Pets in the Classroom Expands to Include High School Teachers

(PRESS RELEASE) FOREST HILL, MD — The Pet Care Trust announced that its Pets in the Classroom grant program is expanding to serve a broader range of students by including high school educators in its eligibility guidelines for the 2025–2026 school year. Beginning July 1, 2025, teachers in PreK through 12th grade in public and private schools throughout the U.S. and Canada will be eligible to apply for funding to support a classroom pet.

Previously open to PreK–9th grade teachers, the expanded program reflects the increasing demand and demonstrated benefits of classroom pets for students of all ages.

“We’ve consistently heard from high school teachers who are eager to bring the benefits of classroom pets to their students—many of whom have been doing so without any financial support,” said Melinda Thomas, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust. “This expansion allows us to answer that call and help more students experience the joy, connection, and growth that pets can inspire in the classroom.”

The Pets in the Classroom grant program was established to provide financial support for teachers who wish to introduce or sustain a small animal in their classroom. Available grant types include:

• A store-specific grant for pet and/or habitat discounts from one of the program’s participating retailers: Petco, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, and Petland
• A rebate grant to help cover the cost of purchasing a pet and/or supplies from a local pet store
• A sustaining grant, which provides up to $50 to maintain an existing classroom pet or purchase a replacement pet

Since 2010, Pets in the Classroom has issued nearly 263,000 grants, impacting an estimated 10.5 million students. In addition to grant funding, the program provides teachers with helpful tools and resources— such as pet care sheets, educational articles, and STEM-aligned lesson plans—to make integrating pets into the classroom both meaningful and manageable.

Applications for the 2025–2026 school year will be accepted from July 1, 2025 through May 1, 2026. To learn more or to apply, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.