Pets In the Classroom

10/30/2025

Discover how the human-animal bond boosts mental and physical health, helps with stress and loneliness, and improves quality of life for pet parents.

10/28/2025

When your classroom pets understand the Halloween assignment.

Will your pet be dressing up this week?

10/27/2025

10/25/2025

Across the nation, teachers are seeing more students arrive at school overwhelmed and unable to focus. The National Institute of Health reports that nearly one in three adolescents experiences an anxiety disorder, a statistic that’s becoming increasingly visible in today’s classrooms.

Research from Purdue University shows that interactions with animals can help calm stress and bring emotional balance. In our latest teacher survey, 94% of educators noticed reduced anxiety after bringing a classroom pet into their learning environment. One teacher shared, “My hamster has been a source of comfort, emotional support, and helps ease social anxiety in my classroom. I have had students come to my room just to be able to hold the hamster because they needed that comfort that only a pet can give.”

Through Pets in the Classroom, teachers can receive funding, resources, and guidance to bring a pet into their classroom, creating a safe space where students can breathe easier, practice empathy, and reconnect with learning.

Have you seen how animals can make a difference in your students’ emotional well-being? Tell us about it in the comments below.

10/23/2025

From calming anxious minds to building confidence and responsibility, pets bring a steady source of comfort and connection into the classroom. In fact, 94% of teachers in our recent survey reported that their classroom pet helped reduce student anxiety.

Read real teacher stories and explore practical ways to use your classroom pet to support emotional health in our latest blog. Link in bio.

10/21/2025

Pets in the Classroom is excited to share a research study in partnership with Purdue University!

While the study is no longer seeking teachers who currently have or have had classroom pets, they are still looking for teachers without classroom pets to participate.

Here’s more information on behalf of the study:

Hello, teachers! We are doing a study entitled “Exploring the impacts of pets on the classroom environment” (Purdue IRB Protocol #2025-706).

You may be eligible for the study if you are greater than 18 years of age, and you are a teacher in a K-12 classroom.
This study is NOT limited to classrooms with pets – we are specifically seeking more non-pet classrooms for our study!

If you complete each survey, you will receive $30 in the form of an Amazon e-gift card ($10 for each survey to be paid at the end of the study).

If you are interested, please click the link to view the consent form and to complete the screening portion of the study, indicating your interest.

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code on the attached flyer. Thank you for your consideration!

https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPWKX55Hy0gifk2

10/21/2025

It’s National Reptile Awareness Day!

From bearded dragons to leopard geckos and turtles, classroom reptiles teach students to observe, care, and connect. Today, we’re celebrating the reptiles that have become amazing classroom companions (and co-teachers)!

Tell us about your favorite reptile in the comments or share a photo with us!

10/19/2025

“Students that are very wild who I thought would be rough with the hamster have turned out to be the most gentle. Having a pet also allowed students that are more antisocial to have something to talk with their classmates about. Thank you for the enriched school year you provided my students!” ~Melissa Scruggs, teacher

If you’re a teacher, you can bring these benefits to your students too.
Apply for a Pets in the Classroom grant today at www.petsintheclassroom.org

10/16/2025

Thank you, Fluker Farms, for helping us give these experiences to students!

"I was nervous bringing in a bearded dragon to my preschool class after only having a class fish. This has been the best decision not just for myself but for my class as well. We named him Puff the magic dragon (puff for short), and every day they watch him wander around the room. They hold him. They feel him. It's a great hands-on experiment for the kids. I have several that go home and say they want a puff for their birthday! It has truly changed my class for the better!!"

~ Haley Duffield, Pets in the Classroom grant recipient

Fluker’s is proud to support programs like Pets in the Classroom that help kids feel comfortable around reptiles and inspire the next generation of keepers. 🦗🦎

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10/16/2025

A big thank you to Central Garden & Pet for supporting the Pets in the Classroom program!

Their partnership helps teachers bring pets into classrooms, giving students hands-on learning experiences that build responsibility, empathy, and curiosity.

We’re grateful for their commitment to education, animal care, and the well-being of students.

10/14/2025

"One of my students, 'E', was going through a very difficult time at home due to her parents' divorce. E was acting out in class and being disrespectful to other students. When we received our classroom pets (tadpoles and frogs), she was able to read to them, which provided an outlet for emotional regulation. It helped her stay calm, allowed her to talk to me about what she was going through, and made a significant difference in our classroom environment." ~ Alyssa Lorentz, Pets in the Classroom grant recipient

Stories like this remind us how classroom pets do so much more than teach responsibility. They bring comfort and connection when students need it most.

Learn more about Pets in the Classroom: www.PetsintheClassroom.org

10/13/2025

Did you know your classroom pet was made possible in part through the support of local and national pet stores? We’d love for you to share a quick “thank you” with the store where you redeemed your grant. A note, photo, or student drawing can go a long way in showing appreciation—and helps us keep this program growing so more teachers and students can experience the joys of classroom pets.

You can also send them to Pets in the Classroom:
2331 Rock Spring Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050

Or send us a DM!