The Pet Care Trust - News Releases

Having met with over 750 teachers in the past 3 years in day-long Pet Care Trust "Animals in the Classroom" workshops, I can assure you that invertebrate animals are of great interest to teachers at all grade levels. Appropriate invertebrates afford a number of benefits in classrooms, as well as, for apartment and mobile home dwellers. School administration concerns regarding animals in classrooms include: potential exposure to allergies or disease; odor control; space constraints; trauma from bites and scratches. While all of these concerns can be mitigated for most pet species, fish and invertebrates are least likely to create allergies, illness, odor, or trauma and they require minimal space. In addition, most suitable invertebrates are easy "keepers" and can survive well over weekends and short holidays without daily attention. Most of these animals are relatively inexpensive and require simple habitats, which are considerations for most teachers. Finally, teachers attending the pet industry sponsored workshops are inquisitive, they are looking for new experience for their students and they want classroom animal lessons that will expose students to the diversity of life and nature. Invertebrate animals are little known to the general public and common misconceptions and prejudices against these alternative pet animals often assumed. The myths and negative attitudes children have learned about tarantulas, millipedes, and other animals, provide new knowledge and insights about the invertebrate species and their value in nature. Lesson plans can introduce the need for accurate scientific information, dissolve myths and expand our tolerance and understanding of "strange", unknown or under-appreciated animal life.

In 2000, the U.S. Pet Industry Foundation, Pet Care Trust Board of Trustees funded a small grant to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. The private, non-profit Museum uses interactive exhibits and educational programs to promote an appreciation and understanding of plant and animal life and the earth's ecosystems from the past through the present. The museum has a large collection of reptiles and invertebrates for public viewing, and wanted to expand the museum experience to a "hands-on" outreach program for regional rural school districts. The focus was on the correct care and understanding of invertebrate species and the audience was teachers and children. An invertebrate curriculum project for schools was perfect, since it provided teacher information that could be shared with other natural history museums and it would supplement the Pet Care Trust "Animals in the Classroom" Manual's section on invertebrates. After one year of development, the Natural History Museum now has the "TLC of Non-Traditional Pets" program with weekly presentations, demonstrations and live invertebrate animal interaction in schools. The program is available for other museums for their use and will no doubt spread to other cities.

The Program focuses on three groups of invertebrates: scorpions, tarantulas and millipedes. The Museum does not encourage collecting from the wild, so two of the least venomous and most interesting scorpions, and are found in pet stores, were selected - the African Flat Rock and the Emperor scorpions. A number of tarantulas are listed, but only the most available species that are generally regarded as docile are used - Chilean Rose Hair and Mexican Red Knee. The classroom millipede recommended is the African Giant Black millipede. The basic lesson plan for all of these species is the appropriate Habitat, Care and Feeding of these animals. Teachers and students are trained how to provide the basic habitat needs, substrate, the right food, water delivery and temperature. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate observation and records of development changes and behavior, to define animal characteristics specific to the species and to investigate how the animal relates to its environment and to other animals. Other lesson plans include: Invertebrate "Fact vs. Fiction", the "Value of Invertebrates" and "Spinning a Web/Making A Home".

All of these educational efforts help to provide a better understanding of invertebrate pets and free living animals. The LV Museum's Curriculum will now be shared with all teachers attending the Pet Care Trust workshops. Presently, the Animals in the Classroom teacher's manual includes a chapter on invertebrate animals, featuring lesson plans for: 1. science studies with Brine Shrimp; 2. hatching Triops, a prehistoric animal; 3. Butterflies and butterfly gardens; 4. care and keeping of Hermit (land) Crabs; and, 5. Cricket metamorphosis, care and keeping. Each section provides the basic care for the animals including habitat, diet and management. Safe handling and transport of animals is essential for the protection of the animals and of the students. The lessons teacher's workshop are designed to teach biology, behavior, chemistry, physics and geography to K-12 students. The basic concepts for students of all ages are to recognize animals as important living creatures and to understand the need for humane care through cooperation and compassion in the classroom setting. Hopefully these lessons and exposure to animals at school will carry over into everyday life and will result in healthier and happier animals and animal owners.

In February, 2001, Pet Care Trust, Program Coordinator John Pitts, presented the Animals in the Classroom workshop in Las Vegas at the Natural History Museum. Twenty-seven teachers attended the full day presentations learning about small mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles. The Museum staff presented their newly developed invertebrate animals' session. The Museum and the teachers were so impressed by the workshop, that they invited Dr. Pitts to return in 2002. Several other groups including the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo, the New Jersey Animals Science & Knowledge, Atlanta's Inner Harbour Hospitals, Sacramento Teachers Assn, World Wide Pet Supply Assn, and Pet Industry Distributors Assn, have also requested repeat workshops. Each teacher enrolled receives a $100-125 Teacher's Pet Certificate for equipment and supplies purchased at local pet stores. Through June 2001, 767 teachers have attended workshops in 13 states. This year, the Pet Care Trust received 28 requests for workshops in 2002 in 20 States and Canada. Unfortunately, there is only a budget for 10 workshops. The interest and the needs are obviously there, and schools, humane societies and other animal based education groups are looking for help. The Pet Care Trust provides objective and accurate information about pets and human/animal in school settings. Any pet industry member, company or public group interested in funding or supporting animal education requested for schools, students and teachers should visit www.petcaretrust.org and contact John Pitts, DVM, 360-765-3311 or jlpitts@olympus.net.

John L. Pitts, DVM, June 26, 2001