Pet Curriculum

Wake County Environmental Services, the Pet Foster Network and the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) are partnering to educate children about the responsibilities of pet ownership and the problem of pet overpopulation.

Written by Kathleen Johnson of the Forest History Society and Barbara Lapointe, founder of the Pet Foster Network, "Too Many Pets, Too Few Homes" and "Matchmaking" are lesson plans for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade social studies classes. Teachers can use these plans to present their students with the opportunity to identify and demonstrate characteristics of responsible citizenship and provide them with the chance to impact changes within their community. The lesson plans, to be promoted to all WCPSS elementary school teachers in September, are available on LEARN NC, a web site providing quality lesson plans for K-12 classroom instruction, all tied to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

"Too Many Pets, Too Few Homes" examines the problem of pet overpopulation, both in the United States and in North Carolina. Students will learn about the importance of spaying and neutering in combating pet overpopulation. "Matchmaking" examines the benefits of pet adoption. Students will learn about the responsibilities associated with pet ownership and how to make a good match between pets and potential owners.

Both lesson plans are based on Bill Gutman's book Adopting Pets: How to Choose Your New Best Friend. Wake County Environmental Services provided $1,470 for copies of the book, which were distributed in June, along with the lesson plans, to all 80 WCPSS elementary schools.

"This will help us in our goal to educate people to be responsible pet owners," said Dicke Sloop, director of Environmental Services' Environmental Health & Safety Division.

To view lesson plans, teachers' lesson goals/objectives, and letters of support from State Senator Ellie Kinnaird and Dr. Oscar Fletcher, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, visit http://www.petfoster.org/.