The Pet Care Trust - News Releases

U.S. Humane Educators Invited to Attend Animals in the Classroom Workshops

The Pet Care Trust is the U.S. pet industry's non-profit research and education foundation. The mission of the Trust is to promote public understanding regarding the value of companion animals, to enhance society's knowledge through research and education and to provide information to members of the companion animal community. Over the past four years, the Trust has distributed $303,000 in grants for animal health and welfare research, companion animal education and enhancement of the human-animal bond. Some of those grants went to shelters or animal rescue organizations to support innovative programs, to veterinary schools for companion animal health and welfare projects and for programs that enhance positive human-animal interaction.

The foundation's primary education effort is the Animals in the Classroom teacher workshop and Teacher's Pet certificate program In the past two years, 534 teachers have attended 18 national workshops on the selection and care of appropriate animals for school classrooms. Since an estimated 25% of teachers keep or invite animals into classroom (A.G. Rudd, Asst. Dean Education, Alan Beck, School Vet Med, Purdue Univ., 1999), we believe that it is important that teachers understand how to select suitable animals, insure animal responsibility, avoid risk and encourage student compassion for all life. The Workshop Manual deals with selected small mammals, aquarium fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invetebrates, with suggested lesson plans for teaching science, math, animal behavior, geography and art. The underlying lesson plan is student responsibility and the daily care of living creatures. While we do not recommend dogs and cats as residents in classrooms, the program includes dog bite prevention and animal overpopulation issues. In order to present accurate information and help educate students about companion animals in our society, teachers are encouraged to seek information and help from local shelter and SPCA humane educators, the veterinary medical community, zoos/aquariums and community pet stores. Teachers need good mentors to help support quality education and local resources are vital to good education.

Initially, the Animals in the Classroom workshops were presented in conjunction with pet industry trade shows, but the workshop program is now more diversified. School districts have organized several workshops, the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo invited 40 teachers to attend an April 2000 workshop and will repeat in March, 2001, Providence RI Animals Rescue league hosted a workshop in 2000, and, the New Jersey Animals, Science and Knowledge (ASK) program will collaborate again in 2001. Humane societies, shelters and rescue leagues have always been at the forefront of animal welfare education efforts. There are many groups working toward expanded community education and awareness about support for companion animal health and welfare. The Pet Care Trust would like to work with humane educators to offer our support where appropriate and when invited. If your humane education program is interested in collaborating to present the "Animals in the Classroom" workshop for teachers and humane organization staff in your area, we are certainly interested in working with you.

Dr. John Pitts, a veterinarian, is the workshop speaker and program coordinator. His time, expenses and travel are funded by the Pet Care Trust. A $25 teacher enrollment fee covers the workshop manual and materials, and the U.S. pet industry provides a $125 Teacher's Pet certificate for each attending teacher or humane educator, for use at local pet stores. Educators can select equipment and materials needed for their classroom or animal education program. Humane educators who coordinate a workshop in their community, invite teachers, collect enrollment fees and provide a meeting space, AV equipment and coffee will also receive certificates for their effort. A minimum of 25 teachers must be enrolled prior to each workshop date. Please note, Pet Care Trust programs are not commercial or sales presentations. The Foundation's non-profit registration status precludes any advertising or commercialism. Additional information about the Animals in the Classroom workshop and other Pet Care Trust programs is available at www.petcaretrust.org

The Pet Care Trust's companion education program, "Animals To the Classroom" is a seminar for Pet Retail owners and their employees. This program focuses on helping the pet retailer to cooperate and coordinate with local schools and teachers, by providing quality information and teaching risk avoidance with animals visiting classrooms. Zoonotic disease, allergies and positive messages about companion animals are emphasized. To date 120 pet retailers have attended three national seminars and three are scheduled in 2001.

The Pet Care Trust Board of Trustees hopes that this brief overview provides basic information about the Pet Care Trust and its programs. Please see our web site for the 2001, Animals in the Classroom schedule. If you are interested in attending a workshop or collaborating with the Trust in presenting the Animals in the Classroom workshop in your area, please contact: John Pitts, DVM, Pet Care Trust, 3951 Leland Valley Rd. West, Quilcene, WA 98376. Tele. 360-765-3311; fax 360-765-3399; email jlpitts@olympus.net

Thank you for your interest and concern about companion animals:

Knowledgeable Contact Persons involved in Humane Education include:

Liz Baronowski liz@phsspca.org of the Pasadena Humane Society is familiar with the Pet Care Trust Programs.

Rene Lawry, VMT, Dir. Edu., Inland Valley Humane Society, Pomona, CA attended a 1999 workshop presented in Southern California: 909-623-9777 x 239

Jane Deming, Providence (RI) Animal Rescue League, Education Director, was a collaborator for the Animals in the Classroom Program in October 2000, in Providence, RI. Please contact Jane at education@parl.org.

Year 2001 "Animals in the Classroom"(AC),"Animals To the Classroom"(AtC), Seminars (VM)(AAT)

Workshops to Assist Teachers with the Selection & Care of Appropriate Small Animals in Classrooms and Education Programs for Industry and Organizations with Common Companion Animal Care Interests
The U. S. Pet Industry's Teacher's PetTM Certificate and Pet Care Trust Educational Workshop Program.