The Pets in the Classroom grant program is pleased to have been featured in the Pet Industry Distributors Association February 2012 Newslettter!  Please read the article below!

Putting More Pets in the Classroom

More than 210,000 elementary age school children have the chance to interact on a daily basis with a pet thanks to The Pet Care Trust. Pets in the Classroom, an educational grants program offered by The Pet Care Trust (PCT) to support responsible pet care for school classrooms, grew by leaps and bounds in 2011, awarding more than 7,000 grants of up to $150 each to eligible teachers in grades K-6.

According to PCT executive director Steve King, these results were quite satisfying. “The program slowly gathered momentum in its first fifteen months, with 3,500 grants awarded during that time. Then, beginning in August 2011, Petco and Petsmart partnered with the Trust to promote the program through their stores. Since then, the number of grants awarded has more than doubled.”

The goal of Pets in the Classroom is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Originally limited to grades K-6, the Trust has expanded the program in 2012 to include seventh and eighth grade classrooms as well.

Understanding that many teachers have limited resources to support classroom pets, the program helps teachers purchase or maintain pets in the classroom through direct, no-hassle grants.

Through a simple, online application process at www.petsinthe classroom.org, teachers can become eligible to receive grants of $50 to support existing classroom pets, or $100-$150 to purchase or adopt a new pet and required equipment. It is left up to the teacher to select the pet that is most appropriate for her/his classroom. There have been a wide variety of funding requests, from snakes and lizards to guinea pigs and rabbits, proving that many different species make interesting classroom companions.

Funding for Pets in the Classroom has come from the Pet Care Trust endowment along with contributions from various foundations and individuals, as well as Petco and Petsmart and their vendor partners. As it expands to reach more classrooms across the country, the program will rely on direct financial support from the pet industry. Pets in the Classroom welcomes support from corporate and individual donors through tax-deductible contributions to the Pet Care Trust.

For more information, visit www.petsintheclassroom.org.

Pets in the Classroom has enjoyed helping teachers improve their students’ classroom experience and their students’ lives.  If you haven’t heard that latest news about how the Pets in the Classroom grants have impacted the students of Green Chimneys in New York, please read the following press release!

Pets in the Classroom Grant Program Helps Students with Special Needs 

Green Chimneys staff see positive impact resulting from 10 classroom aquariums funded by the Pet Care Trust’s Pets in the Classroom Grant Program 

Pets in the Classroom, an educational grants program supporting responsible pet care in today’s youth, has provided funding to acquire 10 aquariums for the classrooms of Green Chimneys, a nationally renowned, non-profit organization that helps children with emotional, behavioral, social and learning challenges with the aid of animals.

Sponsored by the Pet Care Trust, the goal of the Pets in the Classroom program is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. This goal stems from the recognition of the benefits of exposure to pets including: developing a sense of responsibility, building self-esteem, encouraging nurturing, and creating compassion.  This philosophy coincides with the philosophy of Green Chimneys.

Recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and activities, Green Chimneys serves children in grades K-12 with special learning and emotional needs, who are failing to thrive within a traditional family, community or school system. Founded on the belief that children can respond to animals in ways they often can’t to people, Green Chimneys integrates animal-assisted and nature-based activities into nearly every aspect of its accredited special education school and residential treatment center.

While Green Chimneys uses animals as a core component in its therapeutic program and school curriculum, pets had not yet been introduced directly into the classroom setting.  Ryan Johnson, Therapeutic Intervention Specialist at Green Chimneys, spearheaded the project to bring the aquariums into the classrooms: “My mission was to create a calming and therapeutic environment for the children of Green Chimneys. In my experience with our young people, an unspoken intervention often has more of an impact on a distressed student. Fish tanks create a calming environment without use of words.”

As in their other programs, the Green Chimneys staff has seen changes in the ability of students to communicate and acquire new skills due to the responsibility for and interaction with the animals.

“This has been such a wonderful experience for the students, and staff,” said Johnson.  “It’s great to see young people relax and smile in their classrooms, due to their new little friends. This amazing adventure has just begun and has provided so much enjoyment already – I am proud to be a part of it.”

For more information on the Pets in the Classroom Grant program and the benefits of using animals in the classroom, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.

If you are new to the Pets in the Classroom grant program, you may be wondering how the grant process works.  Leslie, teacher and writer of the ScienceGal blog, wrote a wonderful blog entry on this subject on the Critters in the Classroom blog (a great resource for teachers who have or are interested in classroom pets!).  Please take a look!

Have you heard????

Here are some more great letters from teachers who received a Pets in the Classroom grant.  Enjoy!

We would like to thank you for that grant money that allowed us to purchase a baby guinea pig for our classroom.  Einstein just joined our classroom this week and we LOVE him already.  Einstein is only ten weeks old.  We plan to weigh him once a week and everyone is going to keep a line graph of his weight gain.  We have also been reading articles about guinea pigs.  We are going to make a class book about guinea pigs.  Thank you again for providing the money to buy him. We promise to take very good care of him.

~ Mrs. Slack’s 3^rd Grade Class

I am so excited to greet my kindergarten students on Monday morning!

Over the past 30 plus years that I have been in education, I have entertained various classroom pets.  The cockatiel and hamster I had for many years passed away last year.  Our turtle got too large for his tank and retired at our local university’s turtle pond.

The students were all looking for my pets this year when they returned to school.

What a better way to teach our kindergarten science curriculum of living and non living things with feathers, shell and fur than a parakeet, turtle, and hamster!

They will be so surprised on Monday when I introduce their new classroom pets!

Teachers spend much money out of pocket to supply their classroom of needed material to enhance their lessons.  I so appreciate your generous donation toward the education of our youngest students!  Thank you!

~ Lil McDonald

St. Ignace Elementary School

As specified in the terms of the grant, the money was used to purchase food and the environment for the school pet chinchillas.  The students in turn have learned how to take care of our new friends.  They are also a lot of fun to observe and to make ongoing journals of the sort of characteristics that are unique to Chinchillas. Our furry friends have been great for students to read to as they show that they are interested as we read to them and they hold onto the bars and listen.  They also have helped in many discipline situations to cools some students’ emotional outbursts down to a low as they are intrigued with the school pet.  This all could not have been possible as items such as these are often expensive.  With a forward-looking organization like your, capable of raising money to provide extra financial assistance, is so important to our school and to others in the district.

Thank you once again.  We at Mableton Elementary School believe that this investment in our children’s future will be repaid many times over in the years ahead.  Thank you again!

~ Kym Eisgruber, Principal

Mableton Elementary School

Isn’t it great to hear how thankful teachers are for their Pets in the Classroom grants and the impact they are making in the classroom?  Let us know what you think by commenting on the Pets in the Classroom Facebook page!

Pets in the Classroom Grant Program Helps Students with Special Needs 

Green Chimneys staff see positive impact resulting from 10 classroom aquariums funded by the Pet Care Trust’s Pets in the Classroom Grant Program 

Pets in the Classroom, an educational grants program supporting responsible pet care in today’s youth, has provided funding to acquire 10 aquariums for the classrooms of Green Chimneys, a nationally renowned, non-profit organization that helps children with emotional, behavioral, social and learning challenges with the aid of animals.

Sponsored by the Pet Care Trust, the goal of the Pets in the Classroom program is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. This goal stems from the recognition of the benefits of exposure to pets including: developing a sense of responsibility, building self-esteem, encouraging nurturing, and creating compassion.  This philosophy coincides with the philosophy of Green Chimneys.

Recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and activities, Green Chimneys serves children in grades K-12 with special learning and emotional needs, who are failing to thrive within a traditional family, community or school system. Founded on the belief that children can respond to animals in ways they often can’t to people, Green Chimneys integrates animal-assisted and nature-based activities into nearly every aspect of its accredited special education school and residential treatment center.

While Green Chimneys uses animals as a core component in its therapeutic program and school curriculum, pets had not yet been introduced directly into the classroom setting.  Ryan Johnson, Therapeutic Intervention Specialist at Green Chimneys, spearheaded the project to bring the aquariums into the classrooms: “My mission was to create a calming and therapeutic environment for the children of Green Chimneys. In my experience with our young people, an unspoken intervention often has more of an impact on a distressed student. Fish tanks create a calming environment without use of words.”

As in their other programs, the Green Chimneys staff has seen changes in the ability of students to communicate and acquire new skills due to the responsibility for and interaction with the animals.

“This has been such a wonderful experience for the students, and staff,” said Johnson.  “It’s great to see young people relax and smile in their classrooms, due to their new little friends. This amazing adventure has just begun and has provided so much enjoyment already – I am proud to be a part of it.”

For more information on the Pets in the Classroom Grant program and the benefits of using animals in the classroom, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.

Green Chimneys’ Ryan Johnson, Therapeutic Intervention Specialist, joins Ms. Gassner and her 5th graders to show off the new aquarium they received through the Pets in the Classroom Grant program.

Ms. Gill’s class of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders at Green Chimneys have been learning from and enjoying their new classroom aquarium.

Are you ready to read some more feedback from teachers on their experiences with classroom pets and the Pets in the Classroom grant program?

I would first like to say, THANK YOU for this amazing opportunity! My students have been so excited about the pet that is joining our class. Many lessons have been learned as we researched different reptiles and decided on an Asian Water Dragon. The students then researched its habitat, diet, and healthcare needs. They helped build its habitat and they will be collecting money to continue purchasing its food. For most of my urban students, this is their first positive experience with a reptile!

~ Tracie Beeler

4^th Grade

Dogwood Elementary School

Knoxville, TN

Thank you so much approving my Pets in the Classroom project. My first graders love our 2 hermit crabs. An unexpected benefit has been an increase in attendance. They can’t wait to get to school to check on ‘Alvin’ and ‘Theadore’.

~ Teresa

I received the reptile grant and couldn’t be happier! I am the Science Coach at a low income and relatively low performing elementary school, and all the children here visit the science lab numerous times during the school year. Consequently over 423 children have benefited from this wonderful program. “Draco” is our corn snake, and she has most assuredly been responsible for helping to elevate the interest in science in our school….The children love to watch and hold her, and have learned so much about snakes – the most important lesson of all is to not pick one up in the wild. I appreciate so much the generosity of the Pet Care Trust in making opportunities like this available to our children.

~ Emily Matthews

CHE Science Coach

If these testimonials inspire you to obtain a pet for your classroom, please visit www.petsintheclassroom.org to read more about classroom pet options and how to receive the Pets in the Classroom grant.  Be sure to visit the Is Your Class Ready for a Pet in the Classroom? page for some things to consider before making your classroom pet choice.  If you already have a classroom pet and would like to let us know about your own experiences, please post a comment on our Facebook page!

Do you not have a classroom pet yet?  If you don’t have a classroom pet yet, there is still time to incorporate one into your lesson plans!

Not sure if you are ready to care for a classroom pet?  Classroom pets are a big responsibility.  Proper cleaning, feeding, and exercise are necessary, and adding that to your plate may seem like a lot.  But the benefits are well worth it!  Plus, the responsibility is part of the learning process for your students.

How do you ensure your students will properly care for the classroom pet in a fair way?  1^st grade teacher Katie Appel had a great idea.  She had her students apply for the position of “Pet Caretaker.” Students who wished to be a pet caretaker filled out an application and were interviewed by the district Assistant Superintendent and the Director of Human Resources. The students knew that just because they filled out an application and went through the interview process didn’t guarantee that they would get the position.  Through this process, the students learned the importance of the job and the teachers learned how much effort the students were willing to put forth to obtain the job. And in the end, all 15 students who went through the interview process became Pet Caretakers!

Having your students help with caring for your classroom pet will not only take away some of the extra work that you have to do, but will also go a long ways in teaching your students about responsibility.

If you have a classroom pet, how do your students help care for the pet?  We at Pets in the Classroom would love to hear!

Thank you to btc4animals.com for presenting Pets in the Classroom as one of their featured causes. Be the Change for Animals highlights one animal cause per week on their website.  To read more about Pets in the Classroom and other pet-related causes, visit http://btc4animals.com.

Help Pets in the Classroom Reach More Students

Published January 9, 2012 | By Vicki Cook

Children benefit from exposure to pets in the classroom in ways that help shape their lives for years to come. Founded by the Pet Care Trust, the goal of Pets in the Classroom is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in elementary and middle school classrooms. By providing grants to teachers, the Pets in the Classroom program hopes to reach 1 million students in 30,000 classrooms across North America.

Act Now!

Here’s how you can help:

• “Like” the Pets in the Classroom Facebook page and share with your friends and family.
• Visit the Pets in the Classroom website to learn more about this program.
• Share the information with your employer, civic organization, or any other group you think may be interested in sponsoring a classroom.

Why It Matters

Established by the Pet Care Trust in 2009, Pets in the Classroom provides grants to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade teachers to purchase or adopt a classroom pet and required equipment or to support existing classroom pets. Four types of grants are available: 1 – rebate grants in the amount of $100 (for small animals or birds) or $150 for reptiles or fish; 2 – sustaining grants of $50 for existing classroom pets; 3 – Petco grants (coupons for the purchase of the animal, habitat and supplies at Petco stores) and 4 – PetSmart grants (coupons for the purchase of the animal, habitat and supplies at PetSmart stores).

In its first full year of operation, the program awarded 2,060 grants to teachers. Having received over 7,000 requests in its first two years of operation, the Pets in the Classroom program more than tripled its number of requests in the second year. With an average classroom size of 30 students, the Trust has brought a pet into the lives of 210,000 students.

While the 7,000 grants are making a great impact, the organization is still a long way from its goal of reaching 1 million children in 30,000 classrooms across North America. The Pet Care Trust is looking for companies or individuals who are willing to sponsor classrooms. A donation of only $150 will help reach 30 students with a program that is instrumental in teaching students responsible, long-term pet care at an early age.

For more information on the Pet Care Trust and the Pets in the Classroom grant program, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.

You have heard about the benefits of classroom pets from all of us here at Pets in the Classroom. But hearing information from us is different than hearing the real life feedback from teachers who have participated in the grant program and have seen the positive effect the pets have had on their classroom. So here are a few comments from teachers to help you grasp why we at Pets in the Classroom do what we do!

I would like to thank you for the $100 grant I’ve been awarded. I firmly believe that pets in the classroom can be very beneficial as well as very useful learning tools. Our pets provide students with incentives, teach them responsibility, give opportunities for hands-on learning, and create an atmosphere that make students want to come to school because school is a fun and interesting place to be.

~ Beth Hunt

3^rd grade teacher

The students were so excited to see the fish in the tank. They enjoyed sitting by the tank and observing the fish. The next step will be to incorporate the observation skills and ethograms in their scientific discovery. The aquarium gives the students an alternative to traditional science projects where we experiment. Here the students use genuine observation skills to learn about science through inquiry.

~ Donna Bianco

Thank you so much for this fabulous program! I have been meaning to get a pet for my classroom for a couple years now and this grant finally got me to do it! We’ve only had the pet in the class for a week and already she has made a positive impact on the kids. Thank you for helping me provide a truly special experience for my students.

~ Monica Contreras

2^nd Grade Teacher

That is just a sneak peak of the comments we have received! Stay tuned for more firsthand feedback from teachers who have benefited from the Pets in the Classroom grant!

AnimalFair.com recently published a wonderful article about the Pet Care Trust and the Pets in the Classroom grant program.  Please take a look!

The Pet Care Trust – Puts Trust In The Next Generation

When it comes to promoting our companionship with animals, The Pet Care Trust has made frog leaps and cat bounds in its twenty-one years of incorporation. Founded in 1990 as a non-profit, charitable, public foundation, The Pet Care Trust provides education and support for understanding the joys and benefits of pets.

One of The Pet Care Trust’s foremost programs is Pets in the Classroom (petsintheclassroom.org). Pets in the Classroom was initially established in 2009 to help teachers, pre-K through 6th grade, purchase or maintain pets in the classroom through direct, no-hassle grants involving stores such as; Petco and Petsmart.

The program sponsors a variety of amazing, classroom-friendly animals, including hamsters, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, hermit crabs and fish. And what a purr-fect success it has been thus far. With over 7,000 grant requests since its inception, Pets in the Classroom has brought a pet into the lives of an estimated 210,000 students.

Due to its unyielding success, and voluminous requests from teachers, Pets In The Classroom has now expanded to provide for 7^th and 8^th grade classrooms as well! How incredible! But expanding to middle school was an obvious next step for this thriving organization.

“Middle school students will benefit from interaction with classroom pets as much or more than elementary school children,” commented Pet Care Trust president Brent Weinmann. “7th and 8th grade teachers will be able to incorporate classroom pets into many study areas, helping their pre-teen students gain a greater understanding of the natural world and responsible pet ownership.”

Many cheers to The Pet Care Trust for bringing pet appreciation to hundreds of thousands of young lives with Pets in the Classroom. And there’s no end in sight, according to Weinmann: “This rapid expansion of grant requests is making our goal to reach one million students very realistic. To reach this number we estimate nearly $3 million in grants will need to be issued, The Trust is looking for companies or individuals willing to help us by sponsoring classrooms. As little as $100 can sponsor a classroom and reach approximately 30 kids.”

Kudos to The Pet Care Trust and Pets in the Classroom! To a very successful 2012 year. And remember organizations as benevolent and compassionate, as The Pet Care Trust deserves your help. You can support an entire classroom with just $150! Find out more here: petsintheclassroom.org.