A Pet In Every Classroom: How One Nonprofit Is Trying To Make That Dream A Reality

The Pet Care Trust is a nonprofit organization with the following stated vision: "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 that end, they are offering grants for teachers to bring small animals into their classrooms so that children may learn to care for them responsibly.

Photo by Pop Top Lady, flickr

Pets in the Classroom grants are given to public and private elementary and middle schools so that children may learn to bond with and care for small animals. The following types of grants are awarded:

• rebate grants, which reimburse the purchaser for the cost of a small mammal, bird, reptile or fish bought from any pet store
• sustaining grants, which cover the costs of maintaining an existing classroom pet
• store-specific grants, which provide coupons for the purchase of an animal, a habitat and supplies from either Petco, Petsmart, or Pet Supermarket
• glofish grants, which cover the costs of purchasing an aquarium and glofish

Aquarium with a variety of glofish

Over 16,000 grants have been awarded since January of 2010. To learn more about the Pets in the Classroom Program, including how your school can apply for a grant, please visit www.petsintheclassroom.org.