Teacher Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

BEL AIR, Md. - July 31, 2013 - PRLog -- The Pet Care Trust's (http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/about)Pets in the Classroom program (http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/) is now accepting grant applications for the 2013-2014 school year.  Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade teachers in both private and public schools who desire to introduce a pet into the classroom or already have a pet in the classroom are welcome to apply.

Many school teachers have very limited resources for the support of classroom animals, which is why the Pet Care Trust believes in supporting teachers with this educational grants program. Through the Pets in the Classroom program, teachers can obtain a grant for the purchase of new pets, pet environments or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets. Teachers can apply for a direct, no-hassle grant through the Pets in the Classroom website (www.PetsintheClassroom.org). The program offers 7 different types of grants, giving each teacher the opportunity to choose which grant is right for him or her.  Grant options (http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/grant-app/choose-a-grant/) include:

·         Rebate Grant in the amounts of $100 (for small animal or birds) or $150 (for reptiles or fish) for purchases at any pet store;  

·         Sustaining Grant in the amount of $50 to maintain an existing classroom pet;

·         Petco Grant, which provides coupons for the live animal, pet habitat and supplies purchased at Petco;

·         Petsmart Grant, which provides coupons for the live animal, pet habitat and supplies purchased at Petsmart; and

·         Pet Supermarket Grant, which provides coupons for live animal and pet supplies purchased at Pet Supermarket.

New for 2013-14:

·         Pet Supplies Plus Grant, which provides coupons for live animal and supplies purchased at Pet Supplies Plus Stores, and

·         Petland Discounts Grant, which provides coupons for live animal and supplies purchased at Petland Discounts Stores.

The grant program began in 2010 and has awarded 22,793 grants to teachers through the 2012-2013 school year.  With a goal of introducing 5 million children in 100,000 classrooms to pets and the benefits they provide, the Trust hopes that the 2013-2014 school year will see a large number of grant applicants.

Steven T. King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust, commented, "The newly redesigned Pets in the Classroom website makes it easier than ever for teachers to apply for a grant and to find the resources they may need to select the right pet for their classroom."

The Pets in the Classroom grant program benefits students by teaching them responsible, long-term pet care at an early age and providing the psychological and developmental benefits associated with the human-animal bond.  Studies have shown that caring for pets has a positive effect on children, improving school attendance and teaching children responsibility, as well as encouraging nurturing and building self esteem.