Hello to any "animal/pet experts" out there who might be willing to help us out!

NOTE: If you would like to answer one of the member questions below, kindly use "copy and paste" to transfer the email address into your own email program.

If you have a question but are not one of our teacher members, please feel free to use the guestbook instead!

REQUEST: If you receive a great answer or idea... please forward a copy to this website! nora@teacherwebshelf.com

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Newest questions are first (at the top).

Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
January 2003 V.4 #1 / October 2002 V.3 #4

Name: Rex Broekhuis
E-mail: rexbroekhuis@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: in the Netherlands some of the agricultural schools are changing from livestock into petkeeping as a career

Name: Mrs. Abernethy (Pennsylvania, #235 USA-5)
E-mail: abernethy@zoominternet.net
Animal info. wanted: Information on my various animals (Cockatiel, rabbit, rats, Bearded Dragon Lizard, guinea pigs, ferret, African Plated Lizard, Iguana, Water Dragon, Uromastix)

Name: S. McNally (Alabama, #242 USA-4)
E-mail: ronforth@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: hatching chicks and safety of doing so in 1st grade

Name: Jeana Clermont (North Carolina, #240 USA-4)
E-mail: jclermont@harnett.k12.nc.us
Animal info. wanted: turtles and salmonella

Name: Mary Lester (Indiana, #236 USA-3)
E-mail: maryteachncs01@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: the analogy between lowering stress and animals

Name: Cybil Lachenman (Ohio, #246 USA-3)
E-mail: CybilF@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: I am currently taking a life science education class in which we are doing an animal project. Where we are taking care of an animal in the classroom, observing and learning about it. I am using a bearded dragon baby, they grow amazing fast, are cute and easy to handle. I have to come up with a hypothetical situation where I have enough bearded dragons for all my students to have one and an experiment (none harming) they can do. The experiment can not be strictly observational. So, I know there is no information on your web page about bearded dragons (which I find sad, they are so neat) if you have any ideas on what kind of experiment I could suggest, I would love to hear it.

Name: Amanda Cherry ( Texas, #239 USA-2)
E-mail: amhc01@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: What do you do if you have pets in the classroom, and a child has allergies or asthma and their parents want the animals removed?

Name: Angela Turkett (Texas, #238 USA-2)
E-mail: tturkett@srcaccess.net
Animal info. wanted: Snow Corn Snakes and Iguanas

Name: Christina May (Oregon, #243 USA-1)
E-mail: cmay@pilotrock.k12.or.us
Animal info. wanted: Need info on allergies and cats. Can children in my classroom cause allergic reactions in children from another classroom out on the playground?

Name: Jennifer Parker
E-mail: parkerj@ecsd.net
Animal info. wanted: I would like to get information on bringing small dogs into the classroom.

Name: Linda McAteer (New Jersey, #135 USA-5)
Email: Lindacmcateer@cs.com
Animal info. wanted: I've had a worm farm in my classroom each year. They are fun and educational, but, they smell really bad if the worms are doing their job. Have any of your readers found a non-smelly way to teach kids about worms?

Name: Melitta Duncan (California, #234 USA-1)
Email: famdunc@prodigy.net
Animal info. wanted: Since many of the students that I work with are ED, this can be a very high stress job and I must keep myself together at all times. I am attempting to locate information of animal (pets) and the effect on the human mind.

Name: Susie Welch (California, #230 USA-1)
Email: stormi_3@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: Anything that will help me tie the rats into the educational experience.

Name: Amy Louton (California, #229 USA-1)
Email: a.louton@attbi.com
Animal info. wanted: Information on leopard geckos would be great. Also, a unit on silkworms or hermit crabs.

Name: Thelisa Taylor (Tennessee, #228 USA -4)
E-mail: thelisat@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: aquatic turtles

Name: Tina Coleman (Tennessee, #227 USA -4)
E-mail: stcoleman@citlink.net
Animal info. wanted: I would like to have some type of lizard, but am unsure of its possible success. I would like to have a variety of different types.

Name: Tonya Michelle Neas (North Carolina, #226 USA-4)
Email: cloverkat13@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: I would just love any helpful suggestions of what would make a good classroom pet. I do not want the pet to be unhappy with it's surroundings in the classroom, but I really would like for my kids to experience having a pet since some do not have any at home.

Name: Sylvia Caldwell (Georgia, #225 USA-4)
E-mail: caldwellsjags@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: snakes, lizards

Name: Valerie Menard (Louisiana, #224 USA-4)
E-mail: booksforteacher@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: funding for small animal, food, and other supplies in my classroom is a problem.

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
July 2002 V.3 #3

Name: Moira Haltigan
E-mail: mhaltigan@halfhollowhill.k12.ny.us
Animal info. wanted: hamsters and guinea pigs

Name: #218 Cheryl Knight (Hickory, North Carolina, 1st)
E-mail: ckandak@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: frogs

Name: #217 Katherine Gausvik (Helena, Arkansas, Science Grades 7-12)
E-mail: silverqueenkat@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: I am always interested in what other teachers are doing in their classrooms.

Name: #215 Christina S. Vrba (New Fairfield, Connecticut, 6th Grade Reading &Writing)
E-mail: autumnglory@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: I'm always open to hearing about how other teachers deal with "the parent issue," and I'd love to find an e-mail list of teachers with classroom pets... perhaps start one, if there are enough folks interested.

Name: #213 Kippy Broderson (Lubbock, Texas, 5th grade science/ language arts)
E-mail: broders2@msn.com
Animal info. wanted: Any millipedes that would be appropriate for a classroom.

Name: #206 Sabine Tarter (Mahopac Falls, New York, K)
E-mail: tarters@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: Painted Ladies Butterflies in captivity

Name: #205 Melissa Collett (Georgetown, Texas, Pre-K and school-age)
E-mail: wylc@msn.com
Animal info. wanted: Melissa would like to hear from other teachers about past pets and projects

Name: #203 Amanda Low (Baldwin, Louisiana, 1st grade)
E-mail: OO7gump@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: caterpillars

Name: #202 Denise Caposey (Skagway, Alaska, primary)
E-mail: dcaposey@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: prehistoric animals, endangered species, arctic animals

Name: #201 Carmen Marin (Chicago, Illinois, Special Education K-3)
E-mail: milly60164@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: snakes

Name: #198 Angela Gilreath-Rivers (Cartersville, Georgia, grades 3-12)
E-mail: dsumc@innerx.net
Animal info. wanted: I would be interested in hands on activities using animals. We will be taking the animals (note: Angela's group has many different animals!) into various age level classrooms twice a month, sometimes for science, sometimes for creative writing.

Name: #197 Andrew Cresswell (Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Serpent Stories - Reptile Education)
E-mail: reptilesintheclassroom@canada.com
Animal info. wanted: We are developing a teacher resource manual and are looking for feedback from teachers who have reptiles in their classrooms.

Name: #196 Sergio Z. de Alba (Los Banos, California, 4/5 Multi-Age)
E-mail: SZdeAlba@juno.com
Animal info. wanted: native spiders (California)

Name: #193 Jackeline Fals-Chew (Miami, Florida, grade 5)
E-mail: falschew@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: butterflies

Name: Nora!
E-mail: pets@teacherwebshelf.com
Animal info. wanted: I am constantly being asked about government regulations for keeping animals. If you happen to be aware of the regulations in your area, please let me know and I'll begin compiling a list. (We really should all become more knowledgeable about our local laws!)

Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
April 2002 V.3 #2

Name: Pamela Kramer (#190 - USA - 3, Highland Park, Illinois, Dual language 5th grade)
E-mail: Pamandjack@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Bringing a dog into the classroom. I would like success stories from other districts.

Name: Susan Suchower (#186 - USA - 4, Macon, Ga, Early childhood education)
E-mail: ssuch53@cs.com
Animal info. wanted:
I am interested in an adopt an animal project for my classroom either whales or wolves... has anyone done this?
Eventually, I would like something in my classroom to represent all ecosystems on land and water. My madagascar roaches are perfect for the rainforest and maybe a frog or boa. A few years from now I would like to have a brackwater or saltwater tank.

Name: Carol Shiveley (#185 - USA - 1, Portland, Oregon, Oregon Humane Society)
E-mail: edudir@oregonhumane.org
Animal info. wanted: exotics

Name: Gwenodlyn Zimermon ( #183 - USA - 5, Buffalo, N.Y., pre-K)
E-mail: zinermon@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: birds nests

Name: Terri Amaro (#181 - USA - 2, Farmington, New Mexico, 3rd grade and special education)
E-mail: tamaro@fms.k12.nm.us
Animal info. wanted: Laws for having animals in the classroom that protect the schools, myself and the children

Name: Brian Hogendorp (#180 - USA - 3, Glencoe, Illinois, Integrated Pest Management)
E-mail: bhogendo@chicagobotanic.org
Animal info. wanted: Info on where to buy chrysalis' for classroom demonstrations

Name: Marlene Brown-Carmicle (#179 - USA-4, Liberty, KY, 7 & 8)
E-mail: mcarmicle1@casey.k12.ky.us
Animal info. wanted: I have a book called "Critters in the Classroom". It has a great deal of info. on food, housing, and etc. I'm sure I could use more.

Name: Annela Erceg (#178 - Turangi, New Zealand, Year 3/4)
E-mail: annela.graeme@xtra.co.nz
Animal info. wanted: snails

Name: Pam Kemp (#177 - USA-2, Garland, TX)
E-mail: ptkemp@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: I am a school counselor exploring the question of what sort of animal to select for animal-assisted therapy at school and, possibly, in my private practice of post-adoption therapy. I'd like to hear from other school counselors who keep animals in their office. What kind? What benefits? What problems?

Name: Monica Vasquez (#174 - USA-2, Austin, TX)
E-mail : mocha@austin.rr.com
Animal info. wanted: What kind of animals are best in a portable classroom with no sink?

Name: Michael S. Comeau (#174 - USA-4, Bossier City, Louisiana)
E-mail : comeauiam@AOL.com
Animal info. wanted: I am doing a presentation on CLASSROOM PETS in my Graduate class "Curriculum Innovations" and need to find some articles that discuss the pros and cons of pets in the classroom.

Name: Susan Betcke
E-mail: drsusanab@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: I am looking for a variety of ideas. Cost is a big factor. Time wise I can devote about 6-8 hours per week to feeding and care (but this is a joint effort on the students behalf).

Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
January 2002 V.3 #1

Name: Jerilyn Wissler (#171 - USA-3, Clarksville, Indiana)
E-mail: jwissler@ccsc.k12.in.us
Animal info. wanted: I am looking for information on using dogs in the classroom. I acquired a siberian husky/golden retriever mix puppy at thanksgiving. My building principal is excited about having the dog in the classroom. I have incorporated "Denali" into my curriculum. (Read Jerilyn's teacher register for more info on this!!!) I would love to hear from other teachers who have done something similar and find out what their experiences have been. How did they go about it? What problems did they encounter? How were those problems solved?

Name: Jenay Singleton (#170 - USA-5, Queens, NY)
E-mail: jenays@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: I need help in choosing a pet for my 5th grade class. I teach in the city with 30 students.what type of animal should i get?

Name: Katie Mathews (#169 - USA-3, Lewis Center, Ohio)
E-mail: mathews.130@osu.edu
Animal info. wanted: Research articles on the animals in the classroom subject or any information to help with a masters thesis project about animals in the classroom

Name: Jill Vice (#168 - USA-2, Arizona)
E-mail: jvice@pvusd.k12.az.us
Animal info. wanted: hermit crabs

Name: Valerie Hunken (#165 - USA-1, Seaside, CA)
E-mail: 3coolchx@mbay.net
Animal info. wanted: walking sticks

Name:Elizabeth Worling (#162 - USA-2, Grand Prairie, Texas)
E-mail: elizabeth.worling@gpisd.org
Animal info. wanted: frogs

Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
October 2001 V.2 #4

Name: #156 Anna L. Jackson - St. Louis, Mo
E-mail: spiritualwoman@angelfire.com
Animal info. wanted: what do you feed land snails?

Name: #155 Anne Boers - Mendon, MI
E-mail: ndboers@ameritech.net
Animal info. wanted: birds, fish, insects

Name: #153 Wayne Johnson - Becker, Minnesota
E-mail: awjohnson3@home.com
Animal info. wanted: I am most interested in how class pets contribute to the "affective" part of education and how they help improve learning. I have no idea where to find the research/studies that might help me.

Name: #152 Edward M. Miller - Old Bridge, NJ
E-mail: speshuled1215@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: bearded dragons, leopard geckos

Name: #151 Susan J. Miller - Old Bridge, NJ
E-mail: earthmother63@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: bearded dragons, leopard geckos

Name: #150 Antonia E. Morris - Bourne, MA
E-mail: aemorris2@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Frogs/Pond Life

Name: #148 Susan Baird - Coquille, Oregon
E-mail: sbaird@coquille.k12.or.us
Animal info. wanted: Dogs in the classroom

Name: #146 Camille Franklin - New Caney, Texax
E-mail: Mfrank@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: land snails

Name: #143 Ebonee Markham - Philadelphia, PA
E-mail: cocalatte@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: ducks

Name: #141 Damon Boyer - Salina, KS
E-mail: Damon.Boyer@usd305.com
Animal info. wanted: I would like to know how to integrate our classroom pets into our everyday learning, so that the students get the most out of their experience.

Name: #140 Kate Hinke - San Jose, CA
E-mail: wordspinner50@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: rats

Name: #139 Margaret Blackford - Pasadena, California
E-mail: margaretblackford@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: What would be a good pet for a 5th grade class?
also... rats and mice - do they eat their own feces?

Name: #138 Elizabeth Green - Coal Center, PA
E-mail: betsy@zoominternet.net
Animal info. wanted: turtles - specifically Red box sliders
Also... any actual research information regarding benefits of classroom pets for kids with serious emotional issues

Name: #137 Dede Bunker Savannah Ga.
E-mail: cbunker4@home.com
Animal info. wanted: more about millipedes and other insects

Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
July 2001 V.2 #3

Name: Beverly Scott #136 California, (USA –1)
E-mail: b.scott17@gte.net
Animal info. wanted: millipedes, tarantula

Name: Kelly Deakin #133 Newcastle, Australia
E-mail: kelly.deakin@studentmail.newcastle.edu.au
Animal info. wanted: Guinea pigs; Studies relating to pets as therapy (related to changes in behaviour/social and emotional development.

Name: Judith Gifford-Taylor #132 Stewartsville, Missouri (USA-3)
E-mail: jtaylor618@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Best pets for a small second grade classroom. And prep needed to instill proper care and handling in the students.

Name: Pat Babb #131 Tulare, Ca (USA – 1)
E-mail: pbabb@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: The Madagascar cockroaches, and the walking sticks.

Name: Kim Safro #130 Albuquerque, NM (USA – 2)
E-mail: Ksafro@cs.com
Animal info. wanted: using animals to teach empathy and social skills

Name: Sara Belskie #129 Raleigh, NC, (USA – 4)
E-mail: sbelskie@wcpss.net
Animal info. wanted: I am currently writing an elective curriculum on animal lifecycles for my county. I'm having a hard time finding resources for the lifecycle of chickens, frogs, and fish. We'll also be studying butterflies. I would love to get some more ideas on learning activities to support this curriculum as well as resources to use.

Name: Lori Woods #127 Kendall Park, NJ 08824 (USA-5)
E-mail: meaganwoods@home.com
Animal info. wanted: household pets, cats, dogs and also lessons on the reasons why wild animals should not be made pets

Name: Diane Gromko #126 Colchester, CT (USA- 5)
E-mail: gromkodk@yahoo
Animal info. wanted: more info explaining the metamorphis of a butterfly and info on many other insects

Name: Elizabeth Dysart #125 Adairsville GA (USA-4)
E-mail: elizdysart@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: last week I was written up by my administrator for putting my students in jeopardy… a ball python, a plated lizard, a rose-hair tarantula, a newborn kitten-which my six-year old son dug for three hours to rescue under our crawl space- and a rat. Any support from anyone on keeping animals in the classroom would be appreciated.

Name: Joni Johnson #124 Athens area, Georgia (USA-4)
E-mail: MotherNaturePresents@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: I would like to share information of keeping animals in the classroom, projects that generate environmental awareness & responsibility, & creative expression for children that ties together what they are learning with their own experiences.

Name: Jen Brazier #122 Savannah, GA (USA-4)
E-mail: jbrazier@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: rabbits!

Name: Debra Lundeberg #117 Prince George, BC, Canada
E-mail: ladylundeberg@home.com
Animal info. wanted: Walking Sticks, Alligator Lizard

Name: Nora! E-mail: pets@teacherwebshelf.com
Animal info. wanted: I am constantly being asked about government regulations for keeping animals. If you happen to be aware of the regulations in your area, please let me know and I'll begin compiling a list. (We really should all become more knowledgeable about our local laws!)

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
April 2001 V.2 #2

Name: Nellie L. Dezinski, member#115, Michigan USA-section 3
E-mail: ndezinski@ncats.net
Animal info. wanted: getting refills for above type kits (hatching eggs, butterflies, ants, worms, crickets, etc.) -- food, eggs, etc. and not having to buy whole kits

Name: Barry Bedford, member # 114, Ontario, Canada
E-mail: benatar@interlinks.net
Animal info. wanted: Congo eels

Name: Kathryn Poland, member #113, CA, USA- section1
E-mail: mmepoland@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: Butterflies

Name: Brenda Logan, member #112, OK, USA - section 2
E-mail: blogan221@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: Any one doing any similar projects ? (...mini-bottle ecosystems with a food web up to a second level consumer of the students choice and design. Usually includes insects, amphibians and some reptiles for terrestrial systems and freshwater fish and crustaceans for the aquatic systems.)

Name: Laura Domalik, member #111, Virginia, USA - section 4
E-mail: ldomalik@collegiate-va.org
Animal info. wanted: Information on: polar animals, bats, owls, nocturnal animals, 5 classes of vertebrates, frogs/ toads

Name: Lea Kiapos, member #110, CA, USA- section 1
E-mail: lkiapos@earthlink.net
Animal info. wanted: I was thinking about getting a Leopard gecko or two earlier this year, but was discouraged by some staff members at the store. Are they a good choice for the classroom or more active at night? How difficult is it to maintain them? Also, my millipedes seem to get inundated with fruit flies every couple of weeks; any ideas on avoiding this pesky problem?

Name: Laura Bushner, member #109, Wisconsin, USA- section 3
E-mail: laurab@mcpasd.k12.wi.us
Animal info. wanted: We would like to know how to care for our new baby snails. There are so many of them, we're not sure if they can all stay together!!!!

Name: Carol Garner, member #107, Wales
E-mail: paul.garner@ntlworld.com
Animal info. wanted: stick insects

Name: Christina Thompson, member # 106, Oregon, USA - section 1
E-mail: medschoolorbust@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: Walking sticks

Name: Dalene Normand, member # 104, Montana, USA - section 2
E-mail: dnormand@frenchtown.k12.mt.us
Animal info. wanted: Our Principal has just declared a "no live animal" rule in our school. Any suggestions on research to fight it?

Name: Nora! E-mail: pets@teacherwebshelf.com
Animal info. wanted: I am constantly being asked about government regulations for keeping animals. If you happen to be aware of the regulations in your area, please let me know and I'll begin compiling a list. (We really should all become more knowledgeable about our local laws!)

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
February 2001 V.2 #1

Name: Mellony Turner
E-mail: mmmturner@msn.com
Animal info. wanted: reptiles? I teacher 6th grade science. Any advice?

Name: Crawford Grabowski
E-mail: ckgrabowski@yahoo.com
Animal info. wanted: I would like more information on how to incorporate our critters into literature based activities.

Name: Andrea Negri
E-mail: ARNegri@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Several of my research students are interested in the positive benefit of pets in the classroom. They have questions for teachers and students who have pets in their classrooms.
Website: http://www.geocities.com/asrpage

Name: Melissa Munnell (#97, USA -5)
E-mail: mmunnell@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: hamsters

Name: Melissa Turella (member #96, USA - 5)
Email: misala18@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: What pet would be suitable for my classroom. My principal has ruled out rodents. We have enough mice and other rodents roaming the halls!

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
December 2000 V.1 #6

Name: Rita O'Brien (member # 93, USA)
E-mail: robrien@phila.k12.pa.us
Animal info. wanted: rain forest animals

Name: Sarah Champion (member #92, USA)
E-mail: schampion@splendora.k12.tx.us
Animal info. wanted: information on jerbils, information on what others do with their pets over long weekends or week long holidays.

Name: Elena Forsythe (member # 91, USA)
E-mail: eforsyth@k12.hi.us
Animal info. wanted: I would like more information on insects, mostly about projects that can be done with a second grade class. I would also like any tips from anyone who has ever owned a turtle. Thanks!

Name: Ramona Lundberg (member # 90, USA)
E-mail: Ramona.Lundberg@k12.sd.us
Animal info. wanted: information on cocoons, preying mantis or other interesting insects

Name: Jacki Lugg (member # 89, USA)
E-mail: jlugg@mullica.k12.nj.us
Animal info. wanted: mice
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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
October 2000 V.1 #5

Name: Veronica Roan (member # 88 , USA )
E-mail: vwroan@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Crawfish... a.s.a.p. for three "visitors" in her classroom!

Name: Margo Stettner (member # 87, USA )
E-mail: mstettner@eacs.k12.in.us
Animal info. wanted: millipedes

Name: Leigh Ann Daniels (member # 82, USA )
E-mail: lapetite30@gateway.net
Animal info. wanted: turtles

Name: Jacki Yamin (member #80, USA )
E-mail: jsyamin@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: information about pet rats

Name: Liliane Abergel (member #76, USA )
E-mail: ablil@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: aquatic mammals

Name: Courtney Tatum (member # 75 , USA)
E-mail: CourtneyTatum@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: tadpoles

Name: Kaethe Sullivan (member # 74, USA )
E-mail: sullivan@cal.net
Animal info. wanted: I would like to have "simple" guides and beginner
packets for each easy animal we will consider. This would be material
for them to create easy reports.

Name: Amy Jo Smith (member # 73, USA )
E-mail: Asmith@ccps.org
Animal info. wanted: Dogs in the middle school classroom. I am interested
in more information so I can talk my principal into allowing my DOG!

Name: Peter Ham (member # 72, USA )
E-mail: rookwood-hams@supanet.com
Animal info. wanted: phasmids

Name: Crystal Stark (member # 71, Canada )
E-mail: cacochrane@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: pocket pets and pets in the classroom

Name: Annette Johnson (member #67, USA )
E-mail: cjohnson@bright.net
Animal info. wanted: This is the first year I will have a parrotlet in my
classroom. Any help to make this a happy time for everyone will be appreciated.

Name: Rich Day (member #66, USA)
E-mail: rdday@accs.net
Animal info. wanted: painted lady butterflies

Name: Terrilee Miller (member #65, USA)
E-mail: KinderTeach@sc.rr.com
Animal info. wanted: The rabbit is a new pet for my classroom this year.
This is my first rabbit so I interested in learning as much as possible
about how to care for her.

Name: Jan Williams (member #64, USA)
E-mail: threewi@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: Chinchilla. I am wondering if anyone has a chinchilla in
their classroom and how it is working out. I have mixed opinions from
chinchilla owners but they don't have a classroom, just an opinion.

Name: Betty George (member #63, USA)
E-mail: bgeorge@idsyes.com
Animal info. wanted: I haven't kept snakes in my classroom in years- mainly
due to limited space. We are moving into a new facility this winter and I want
to have more variety again. Sometimes it is difficult to get snakes to eat. I'm
wondering if a type other than the red rats that I had in the past would be better
for the classroom.

Name: Nora!
E-mail: pets@teacherwebshelf.com
USA info. wanted: Not surprisingly, we are getting most of our new members
from the USA. This may be making the Teacher Register - USA a bit slower
to download. I am thinking that perhaps I should break it into two or three
sections, however, I am not familar with the appropriate division of areas in
the USA. If someone would please send me the preferred groupings, I would
certainly appreciate it. For example, would a "West, Central, East" division
be appropriate? Which states go into these areas? I am still at the point
where I am pleased to be learning the abbreviations for all those states!!!
(Perhaps you know of a good website link that will give me this information
in an easy manner?)

Name: Nora!
E-mail: pets@teacherwebshelf.com
Animal info. wanted: I am constantly being asked about government regulations
for keeping animals. If you happen to be aware of the regulations in your area,
please let me know and I'll begin compiling a list. (We really should all become
more knowledgeable about our local laws!)

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
August 2000 V.1 #4

Name: Kathy Vitaro (member #62, USA)
E-mail: kvitaro@chatham.k12.nc.us
Animal info. wanted: snails and tarantulas

Name: Sue Tetreault (member #61, USA)
E-mail: sue_tetreault@hotmail.com
Animal info. wanted: Raising a classroom bunny, what are its needs and wants.

Name: Cecily Clarke (member #60, Australia)
E-mail: ceclarke@tassie.net.au
Animal info. wanted: I am hoping to write a thesis on the benefits of animals (particularly dogs and cars) in the classroom. I am having quite a bit of trouble finding information and articles on this topic. Can anyone help?

Name: Jill Davis (member #59, USA)
E-mail: davii@galstar.com
Animal info. wanted: would like information on hermit crabs posted on our site

Name: Linda Cassidy member #58, USA
E-mail: dcassidy@thegrid.net
Animal info. wanted: suggestions for a large tropical cage. (currently thinking of a chameleon, one or two anoles, a frog?)

Name: Jovette Martin member #56, Canada
E-mail: js.martin@sympatico.ca
Animal info. wanted: ideas for a Junior K farm unit

Name: Laurel Shockley member #55, USA
E-mail: glcshockley@aol.com
Animal info. wanted: My guinea pig will be a year old in August. Is she old enough to have babies? What is the length of gestation?

Name: Mona Donnel member #54, USA
E-mail: mdonnel@jscomm.net
Animal info. wanted: I am looking for suitable animals that can represent Missouri and live comfortably in a 10 gallon tank.

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Questions from our Classroom Animals and Pets Newsletter
June 2000 V.1 #3

June 2000: I am constantly being asked about government regulations for keeping animals. If yoiu happen to be aware of the regulations in your area, please let me know and I'll begin compiling a list. (We really should all become more knowledgeable about our local laws!) :-) Nora

Diane Belnavis (member #52, USA) is interested in getting more information on her numerous pets (check out her teacher registration info!) and hearing some suggestions for what interesting species should she try in her new frog tank. She wonders if anyone knows how to raise a friendly emu.

Amanda Wineinger (member #53, USA) in Bethalto, IL would like to know more about how to care for visiting tadpoles.

April 2000: I am hoping to begin some sort of a "classroom display" section to this website, so those of you without school websites (or even if you do have one!) can share some of your animal lesson ideas, student projects, or photos of animals etc. with us. E-mail your contributions or ask for my snail mail address. If you send photos, I need to receive a signed permission from the parents before childrens' photos can be used. (Otherwise I will have to use a photo-editor to "blank out" recognizable faces.) :-) Nora

April 2000: I am still looking for articles relating to the benefits of having pets in the classroom. So far no one has sent me any leads! We have several members looking for research information. Please let me know if you find something. I'd like to begin an annotated bibliography on this topic. Perhaps we could also collect information on the benefit of pets in general. :-) Nora

A special welcome also to Penny Schaub (member #51, March 00) in Geneva who is our first member in Switzerland! Penny would like to find a distant school class (she presently has grade 7 & 8 science) that will trade animal information via e-mail with indiviuals in her classes... this year or next! She is also looking for an interesting "joint project" for next year.

Chloe Glover (member #49, March 2000) in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, is looking for activities and lessons about owls and hedgehogs at the Primary level.

Another special welcome is due! Welcome to Mrs. Nicci Hoal (member #47, Feb.00) in Cape Town, Western Cape, who is our first member in South Africa! Nicci comes to us by way of the excellent Canada S.E.E.D.S. program. Her center is part of the Western Cape Public School System and focuses on cultural history and environmental education. We're delighted to have you, Nicci!

Sue Thomas (member #46, Feb.00) in Kingston, WA, USA is looking for information on reptiles, such as bearded dragons, Chinese dragons. She is thinking about adding a reptile to her classroom.

Barbara Zeiger (member #45, Feb.00) in Anchorage, Alaska, USA needs to know how much handling her kids can do of walking stick insects. Barbara teaches 3, 4, and 5 year old kids with developmental delays of various sorts.

Judy McCullough (member #44, Jan. 2000) in Harwick, PA, USA needs to know what kind of info is available in the literature discussing the affects of animals in the classroom on attendance.

Ann Wengert (member #42, Jan. 2000) in Toledo, OH, USA would appreciate any information on keeping insects as classroom pets, hedgehogs as classroom pets, and lesson plan ideas using hermit crabs and goldfish.

Charlie Graham (member #41, Jan . 2000) in Forest Grove, Oregon, USA, has some exciting "carnivori-pets" as well as our more "usual" pet species! Charlie's carnivorous plants include sundews and venus fly traps among others. I decided that plants like these deserve more than just a "horticulturist's viewpoint", and eventually hope to add information on care for them in our "Green Thoughts" section. So... if you have any interesting information to share, please let Charlie or Nora know!

Pam Clark (member #40, Jan. 2000) in Laconia, NH, USA, is looking for literature on the benefits of animals in the classroom. She is hoping to keep the administration at bay!

A special welcome to Liz Fellows (member #38, Jan. 2000) in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, who is our first teacher member from England! Liz found us through the Phasmid (walking sticks) Study Group. Great to have you, Liz!

Brenda Brown (member #37, Dec. 99) in Vancouver, BC, Canada, is looking for any information about Brakendale - Eagles, or salmon, and BC varieties of fish.

Practical Ideas section: I've added links to some great teacher resources that have information sections or collections of links on animals. Let me know if you have found some useful websites on animals yourself!

Kevin Riley (member #34, Oct. 99) in East Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is looking for information on the positive benefits of animal handling on the the behavior of children and adolescents.

Penny Kephart (member #32, Sept. 99) in Campbell, New York, USA is looking for factual info on the benefits of animals in order to do some "convincing" at her school. She's particularly interested in dogs.

Elizabeth Corry (member #31, Sept. 99) in Greystanes,(in Sydney), NSW, Australia, would like to know more about raising chickens in the classroom. She is very aware of looking out for a humane placement "after" the unit is over but would like to hear more about your classroom experiences.

Edith Sue (member #30, August 99) in Aurora, Illinois, USA would like to know whether rats make good classroom pets.

Janice Brown (member #29, August 99) in San Jacinto, California, USA would like to hear about African pygmy hedgehogs.

Sharon Affeld (member #28, August 99) in Kelowna, BC, Canada, is working on her Masters and her thesis is on Pets in the Classroom and how they affect children's behaviour, self-esteem, etc. She love to hear your opinions, pro-pets in the classroom or anti-pets and why you feel that way. She'd love to hear some of your stories!

Kathrine Loucks (member #26, July 99) in Skellytown, Texas, USA would like some info. on ladybugs and mice. (Be sure to check out her website! http://www.infinitytx.net/springcreek1stgrade/

Tamzen Duffy (member #27, July 99) in Wyomissing, PA, USA would like to hear about dogs in the classroom.

August 99 update: The website http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/thomas/ that Dr. Julie Thomas developed as part of the training of her pre-service teachers at the Texas Tech University, College of Education, has really become a "must see" for those of us with classroom pets. Her preservice teachers hone their skills in computer technology by creating classroom Pet WebQuests for elementary science students. WOW! Someday I hope to find the time to add an interactive student component to this website too!

Robin Squier (member #24, June 99) in Milwaukee, WI, USA is interested in therapy dogs and humane education.

Laurie Doscher (member #23, June 99) in Elmira, Oregon, USA would like some lesson ideas and unit plans. She'd also like to hear how others handle insect care in the classroom.

Valerie Johnston (member #20, Feb/99) in Surrey, B.C., Canada would like some info. on Painted Lady butterflies and on keeping hedgehogs. Seeing as I haven't got either one of these added to my website yet... please help her out!!!

Ernie Watanabe (member #19, Jan/99) in Cypress, California, USA has an award winning website on Labrador Retreivers. I am delighted to see that Stacy (#16) has some company in bringing dogs into the classroom!

Carol Maier (member #15, Dec/98) in Victoria, B.C., Canada, is our only Canadian West Coast Bug Zoo Operator! I had the opportunity to visit her wonderfully "buggy" facility this fall. What a great inspiration for future entomologists!

Stacy Stapleton (member #16, Dec/98) in Kansas, USA, would like to know if anyone else brings their dogs into their classrooms! Read about her in the USA teacher's register.

Karen Feld (member #12, Nov/98) would like some information about liability issues in the classroom in regard to classroom pets. Karen teaches in Contra Costa, California, USA. Please send a carbon copy to Nora too, this would be a worthwhile section to add to this website. I must confess that I have not researched this area (yet!).

Kelly Wagner (August/98 Guestbook Entry) would like participants for her animal survey. This survey is not restricted to teachers or even to pet owners, but she is researching the effects of classroom pets on students and vice versa.

Dana Houston (July Guestbook entry) would like to get some information on using classroom animals to inspire writing projects. She is working on her thesis for a master's degree.

Patty Scovell (July/98 Guestbook entry, member #10) is looking for a place to purchase Giant Millipedes in Alaska, USA. We've explored having them shipped up, but there is at least an extra $20 added to the original price.

Nora (me!) would like hear about any new (or disappeared) links that you have found. If you have a suggestion or a successful teaching idea, I would love to add it!