General Tips For Veterinarians
Resource For Veterinarians
Animals in the Classroom
Ask the teacher about children with known allergies to pets. If any of the children are affected by such allergies, appropriate arrangements will need to be made. Ask the teacher how you need to adapt your presentation, if at all, for children in the class who have disabilities.
Selecting appropriate animals to bring into the classroom is critical. Never use animals that might frighten a child. Overly active dogs, unsociable cats, and snakes aren't good choices. Animals brought into the classroom must be gentle. If you aren't sure how an animal will react to the children, do not bring that animal into the classroom.
Pets should be bathed and brushed before each visit. Eyes, ears and teeth should be clean. Nails should be trimmed short and filed so they have no sharp edges. Birds and small mammals should also have short, dull nails and the feathers or fur should be clean and good condition. Damp cloths can be used just prior to the visit to wipe away any last hairs that are shed. Caged animals should be in spotlessly clean quarters. Before each visit, animal cages should be thoroughly cleaned and have fresh bedding.
Dogs and other animals should be allowed to relieve themselves immediately prior to the visit. (Remove any waste material and dispose of it properly in an outdoor refuse container.) Feeding schedules may need to be adjusted on the day the animal is visiting to minimize the chance of accidents. Include a clean-up kit with the other items you bring, and be prepared to immediately clean up any accidents that occur. A clean-up kit should include paper towels, spray cleaner, small plastic bags, plastic garbage bags and disinfectant spray.
Be familiar with the animals you are using in your program. Students many be easily frightened or intimidated by some animals, so quiet and gentle pets are best. Small mammals that enjoy being held, such as cats, rabbits or guinea pigs might be appropriate choices for children who are not accustomed to being around animals. Cats and dogs must be well trained, temperament-tested and familiar with children. Large dogs can overwhelm small children, even when they are being friendly. If the dog has any tendency to become excited, the best approach may to be to have the children pet the dog while it is sitting or lying down. Birds, reptiles and smaller mammals, such as mice or gerbils, may not be suitable for the students to handle individually. The best approach may be to hold the animal yourself, while allowing those students who wish to do so, to touch the animal while you are holding it. Students who may not wish to hold or touch the animals may enjoy observing them while they are in their cages.
Ensure that an adult is supervising each animal at all times, so that the animal is not accidentally dropped or mistreated, and also to prevent over-stressing the animal. Do not hesitate to remove any animal that appears to be tired or weary of the attention.
Preparing For Your Visit
Ask the teacher about the students' prior knowledge about the subject you will address in your presentation.
Prepare children to learn from your visit by encouraging the teacher to engage the group in an animal-related activity immediately before your presentation. For example, the teacher many read aloud from a book about animals or pets. The teacher should then announce that someone who knows a lot about animals is coming to visit the class. Children can be asked to predict what might happen during your visit.
Ensure you have copied enough materials for the entire class, plus a few extra copies for the teacher's future use.