Problems Associated with Classroom Pet Adoption

As a teacher, you may have considered adopting a pet for your classroom. Although a classroom pet has potential to provide educational and fun experiences for students, as well as teach the virtues of compassion and responsibility, the cons of classroom pet adoption probably outweigh the pros. Learn why adopting a classroom pet presents multiple problems for the K-6 classroom.

Consider the Costs Associated with Classroom Pet Adoption

Pets cost money. Not only do pets need food, bedding, toys, blankets, grooming equipment, chewing supplies, brushes, lighting or heating supplies, and cages, but a sick or injured pet requires veterinary care. Are you prepared for these costs?

Consider the Space Requirements of Classroom Pet Adoption

The size of the cage and the environmental needs of the specific animal determine space requirements. Does your classroom have proper ventilation, cooling, heating, and space allocation for an animal cage? What's more, pets need space free of loud noises and people traffic that can scare a pet or risk the pet's health.

Consider the Health Ramifications of Classroom Pet Adoption

Also, regarding the pet's health, do your students have the maturity and self-control to properly handle a pet and not over-handle it? The humane treatment of a classroom pet becomes the teacher's responsibility to monitor. Are you prepared for this constant vigil?

Consider the Care Requirements of Classroom Pet Adoption

Pets need daily attention, food, exercise, and they need their cages cleaned. These responsibilities can be shared by students, but the teacher is ultimately responsible. Furthermore, students may bicker over the responsibility or shirk the responsibility. A student may be absent on his or her day of responsibility. As teacher, are you prepared to monitor care on a daily basis?

Then comes the problem with who cares for the pet during vacations, evenings, snow days, holidays, weekends, and even emergency evacuations. Teacher is ultimately responsible. Are you as the teacher prepared to cart this pet back and forth or visit the school during inconvenient hours to provide care for the classroom pet?

And sending the pet home with students presents additional problems. You can't guard the treatment of an animal that is out of your sight, and parents may not welcome the pet in their home.

Consider the Health Impact of Classroom Pet Adoption on Students

Many students have allergies, and a classroom pet presents a health risk to these students. Furthermore, many students have fears, and the classroom ought to be place where students can exist free of such fear.

Animals bite, and animals also carry harmful bacteria or organisms that can make children sick. As a teacher, are you prepared for the event of animal bites and for the constant monitoring of hand-washing or gloving with each contact made with a classroom pet or pet's cage?

One final concern about pet adoption that affects mental health is death of a classroom pet. Are you prepared for the grief associated with a pet death? This type of grief may interrupt curriculum plans for more than a day and may need to be treated with grief counseling and include proper pet burial. Have you considered the eventual passing of any adopted classroom pet?

Classroom pet adoption may present some benefit to students, but there are certainly more problems or concerns associated with K-6 classroom pet adoption.