Dog Bite Prevention
Animal Safety
Basic Needs of Pets

Compassionate Choices – Caring for our Companion Animals
Students will learn about appropriate care of companion animals by discussing the similarities between human needs and animal needs. Students will develop empathy for companion animals and begin to shape their views of these animals thru a lens of respect, compassion, and concern for their wellbeing, and understand their role as pet owners or potential pet owners in helping provide for a pet’s necessary care.

*Recommended for students identified as at-risk for exposure to animal cruelty and neglect

Overpopulation – Our Pets, Our Responsibility
Students will be given context to understand the pet overpopulation problem both locally and nationally. Students will understand the size of the problem and its causes, the reasons for addressing it, the approach taken by Metro Animal Services, and how students can help end the problem through responsible pet ownership and altering all pets. Students will also be asked to discuss ways to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their pets.

The Price is Right – Budgeting for Your New Pet
Students will discuss the types of investment necessary to provide appropriate care for new pets. They will exercise math skills and engage in a “Price is Right” game by identifying prices for common pet care items. They will then use the prices identified in the game to find average costs for owning different types of companion animals (dog, cat, gerbil, fish). To conclude, students will be asked to read over situations of would-be pet owners, and using information given about the budget and free-time of these individuals, make a recommendation on the most appropriate pet.

Middle School thru High School

Animals in the Media – Affecting our Actions
Students will learn through observation and discussion how the portrayal of companion animals in popular media shapes our opinions and molds our actions towards those animals as pet owners. Students will be able to distinguish between positive and negative messages and understand how this relates to the broader problem of issues surrounding companion animals in our communities – abuse/ neglect, violence, overpopulation, improper care, owner responsibilities, etc.

Building Stronger Communities – Understanding the Link Between Animal Cruelty & Human Violence
Students will develop an understanding of the link between animal cruelty and human violence – many animal abusers go on to commit violent crimes against people later in life, and in some cases animal cruelty is concurrent with other abuse in the household. Students will learn the history of some famous cases of violent offenders and their histories of animal cruelty. Students will understand animal cruelty as a warning sign for potential future violence and learn how to take action against animal abusers – both to stand up for animals as well as to take in active role in community betterment by preventing future violent acts.

Compassionate Choices – Caring for our Companion Animals
Students will learn about appropriate care of companion animals by discussing the similarities between human needs and animal needs. Students will develop empathy for companion animals and begin to shape their views of these animals thru a lens of respect, compassion, and concern for their wellbeing, and understand their role as pet owners or potential pet owners in helping provide for a pet’s necessary care.

*Recommended for students identified as at-risk for exposure to animal cruelty and neglect

Overpopulation – Our Pets, Our Responsibility
Students will be given context to understand the pet overpopulation problem both locally and nationally. Students will understand the size of the problem and its causes, the reasons for addressing it, the approach taken by Metro Animal Services, and how students can help end the problem through responsible pet ownership and altering all pets. Students will also be asked to discuss ways to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their pets.