Teachers: Apply NOW for a Classroom Pet Grant or Class Therapy Dog
The Pets in the Classroom Grant is now open for 2024-2025!
Teachers! Want to add a new friend to your classroom? Pets in the Classroom is once again taking applications for the 2024 – 2025 school year starting on August 1st! This amazing grant program provides teachers with financial support to purchase and maintain small animals in their classrooms!
Note that this is not a first come first-served program – ALL teachers who qualify for the Pets in the Classroom program will receive a grant!
The program asks that you carefully consider what type of pet you want for your classroom, as well as district guidelines, and even suggests that you have your students vote on what type of animal they would prefer.
Having an animal in the classroom can enhance the student experience by helping to foster social connections, encourage responsibility, improve self-esteem, and more!
The Pets in the Classroom grant can be applied for every school year.
However, if you have previously received the grant, you will only be eligible for a sustaining grant to help provide for the classroom pet you have already purchased. If you no longer have the original pet, you can also use the sustaining grant to purchase a new pet and supplies.
Teachers, Pre-K through 9th grade, in both public and private schools are eligible to apply for the grants! Head here to learn more about the program.
Note that virtual schools, homeschools, and daycares currently do not qualify for this program.
The Dogs in the Classroom grant application window is also open.
Are you interested in having animal-assisted therapy in your classroom? Apply for a therapy dog on the Pets in the Classroom website.
In addition to adding mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, research shows dogs may help us learn! They can foster reading abilities, enhance object recognition and categorization, mitigate stress levels, provide a source of motivation, and more!
Pets in the Classroom has received awesome feedback from readers who are also teachers…
I did this last year and my students loved it. Take a look at the different stores and their coupons before deciding what to do. Petco gave a coupon for a free enclosure and 50% off the pet whereas Petsmart gave 50% off the enclosure and a free pet.
I walked out of Petco with a $200 cage, supplies, and a pet for just $32 out of pocket!
I did this last year and have a beta fish in my classroom. My students LOVE it! So easy to apply and get your pet from the store.
This program is amazing. They also have a sustaining grant so that you are able to receive up to a certain amount in supplies each year for your pet received with the grant. I bought supplies, submitted receipts, and received a check back.
I did this 6 years ago and got an aquarium for my classroom. Every year since I have gotten the sustaining grant and it has been enough that I have never paid a penny out of pocket for our class pets. (This is not the case with all animals that you could choose because some are just more expensive to upkeep.) This is seriously the easiest grant I have ever applied for as a teacher and all of my students have loved it!
I am an animal science teacher who has classroom pets. Our pets are cared for amazingly and get wonderful care. I think this is a great program and they provide lots of info on what owning certain pets entails. They also ask good questions. I am not saying every teacher should get a pet but for those that do their research and have a solid plan for weekends/vacation/summer, it’s an awesome program. As a teacher that invests a lot of her own money in our animal’s enrichment, food, supplies, etc., this is a great way to give back to teacher’s as well.
Also consider checking if your local animal shelter has adoptable small pets! I work at a large animal shelter and we are currently overrun with guinea pigs…currently we have a “name your own adoption fee” for them and I am sure other shelters with small critters are in similar situations. ☺️
Thanks for sharing that, Elle! Good to know!
Please do not get a rabbit as a class pet. They are not meant to be kept in small cages. They need at least a 4 foot by 4 foot space and let out to roam for hours. They deserve so much better than to be in a classroom
Add: I have a rabbit rescue fill of surrendered rabbits where people don’t realize how much work they are and give them up.
Totally agree and second this.
Agree, as much as I love this idea of a classroom pet, are these teachers taking these rabbits home at the end of the day? Or are they just leaving them in a tiny PetSmart cage until tomorrow? Just seems super abusive. I’m genuinely interested to learn more from others who have classroom pets. Anyone can reply!
Yes!!! Please do not get rabbits! They need much more care and room than people think. It’s so sad seeing them in tiny cages. They are much smarter than that.
I’m legit and have a work email and work at a school; but do they call the principal? I’m not his favorite and I’m sure extra calls or emails at the beginning of the school year would be an annoyance.
It has been several years since I did the initial grant but for the sustaining grant there is a form that the principal signs. I believe it is the same for the initial grant. You could always get a signature from the assistant principal.
How neat! SO glad to hear the fish has been a hit! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Are public libraries able to apply?
Oh cool! Thanks for the helpful tip!
What animals are available or what animals have teachers recieved?
There is a list on their website. I am picking up our bearded dragon tomorrow!
Because teachers don’t have enought to do already! Who takes care of it on weekends and holidays?
I am an High School Ag teacher( I teach animal science) so I usually do:-) lol I come to school when needed and work the summer, too. But, this is a great program for a teacher. They really help with a lot of the initial cost.
Please do your research before getting a class pet. If you can’t provide adequate housing, proper attention, and quality food, then please reconsider getting a classroom pet. I rescue animals that are not properly cared for.
Thank you for the important reminder to research and provide the best care for a class pet, Nikki! 🐾 ❤️