• How to find a good pet store and what do I look for?

• What type of animal will be appropriate for the age level?
• What about animal allergies?
• Who will care for the animals on the weekends?
• What are good standards of husbandry and hygiene?

• The equipment required
• Other considerations

• Canaries
• Finches

• Frogs
• Newts
• Salamanders

• Guinea pigs
• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Mice
• Rats

• Municipal Permits
• Provincial Permits
• Federal Permits

• Some Zoonotic Diseases Found in Pets
• Plan Ahead

There are many reasons for the keeping of live animals in the classroom. Students of all ages can benefit from being exposed to other forms of life. The primary justification, although not the only one, is that live animals in the classroom teach children responsibility. We have a moral obligation as science teachers to foster a respect for our environment among our students. There are many ways of doing this, but classroom pets are a convenient way to bring the environment into the classroom. As well, all too often children and adults alike desire to have pets, but without understanding the commitment level needed and the large responsibility affiliated with pet ownership, sadly many pets suffer greatly from mismanagement, neglect, and abandonment. Raising pets in the classroom help students to understand the needs of the animal and the commitment level of the family or individual.

Another justification for keeping and maintaining animals in the classroom is building empathy within students. Empathy gives students the ability to feel what others feel whether it an animal or a fellow student. Developing this sometimes missing aspect in children may help the issues around bullying. Bullying can spill over into the animal world where people physically harm animals for varying reasons. Building empathy will enhance the desire to be a responsible pet owner and treat animals with respect, understand their needs and meet those needs; hopefully this will spill over into the human world.

A final fundamental justification for the inclusion of animals into your science study is the limited exposure that students have to live animals. This point is especially valid in larger, urban centres. Students from small, rural communities might also have limited exposure to live animals, unless from a farming background. I believe it is our responsibility as science teachers to expose students to the world around them and encourage an active participation in it. Often the "squashing the bug" mentality that students have toward live animals is developed in elementary school. Our "exploitation of natural resources makes our relationship with many creatures a competitive one. It is only the result of responsible attitudes and conscious efforts that our dominance over certain wild species prevents their extinction and avoids unnecessarily upsetting the balance of nature" (Department of Science and Education, 4). This point has potential to parallel understanding Aboriginal ways of knowing. Including animals in your classroom is another way to help incorporate Aboriginal content and demonstrate the benefits of living in harmony with other creatures even if it is on a very simple and small level. Developing the attitude that we are all equal beings on this earth and therefore all deserve to be respected.

In conclusion, there are many therapeutic benefits to associating children and school with pets. I encourage you to read about many of the advantages of classroom pets at the National Pet Week website.

This resource package is not intended to advocate the captivity of wild species, rather to foster a respect for animals through the use of classroom pets. Besides the justifications given above, the use of these animals can be a primary aid for studying the habits and cycles of animals that would be difficult to observe in nature. This concept spans all grade level and Nora's Classroom Animals and Pets Home Page offers many ways to for elementary students to enjoy many different pets and learn from their life cycles and growth patterns while ILAR offers a website of principles and guidelines for using animals for educational purposes.

All animals brought into the classroom should come from a reputable pet store or dealer. This can not be overemphasized. Wild animals carry a host of parasites and diseases and can be against Federal and Provincial law. Those obtained from pet stores are usually bred in captivity and have been checked for diseases and parasites. A good pet store or dealer will not only be a source for animal acquisitions but for support and information as well.

How to find a good pet store and what do I look for?

Word of mouth is always the best. Ask other science teachers where they obtain their animals, and they will be happy to recommend, or not recommend, particular stores. Most stores also have an educational discount for teachers. Make sure you ask!

An alternative is to look in the yellow pages. Always visit the store before purchasing anything. Things to look for in a good pet store are:

• Are the cages clean?
• Are the animals in good health?
• Do the employees handle the animals with confidence? (Always ask the employee to pick up a potential purchase - if they put on steel gloves, you know that particular animal will be unsuitable for a classroom!)
• Are you allowed to handle the animal before purchasing it?
• Are the employees knowledgeable about their animals and products?
• Does the store carry the necessary accessories for your animal?
  

Check out the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association’s website Recommendations for Adopting an Exotic Pet

What type of animal will be appropriate for the age level?

• The animals that we are recommending in this document should be appropriate for all age levels.
• If you do decided to bring a carnivorous species into the classroom, such as a snake into the classroom, we recommend that they be reserved for older students for the infliction of pain on other animals can be traumatic for a younger child.

What about animal allergies?

• The number of people allergic to fur-bearing animals is increasing. The dander is mostly responsible for sneezing, hives, skin reactions, and even extreme difficulty in breathing. If your animal is housed in the classroom, as in most schools, it is your responsibility to ensure that none of your students are allergic. This usually entails sending home a parental consent form.
• If you are allergic, latex gloves and a respiratory mask might help alleviate allergic symptoms when handling the animals.

Who will care for the animals on the weekends?

This is an important consideration in your choice of animal. There are a number of options that can be taken:

• Animals can be left over the weekend. For animals such as fish, this is generally not a problem.
• Animals can be taken home by students on a rotating basis. This works well in elementary schools for small mammals. Of course parental consent is required.
• An agreement between the custodial staff and yourself can be set up to feed the animals or check on their welfare.
• You can come in.

What are good standards of husbandry and hygiene?

• Obtain animals from a reputable source.
• Isolate sick looking animals immediately. Contact a veterinarian or the pet store where the animal was obtained.
• Cages and rooms for isolating animals should be vermin proof.
• Keep all foodstuffs in tight-fitting containers.
• Wash all fresh produce thoroughly before feeding to animals. If there are persistent problems with fruit flies, wash with 1% bleach and THOROUGHLY rinse (minimum three rinses).
• Dispose of uneaten food immediately.
• Establish a consistent routine of cleaning. Small rodent cages should be cleaned at least once or twice a week. All feeding utensils should be cleaned at least once a week. Dilute bleach generally works well. Be sure to rinse well.
• Students should wash hands prior to handling animals and after. Protective clothing should be worn if the animals are prone to scratching and biting.
  

1. Aquarium - shallow tanks are preferred because they provide a greater area for oxygen to diffuse in the water. For a non-standard tank, such as a fish bowl, a rule of thumb is the height of the water should be no higher than the diameter of the opening. Whenever possible, use standard size aquaria. They are meant to withstand the pressure of the water. When filled with water, they can weigh over 50 kg, so a stable surface is required to maintain the integrity of the tank. Tanks are best kept away from windows, as this promotes algae growth. A common way of minimizing light is to put decorative paper on three sides of the tank. Most aquaria have canopies that provide for lighting sources. When tanks are first purchased they should be cleaned with fresh water. NEVER use detergent to clean the inside of a fish tank, as this kills the fish.
2. Heater - for tropical fish this is essential. A temperature range of 22 ºC to 24 ºC is suitable for most tropical fish. Fish that are kept in tanks where water temperatures fluctuate more than 5ºC sometimes die due to the presence of an ectoparasite called "ich".
3. Filter and pump - this ensures that the tank is kept free of debris and water is circulated.
4. Rocks and gravel - all aquaria floor materials should be washed thoroughly with fresh water to eliminate dust and other debris. Ornamental rocks can also be used. The aquaria floor should slope toward the front so that debris which accumulates is easily visible.
5. Plants - these can be real or artificial. If using real plants, plant them in groups of the same kind of plant. Allow a week for root establishment before introducing fish. Real plants require an adequate source of light for proper growth. Canopies with self-containing light bulbs are good for this.
6. Water - Tap water is suitable for most aquatic plants and fresh water fish (unless it is known to be hard). Since tap water contains some dissolved chlorine gas, it should be left standing for 48 hours to allow gas dispersal before introducing fish. Filtered water from a reverse osmosis filter system is often recommended
7. Tank cover - if the tank does not have a commercially fitted cover, a sheet of glass or plastic should be used. This glass cover should be placed on four corks (or pieces of velcro to prevent accidental slippage). The corks help prevent condensation buildup. Commercially available canopies are available. A cover is essential to reduce evaporation and prevent contamination.
8. Fish! - there are two types of fish: cold-water and tropical
     o Tropical fish require a heater in the tank. Some suitable examples to begin a tropical tank are Guppies, Mollies and      Swordtails. These fishes are viviparous ("live-bearers").
     o Cold-water fish do not require a heater. Goldfish and stickleback thrive well in aquaria.
     o Links - A World of Fish, Fish geeks, and Aquaria central are just a few of the many available
9. Fish food - commercially prepared food is available at almost every pet store. Do not overfeed. If the amount of food given cannot be eaten within five minutes, then it is too much.

Other considerations

• Handling of fish should be kept to a minimum. Fish should always be transferred using an aquarium net.
• Water in an aquarium should be crystal clear. Algae can be scraped off the sides with a razor like scraper, or a bottom-feeder fish can be purchased to help alleviate the problem. Fish droppings provide essential nutrients to aquatic plants. Clean-up of this "mulm" should only be done when there is an excess.
• Avoid changing the water in a tank all at once. If necessary, siphon off one-quarter of the water each week and replace with water of the same temperature that has been degassed of chlorine (by sitting out for 48 hours).
• Dead fish should be removed immediately and disposed of.

Visit the website recommended by the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association Goldfish - animalhealthcare.ca

The following is a list of equipment needed to keep small mammals:

1. Cage - for most small mammals polypropylene cages with metal wire interlocking tops are the most appropriate. The tops MUST hook onto the bottom of the cage to prevent escapees! Bulldog clips make great reinforcements if attached where the base and wiring of the cage meet. All cages should be easy to clean.
2. Food and water containers - there are many types of food hoppers available. Some come as part of the cage top design and are designed for food pellets. Others are attached to the side of the container (guinea pig cages). Both should be kept at least half full. The advantage of these types of food hoppers is that several days supply of food can be supplied at once. Water should not be put in open containers as it tends to get soiled easily. Small mammals can be trained to drink from a water container. Avoid water containers with glass nozzles as they have a tendency to break and injure the animal.
3. Floor Litter - should not be edible, toxic, or contaminated. A variety of substrates are appropriate: sawdust from softwoods (hardwoods contain irritant materials), wood shavings, peat moss, vermiculite, and other commercially prepared floor litter from the pet store.
4. Nesting Material - small rodents like shredded white paper for nesting.

Some sites to get you thinking about ways to incorporate animals into your classroom:

Environment Canada - Kids Activities and Education – the focus is on eastern Canada, but is a good place to get ideas for your own original lesson plans

Discovery.com – oodles of lesson plans from K-12 – lots of great ideas

Animals in the Classroom Activities – a couple ideas about reproduction, caring for animals and mice genetics

Proteacher – tones of information and activities about animals. This is a nice site because it separates the data according to birds, mammals, fish etc. so you can search out information specific to a classroom pet

Discovery Channel – lots of lesson plans from K-12 with plenty of information about specific animals, however the information is not particularly focused around classroom pets as much as it is around the animal kingdom in general.

….the list goes on, inquire about potential diseases before you choose to adopt. The Government of Canada has a very thorough website that has an A-Z listing of all disease (not just zoonotic diseases). You many find the Center for Disease Control and Prevention useful to investigate diseases that you hear about, but are unfamiliar with.

Plan Ahead
Plan for illness and other factors that will require a veterinarian - these things cost money. If you decide to adopt a pet, set aside a portion of your budget for vet bills, food, maintenance, and medicine if warranted. Instead of budget money consider having your class fund raise or collect donations. However you do it, just make sure you have a plan for illness so check out this site for a more detailed approach to proper planning.