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There’s no question that having a classroom pet has many advantages, but there are some disadvantages as well. In fact, the whole concept is full of controversy, with many speaking out for and against using animals in the classroom.
We’ll go over the good and the bad and offer some suggestions on the best pets to choose from as well as the pets you need to avoid. Hopefully, we’ll help you make an informed decision before you take that first step.
What to Consider Before Committing to a Classroom Pet
Obviously, if you’re a teacher, you’ll need to think about every aspect of pet care and the impact it will have on you and your students (and parents). You’ll need to check to see if any of the students have allergies to the animals appropriate for the classroom.
Then there’s the upkeep. What kind of housing will the pet need? You need to be careful about each animal’s requirements. Do you need to check on the suitable size of the enclosure and whether it will fit in your classroom? What is the diet of your potential pet?
What happens to the pet on weekends and holidays? Will you take it home with you every weekend, or will the children take turns bringing it to their homes? You should also consider the age of the children in your class while deciding on the right kind of pet. The younger the children, the harder the pet needs to be.
You should also ensure you can afford to care for the pet—you must bring it to the vet if there’s ever a medical issue. Lastly, you must consider how the animal will fit into your curriculum. The entire process will require a lot of time, effort, and knowledge of the animal on your part.
The 8 Benefits of Having a Classroom Pet

Having a classroom pet has several benefits, so we’ll go over the advantages.
1. Social Skills
Having a pet in the classroom allows the children to interact with it and learn more about its behavior. Pets can be a bridge for children to make friends with their classmates and give them the confidence to work through conflicts.

2. New Ways of Learning
Having a pet in the classroom will allow you to teach various lessons based on the animal. A classroom animal can provide an interactive way to engage the children with their studies, and you can use science, math, and English assignments based on the pet. The children can learn about the ecology of the animal and write papers on it (including creative writing).
3. Teaches Responsibility
The children can take turns helping to care for the pet, including feeding, cleaning, and providing fresh water. These chores must be performed daily, and you can teach the children how to care for the animal.
Students can even take the pet home on weekends, which will allow them to be responsible for its well-being for a few days.

4. Builds Self-Esteem
Following along with responsibility, the pet can give the students a sense of accomplishment and pride while taking care of the pet. Studies have even shown that children tend to have a higher level of self-esteem compared to those without pets.
5. Companionship
Children can form a powerful bond with their pets and consider them friends. This is no different in the classroom. Animals can provide us with unconditional love, which can give children strong emotional support. Even animals, such as fish or reptiles that aren’t cuddly like cats or dogs, can provide children with companionship.

6. Stimulated Mental and Emotional Growth
Animals are known to help relieve anxiety and stress, and studies have shown that even being around an animal can help regulate one’s heart rate and breathing. This is why animals are commonly used in hospitals and can also contribute to a sense of calm in the classroom.
7. Enriches the Classroom
Pets in the classroom can give children who don’t have a pet at home the chance to interact with an animal. It can even give the children something to look forward to, and you might find an increase in attendance. They’ll feel more excited about their lessons and probably look forward to attending school every day.
8. Encourages Nurturing
Besides making the student feel more responsible for caring for the pet, it can also provide the child with nurturing skills. It can teach children how to be gentle, and these nurturing skills they learn in childhood are tremendously important for their futures.
According to the 2019 Pets in the Classroom Survey:
- 96% of the teachers surveyed said that having a pet in the classroom was a positive experience
- Almost 78% saw attendance improve
- 93% saw a decrease in anxiety in their students
- A whopping 98% saw an increase in compassion and empathy
- Nearly 78% saw academic improvement
- 92% witnessed an increase in self-esteem
- 86% of teachers saw a decrease in using discipline
- 95% saw social skills improve
These numbers show that there are indeed many advantages to having a pet in your classroom.

The 7 Disadvantages/Dangers of Classroom Pets
Unfortunately, bringing a pet into the classroom has several disadvantages, most of which impact pets.
1. Pets Left Alone Overnight
Without someone around to monitor the pet overnight, a sudden illness can go unnoticed. A classroom pet could also suffer extreme temperature fluctuations if the heat or air conditioning is turned off at night.

2. Pets Remain Unsupervised
Since pets can’t be constantly watched, there’s always the possibility that someone can abuse or kill the pet when the classroom is unattended.
3. Pets Can Be Over-handled
When you have a classroom full of boisterous children and one small animal, it can be challenging to control the situation. Some pets can die from stress if handled by too many children at once.
4. Classroom Not a “Home”
The classroom can be an inhospitable environment for many pets. Some small animals commonly used in classrooms are nocturnal, so they are supposed to sleep all day. Being in a bright and noisy classroom all day will disrupt their natural sleep patterns.

5. Lots of Work for Teachers
The teacher will ultimately be responsible for taking care of the pet and ensuring its protection and health. Those managing the classroom will have to determine whether their budget can handle the upkeep and any health issues that might arise.
6. Health Risk for Some Kids
There are allergies, transmittable diseases, and the chance of the animal biting. Some children could be allergic to the pet you’ve chosen (perhaps no one knows about), and bacterial diseases like salmonella can be transmitted after handling reptiles.

7. Can Be a Distraction
While studies have shown that pets can positively impact academics and attendance, they can also be a distraction for some children. Students who have trouble focusing might be easily distracted and will have a more challenging time listening to the lesson at hand.
Top 5 Animals to Consider When Choosing a Classroom Pet
1. Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs make some of the best pets thanks to their ease of care and because they’re bigger than most other rodents. They are social animals, so you could consider getting a pair.
2. Rats

Rats are much less likely to bite than other pets traditionally used in the classroom (like hamsters and gerbils). They’re sensitive, intelligent, and easy to look after.
3. Fish
Fish are easy to look after (be sure to research the best kinds for this situation), but holidays and weekends might prove tricky. They are fascinating to observe and can provide some engaging lessons.
4. Frogs

Watching the life cycle of a frog is a great lesson for the children. However, salmonella is a risk, so you either set up a “no handling the frog” situation or have the children immediately wash their hands after holding the frog.
5. Praying Mantis
The praying mantis is a little unorthodox but relatively easy to care for and handle.
Be sure to do your homework before settling on one of these pets. You will want to avoid putting them into unsuitable or cramped enclosures and ensure that feeding them won’t be a challenge.
The 9 Animals to Avoid When Choosing a Classroom Pet
1. Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are nocturnal and are fed in the evening, so the students will not see any activity or be able to watch them eat. They will also react to fear and might bite.
2. Hedgehogs/Ferrets/Chinchillas
They’re all nocturnal, don’t like to be handled, and can be excitable. They are also considered “exotic” and have particular care needs.
3. Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are popular classroom pets, but they’ll spend most of their time hidden in their shells. Plus, they can live for 20 to 30 years! However, they are low-maintenance pets, so you could still consider one for your classroom.
4. Reptiles
Most reptiles don’t like being handled, so there’s the risk of biting. Many also grow large and have dietary needs that could upset some children (frozen mice, for example).
5. Birds

Birds can be noisy and messy and prone to nipping if handled too much. They can also become quite stressed because of the noise and activity in the classroom.
6. Hamsters
Hamsters are usually the go-to for classroom pets, but they’re nocturnal and prone to biting if disturbed.
7. Rabbits

Rabbits are a mixed bag. Some teachers have used them in the classroom with great success, while others don’t recommend them. Being in a noisy classroom might be too stressful for most rabbits, and they need to be spayed or neutered. They are not low-maintenance pets.
Final Thoughts
If bringing a pet into the classroom isn’t in the cards, there are several other ways for children to learn more about the world around them. You can consider taking the kids on field trips to zoos and nature centers, having guest speakers come into the classroom with animals, and watching nature documentaries.
Bringing a pet into your classroom is a big decision! The lessons your students will learn from this experience are absolutely priceless, but you also need to consider the animal’s needs. Hopefully, we’ve helped you decide on the best option for you and your students.
Featured Image Credit: Piqsels