Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-22-2025 03:58 AM
    1. When I was a teacher we had a program where if our kids read enough books they got to have a special assembly through the library and many times it involved animals coming to our school. I'm now in a different state but thinking about writing a children's book and working with local libraries to raise awareness about the animals at our sanctuary. Have any of you done this successfully? One of our rescue horses is a retired show mini horse with excellent manners and people skills and I think he would actually enjoy the attention. 

    #CommunityPartnerships*

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    Caroline Bloom
    Executive Director
    Beautiful Chaos Animal Sanctuary
    NC
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  • 2.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-23-2025 07:38 AM

    Here in Houston County, GA  -  the schools all have animal clubs (not sure of the official name). A couple times a year, we bring a few puppies or kittens to the school, talk to the kids about rescue and what we do, the kids make projects based on our animals and they also do a drive to get donations for us.

    Usually the projects are cards to put in the adoption folder of the animal or hand drawn signs on why someone should adopt one of the animals that was brought in.  The club also comes to the rescue building for a tour once a year.

    Its not exactly what you are referring to but it might get you ideas to pursue.



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    Sarah
    Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-23-2025 07:47 AM

    That is so adorable!!!! 😭😭😭Thank you for sharing! 



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    Caroline Bloom
    Executive Director
    Beautiful Chaos Animal Sanctuary
    NC
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-23-2025 08:19 AM

    Also maybe not as relevant for horses/large animals, but wanted to shout out The Lola Foundation's program Canines 4 Kindness that does amazing work bringing pitties into Chicago schools! https://www.lolafound.org/



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    Katy Herman
    President
    The Hansel Foundation
    IL
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-23-2025 11:41 PM

    I think it is wonderful to bring animals to the school settings to teach kids. What measures do you implement to make sure the animals are not stressed?  Thanks



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    Julielani Chang
    The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
    Davis CA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-25-2025 06:27 AM

    There are Pet Therapy Organizations that provide insurance for volunteers of the organizations to go to schools, nursing homes, and hospitals for "Pet Therapy" visits.  

    Someone asked the question, "What measures do you take to make sure the animals are not stressed?"  The handler of the animals must know the animal/animals stress signals, how to guide interactions,  when to support and advocate for the animal, and when to stop the visit.  I have seen local farms bring animals to schools for visits. It is treated more like a petting farm zoo.   When it comes to Therapy Animals, they are born, not made.  You can also risk "flooding" a puppy with too much interaction at a young age.  

    I am a volunteer with Pet Partners.  PP provides courses for the handler in a variety of settings.  It also provides specific courses for each species of therapy animals, 9 species.  There are age requirements for each species before the animal/animals can be evaluated as a team with the handler.  The handler and animal is evaluated as a "Team".  There are other Therapy Animal Organizations.  I chose Pet Partners because of the expectations, professionalism, and courses.  



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    Kim Jackson
    AKC CGC Evaluator
    President/Founder For The Puppies Foundation Inc.
    Corinth, MS
    kimj@forthepuppiesfoundation.org
    www.forthepuppiesfoundation.org
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-26-2025 03:50 AM
      |   view attached

    @Caroline Bloom We are a farm and exotic animal sanctuary and have a program where we take animals to schools. We also partnered with our local Humane society and a couple other dog/cat rescues bringing animals to their kids' summer camps. Years ago we brought ponies, goats and smaller animals like rabbits, birds, tortoises and guinea pigs to the summer camps. We only bring animals that truly love attention and the ponies had to be bomb proof.  We also brought pet carriers and covered soft sided playpens so that the animals could have a time out if needed.  The kids loved it but it was a lot of work getting everyone and everything ready. 

    This past year, thanks to a donor who stipulated the funds had to be used for a "dream project",  we were able to purchase a shuttle bus to take the animals to schools. We removed the seats and retrofitted with cages & tanks. We generally take 8-10 small animals including a dwarf goat, but not the ponies. For smaller gatherings like home school events the kids can get on the bus and see the animals or hold them. With larger gatherings we bring the animals inside.  For us it has been a Godsend. The prep and cleanup takes a lot less time and the animals can stay in their cages if they don't feel like interacting but the kids can still see them up close.  



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    Lisa Burn
    Co-founder/VP
    Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
    Myakka City, FL
    https://farmhousesanctuary.org
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 07-27-2025 11:16 AM

    Not exactly the same thing, but we have elementary school students who come to our shelter and read to the cats and dogs. It is the cutest thing! We are fortunate that the principal is on our board and the school is within walking distance.  That makes it a lot easier, I'm sure. 



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    Cindi Cochran
    Volunteer
    South Pacific County Humane Society
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: School visits with animals?

    Posted 08-17-2025 06:56 AM

    That is a great idea! We did a "Paws for Reading" campaign when I was a teacher and I took pictures of my animals reading and posted them around my room. How do you think the animals would do if you took them to the school vs the kids walking to you? I wonder if they would be too overstimulated to sit and be read to. 



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    Caroline Bloom
    Executive Director
    Beautiful Chaos Animal Sanctuary
    NC
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    Original Message


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