One of my job duties is to do in-home checks with families. I can tell you there is a huge difference between the daily mess animals make in a home and that of a home that is over-ran with animals and caretakers who are overwhelmed or ill-equipped. I dont know you nor am I judging the conditions of your home or animals. But statements like these are troubling and giving some insight into what the caseworker experienced in your home.
We foster small animals, mainly rabbits, for a rescue.
How many animals on average? You say "fostering", does that mean you are actively finding and placing these animals into new homes or is normal for you to take on more animals that live out their lives there? Are you with an official organization or animal agency? Does this organization provide support like aide for additional medical care etc? If an emergency happened tomorrow and you had to re-home these animals in 24 hours do you have a network of people you can call?
but today was our 'gut clean' day, and she came right in the middle of it. By tonight, the place literally would be spotless,
Are these foster animals housed in one area or all over the house? Does it normally take an entire day to "gut clean"?
What she saw was only three days worth of poop.
Again, 3 days of poop for HOW many animals?
It is also quite silly to me that she is filing a report with the department of agriculture, in regards to the animals.
Because she felt the animals arent being taken care of. It's her duty to report. Your home may not only be hazardous to children but also hazardous to the same animals you are trying to protect and care for. With too many animals housed in a home without proper ventilation and cleaning the buildup of dander, dust, fecal and urine in the air is dangerous to the health of people especially young children and animals.
but the lady who visited today was quick to point out, right after seeing a rabbit when she walked through the door, the horrendous smell...which I (nor my family or the visitors we had over today) honestly didn't smell.
Olfactory fatigue
and I want to know what I can do to help this situation
Follow without hesitation or argument the investigators suggestions. This very well may include permanently reducing the number of animals in your home. Allowing for regular visitations to show you are making strides with better upkeep of your home and cleanliness. Or your sister may be ordered to find alternative housing for her children with a deadline or risk custody.