PetSmart® Helps Teachers Find the Perfect Pet

Published on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 07:05 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

PHOENIX-( Business Wire )-

Teachers looking for just the right pet for their classroom just got a big helping hand from the Pets in the Classroom grant program, created by the Pet Care Trust. The grant provides eligible teachers with funds to use at their local PetSmart store towards the purchase of a classroom pet and the essentials needed to care for that pet, from habitat to accessories and food.

Beginning today, the grant program is now open to elementary and middle school teachers, pre-kindergarten to 8^th grade. They now have more choices when it comes to pets, and the newly added animals were specifically requested by teachers who are currently participating in the grant program. Teachers can access the grant application at www.petsmart.com/teachers. Once approved, the teacher should consult with a PetSmart pet care expert to determine which one of the following pets will best fit with their individual classroom setting.

New pets available through the program include:

• Rats are smart and trainable, enabling children to learn how to teach tricks to a pet.
• Snakes are docile animals who do not mind being handled. Their habitat and nutrition needs are a little more involved, which means they are better pet options for older children.
• Turtles like to spend time on land and in the water and eat a varied diet, which can help children learn the importance of well-rounded nutrition.

Other pets from PetSmart also available through the Pets in the Classroom Program:

• Hamsters make fun classroom pets because they are active and teach children the importance of schedules and responsibilities.
• Guinea Pigs are easily handled and encourage children to follow a regimented routine.
• Fish are a great way to illustrate basic chemistry and biology principles while students follow regularly scheduled water changes.
• Bearded Dragons depend on their environment for heating and cooling and are a great way to teach students about geography and the environment.
• Leopard Geckos are docile in nature and teach children about different nocturnal behaviors.

“Our associates are trained to help teachers find a pet that fits their classroom, depending on the environment, the age of the children and student involvement in the care of the pets,” said Dr. Kemba Marshall, veterinarian and specialty pets expert at PetSmart. “Caring for pets at school provides kids with a unique opportunity to bond with animals and expand their knowledge about the natural world.”

To apply for the “Pets in the Classroom” grant and learn more about choosing the right pet for a specific classroom, teachers can visit www.petsmart.com/teachers. PetSmart also provides access to lesson plans, care guides and video “how-to” habitat set-ups.

About PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 50,000 associates and operates more than 1,210 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 189 in-store PetSmart^® PetsHotel^® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp^SM day care services and pet adoption services. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization and the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities^®, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 4.7 million pets.

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About The Pet Care Trust

The Pet Care Trust is a non-profit, charitable, public foundation that is instrumental in the sponsorship of programs supporting companion animal welfare and the benefits of owning companion pets as well as the development of educational programs demonstrating the importance of responsible companion animal ownership. The Pet Care Trust funds deserving programs through supporting grants awarded annually to non-profit organizations. In addition, through their Pets in the Classroom program, the Trust has awarded more than 7,000 grants to public and private school teachers in grades Pre-K through 6th grade to support pets in the learning environment.

GolinHarris for PetSmartAnuradha Koli, 972-341-2578akoli@golinharris.comorPetSmart Media This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.