Shaping Lives With Classroom Pets
Pets in the Classroom brings the joy and wonder of pets into the classroom to enhance learning. Our grant program supports responsible pet care for Pre-K to 8th grade public and private school classrooms.
Marie’s Story, Fort Worth, Texas
“My students come from very poor, rough neighborhoods and homes. When school first started six weeks ago, I had to write multiple referrals per day for violent acts. Since Ella the Guinea Pig came to share our classroom, I
have not had any violent acts, and the noise level has gone way down because
they don't want her to be frightened. They beg their families to let them bring a carrot stick from home or they ask me if they can save part of their lunch to share with her.The best part is watching the empathy they developed for Ella begin to transfer
to their peers. Ella has done something in four weeks that I may or may not have been able to do all year.”
It’s hard to explain how a turtle or a rabbit helps a child learn to read or do math. But it happens, every day in the classrooms where The Pet Care Trust has made a grant. Classroom pets provide opportunities for learning, improve school attendance, and
develop strong human-animal bonds.
Grants will allow teachers to develop a pet’s home within his or her own classroom. The donation will also aid in purchasing a pet, the pet’s habitat, food, bedding, toys, gravel, filters, lights or anything else required to support a pet to live and impact
the classroom.
Our goal is for 5 million students to experience the joy of a companion animal at school. Every $100 donation will help reach 45 students.
Can you help?
“It was inspiring to watch the students, at first apprehensive, become much more understanding of the gentleness of a snake. It is absolutely beautiful.” –Josh Langenberger, Freehold, NJ
Since the inception of our program, we have provided over 50,000 grants, reaching more than 2,250,000 students. Our program has been so successful, that we have set a new goal to reach 5,000,000 students over the next five years.
About the Pet Care Trust
“Making pets a part of everyone’s life.”
The Pets in the Classroom is administered by The Pet Care Trust, a non-profit, charitable, public foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our purpose is to help promote public understanding regarding the value of and right to enjoy
companion animals, to enhance knowledge about companion animals through research and education, and to promote professionalism among members of the companion animal community.
To promote public understanding of the joys and benefits of pets through education, support, and interaction.
Our Role
***To sponsor and disseminate information on companion animal programs and the role of companion animals in improving the quality of life of pet owners.
***To collect and disseminate educational materials to teachers and schools, the media and the pet industry on responsible ownership and pet care.
***To interact with associations, organizations and societies in order to coordinate programs of mutual interest.
***To educate the public on benefits of the human animal bond and human companion animal bond.
***To be an information resource for the general public and pet industry.
The Pet Care Trust is instrumental in the sponsorship of programs supporting companion animals.
The Pet Care Trust:
Provides the Pets in the Classroom Program to help teachers (pre-K through 8th grade) purchase or maintain pets in the classroom through direct, no-hassle
grants.
Josh Langenberger's Story, Howell Memorial Middle School, Freehold, NJ
A phenomenal opportunity to bring a pet into our 7th grade science classroom. There were many opportunities throughout the year to reinforce responsible pet ownership along with the understanding of maintaining a license to own our corn snake. The students
watched him grow and become a companion to many students. It was inspiring to watch the students, at first apprehensive, become much more understanding of the gentleness of a snake. It is absolutely beautiful.
