Pet Care Trust offers Cure to 2nd Semester Boredom through Classroom Pets

Grants available to eligible Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade teachers nationwide

With teachers facing cold weather blues and 2nd semester tedium, one organization is ready to help provide some excitement and warmth to classrooms across the country. The Pet Care Trust is once again aiding teachers in obtaining an important educational tool in 2014: classroom pets.

The Pet Care Trust's Pets in the Classroom grant program will continue to provide grants in 2014 to Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade teachers in both private and public schools for the purpose of purchasing and maintaining classroom pets.  Classroom animals are wonderful resources for teachers that, when incorporated into lesson plans, can make learning fun in any subject. Plus, 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.

The grant program, which began in 2010, has awarded over 38,000 grants to teachers, with over 15,250 of them being awarded this school year.  This equates to over 1.9 million kids who have been given the opportunity to have a better school experience through the Pets in the Classroom grant program. With a goal of introducing 5 million children in 100,000 classrooms to pets and the benefits they provide, the Trust hopes that the 2013-2014 school year will continue to see a large number of grant applicants.

“We are delighted with the continued growth of the Pets in the Classroom program,” commented Pet Care Trust Executive Director Steve King. “Teachers tell us every day that introducing a pet into their classroom has increased students’ enthusiasm for school, improved in-class behavior and added an element of fun into their daily routine. We are committed to helping every teacher who wants a classroom pet to get one.”
Many school teachers have very limited resources for the support of classroom animals, and the Pet Care Trust believes in supporting teachers with this educational grants program. Teachers can apply for a direct, no-hassle grant through the Pets in the Classroom website (www.PetsintheClassroom.org). The program offers different types of grants, giving each teacher the opportunity to choose which grant is right for him or her.

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