For Immediate Release:

Pets in the Classroom Program Sets Goal of Reaching 1 Million Children

Bel Air, Maryland – April 20, 2011

The Pet Care Trust announced that they have targeted reaching 1 million children in 30,000 classrooms across North America through their popular Pets in the Classroom grants program.  The program, established by the Pet Care Trust in 2009, provides grants of $100-$150 to purchase or adopt a new pet and required equipment or $50 to support existing classroom pets.

Steve King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust, says the program has had a powerful impact in elementary school classrooms throughout North America. In just one year the program has awarded grants to nearly 3,000 classrooms, giving up to 90,000 kids the opportunity to interact with a pet every day.  “The feedback we are receiving from teachers is overwhelmingly positive,” King says.  “At a time when school budgets are being slashed nationwide, Pets in the Classroom allows teachers to provide valuable enrichment activities through a classroom pet of their choosing.”

Sixth grade teacher Susan Dougherty-Fitzpatrick expressed her appreciation for the program, explaining, “This year, our entire fifth grade of over 150 students was allowed to learn about tree frogs and hermit crabs in our unit, ‘Systems and Survival’. Without your help and support, we would not have been able to undertake such a project and cannot thank you enough.”

The Pets in the Classroom program benefits students by teaching them responsible, long-term pet care at an early age and providing the psychological and developmental benefits associated with the human-animal bond.  Studies have shown that caring for pets has a positive effect on children, improving school attendance and teaching children responsibility, as well as encouraging nurturing and building self esteem.  Pets in the Classroom grant recipients confirm that having a classroom pet has a big impact on their students. “My students are learning how to be responsible care takers and the best of all, my very shy student and English language learners are talking now!” says Mrs. Johnson, a first grade teacher from Kentucky.

In the first year, approximately one-third of the funding has gone to freshwater aquariums. Another one-third has funded small animals, such as guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. Reptiles, amphibians and birds comprise the final one-third, with snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs most popular.

For more information, please visit www.petsintheclassroom.org and view a video documenting the impact of the Pets in the Classroom program at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGtQdRUyWrI.

As teachers, you have the unique opportunity of being a human role model when it comes to your classroom pet.  This includes consistently providing required care for your classroom pet, establishing clear rules for humane treatment of your classroom pet and diligently supervising your students in their interactions with the pet.

As a teacher with a pet in the classroom, you have the ability to show students how to properly care for pets and to develop skills that will last a lifetime.  You can also play a role in offering your students all of the benefits that come along with a classroom pet – increased self esteem, learning responsibility and developing stronger social skills.

Participating in the daily care of a classroom pet teaches children responsibility, and with you as a role model you can be sure your students will leave your classroom with a strong commitment to caring for any pet. Helping to take care of a pet gives a child a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially if the animal is able to return the affection.  In fact, studies conducted by the Waltham Centre have shown that children with pets have higher levels of self-esteem than those without pets.  Many types of classroom pets love human contact and can become a child’s best buddy. Kids can even develop strong human animal bonds with non-responsive animals such as fish or turtles. These relationships help to strengthen a child’s social skills, giving them the potential to do better in a school setting.

Not sure what type of pet to obtain for your classroom?  Researching various types of classroom pets makes a great research project for your students.  You can divide your students into project groups and assign each group a potential classroom pet to research – small mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians.  Have each group research the various types of pets within their classification that might be appropriate pets, and allow them to either present the class with options, or choose one “finalist” that they recommend.

Each project should include general information on the pet (origins, size, habits, etc.), cost, habitat description, basic care for the animal, handling and training information, and how the group decided on the winner.  Projects could include an informative poster or an organized presentation to the class.  Each group could also submit a written summary, and all summaries could be incorporated into one information booklet.

A classroom pet research project incorporates several different valuable learning skills, such as working within a group, researching, analysis of data and coming to a conclusion, as well as writing and creative skills.  Your students will find out things they didn’t know about all of the animals researched, and the classroom will have enough shared information to make a group decision on which pet would be best for your classroom.

Once the presentations are completed, plan for a classroom vote to choose your new classroom pet!

Having a pet in the classroom can inspire your students to reach out to pets that are less fortunate. This spring, consider planning a class project to collect donations of items on your local animal shelter’s wish list. Spring is typically the time when shelters are fuller, with puppies and kittens being brought in daily. Most shelters rely on donations from the community to keep their temporary residents comfy, cozy and well-fed.

Contact your local shelter to find out what items they would like to have donated. These could include pet food, towels and blankets, kitty litter, pet toys, cleaning supplies and office supplies. Get the class involved with planning the donation drive in your school. Students can write up bulletins for the school newsletter and school announcements, as well as advertising the drive through creative posters and flyers. Students can even plan to visit other classrooms to explain the importance of the collection and talk a little about responsible pet ownership.

Re-use cardboard boxes to create eye-catching donation centers to place throughout the school. Once your collection period has reached the end, contact the shelter to arrange for items to be picked up, or to deliver the items to the shelter. Many shelters have an outreach or education program, and would be happy to send a representative to your class. This spring, share your classroom’s love of their pet with homeless pets in your community.

Did you know that you can train your classroom ferret to do simple tricks?  By using a routine of simple positive reinforcement, you can train your ferret to come when called, ride on your shoulder, sit up or lie on his back for treats.  Food treats are a great motivator for training many animals.  Ferrets have short attention spans and are avid explorers, so Pets in the Classroom suggests you try to do your training work in an area already familiar to your ferret so you can keep his attention.

To teach your ferret to come when called, you can use a squeaky toy to get his attention, call his name and offer the treat.  Keep repeating until the ferret begins to associate getting a treat with hearing his name.  Ferrets have very sensitive hearing, and if you use different sounds for different tricks, they will begin to associate unique sounds with certain tricks. This makes for more creative classroom learning!

Your ferret can learn to sit up for treats by luring him up to a “begging” position with a treat.  Use your finger to point up as you get the ferret to sit up – eventually he will associate the hand signal with sitting up.  Work with your ferret to roll on his back for a belly rub and give him treats.  Ferrets will work for food!

Training your ferret can be a great classroom activity, teaching kids patience, persistence and the power of positive reinforcement.  Just remember to keep the training routine on a schedule and don’t overdo the amount of treats given! Ferrets make a wonderful and entertaining classroom pet.

For more information on this educational grants program, visit our website at www.petsintheclassroom.org!

Pets in the Classroom wants teachers to have small animals in their classroom. Have you thought about a chinchilla as a classroom pet? Here are some interesting facts on this furry friend!

Chinchillas are crepuscular rodents (meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk, like rabbits) native to the Andes mountains in South America.  They are known for their distinctive, silky-soft fur coat.  Chinchillas typically live about fifteen years, and if handled from a young age can be tame and enjoy bonding with humans.  They are active and playful pets that are fairly easy to care for.

One of the most unusual things about caring for your chinchilla is that this pet requires regular dust baths.  At least twice a week your chinchilla should be offered the chance to bathe in special chinchilla dust that helps to absorb excess oils and keep the coat in beautiful condition.  Chinchillas seem to really enjoy their dust baths, too.  They roll and flip around in the dust very enthusiastically!

Chinchillas like a regular routine for handling and feeding times.  They stay healthy on a basic diet of roughage and chinchilla pellets.  They like a fairly quiet environment, and need a spacious cage with a spot to hide and room to exercise.  Chinchillas need to chew, so chew toys, wood blocks or pumice stones from your pet retailer should be incorporated into their environment to keep their teeth healthy.

Research this unusual classroom pet and its care to see if it’s the right choice for your classroom.

To apply for your educational grant for a classroom pet just click here, applying could not be easier!

Interested in bringing a reptile into the classroom? Pets in the Classroom suggests, before you run down to the local pet shop, consider adopting a pet from one ofyour city’s herpetological groups.  All of the animals available through organizations like the Phoenix Herpetological Society have been rescued or abandoned by their previous owners and are in desperate need of a permanent, loving environment.

The goal is to provide healthy and safe habitats for hundreds of reptile species including turtles, lizards, snakes, alligators, and others.  Along with providing safe housing and relocation for these animals, these herpetological groups are setting out on a venture to educate the public on responsible ownership and proper human-animal interactions.

Some of the ways these organizations accomplish their goals is through school programs and consumer groups and foundations.  The Phoenix Herpetological Society even offers live reptile summer camps for children of all ages.  These programs are composed of educational presentations, arts and crafts projects, and even field trips through the PHS facility.

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to reptiles, and most are feared simply because they are misunderstood.  With organizations like PHS at work, kids as young as three years old are getting the opportunity to be exposed to some of the world’s most beautiful creatures.  At Pets in the Classroom, we understand the benefits of introducing children to animals of all kinds and support the furthering of animal education in public schools.

For more information on organizations in your state, visit www.anapsid.org/societies/#us.

To apply for your grant visit us at www.petsintheclassroom.org!

If spiders don’t give you the shivers, they can make fascinating pets.  Tarantulas are among the most popular pets and there are over 800 species of Theraphosidae that are native to a variety of areas and climates.  Before deciding on a tarantula for your classroom pet, you’ll need to know a little something about them.

The best tarantulas for beginners are the slower-moving burrowing types such as Chilean Rose, Costa Rican Zebra, Mexican Redknee, Desert/Mexican Blonde or Curly Hair Tarantula.  Female tarantulas generally live longer than males – sometimes up to 20 years!  When purchasing a tarantula, find out the scientific name, age and sex of the spider so you will know how to best care for it.

Tarantulas don’t need a large enclosure, but they do need substrate to burrow in, a hiding place, and a secure, ventilated top to the enclosure.  They are not social, and should be housed individually.  Once you know the requirements of your species of tarantula, you can determine proper temperature and humidity levels.  You may need to mist the enclosure once per week, or more frequently.  The tarantula’s water dish should be shallow to prevent drowning.  Most tarantulas don’t need to eat daily, but require a steady diet of crickets and other insects.

Handling the tarantula is not generally recommended, although they can become acclimated to being held on the palm of the hand. Spiders are easily injured if they jump or fall, and even a minor fall can be fatal.  They can bite if provoked, resulting a bite much like a bee sting, and some species have hairs that can be irritating to the skin.  Tarantulas can be a fascinating addition to your classroom study as students observe its behavior, feeding and molting process as it grows.

Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program, to help you have a classroom pet for your students. Grants up to $150.00 are awarded to teachers, K-6th Grade, in Canada and the USA. Go to www.petsintheclassroom.org and apply for your grant online.

When you receive your Pets in the Classroom grant, you have the choice of where to get your new classroom pet.  There are a wide variety of retailers for small animals, birds, fish and pet supplies, and you will want to go to a reputable and knowledgeable retailer that can offer you expertise and advice on your new pet.  Many areas have local organizations of pet fanciers that can point you in the right direction.  A good pet store should be neat, clean and odor-free, and pets in the store should look healthy and well-cared for.  Look for active animals with clear eyes and good coats or coloring. Never buy an animal you think is sick or because you feel sorry for it. There should be friendly and knowledgeable sales associates to help you make the best choice for your classroom, and answer questions you may have on caring for your new pet.  There should be a good selection of food and supplies for the pet you are interested in.

Retail pet professionals should be honest in answering your questions about your classroom pet’s needs, instead of trying to sell you things you don’t need or that are inappropriate for the animal.  They may recommend equipment or supplies that will be better for your pet, based on their knowledge of the latest products available.  They should be able to recommend a local veterinarian who treats small animals, reptiles or birds, and will also recommend books that pertain to your pet. The retailer should be tremendous resources for teachers!

You’ll want to find a pet supply store that will be a good resource for you throughout the life of your classroom pet.  Questions may arise after you’ve had the pet for a while, or as the pet grows and matures, and you’ll want to have a professional who can help you meet your classroom pet’s needs along the way.

For additional information on Pets in the Classroom grants, tips, and more visit www.petsintheclassroom.org