid, tuck away cords, and check for other common hazards.
For a mom and her babies, or for an animal recovering from illness or injury, a dedicated “foster room” is required. This space should have natural light, a door that closes, and easy-to-clean floors to create a safe and supportive environment for the animal.
If you plan on fostering dogs, it is not necessary to have a fenced yard in all cases.