My spouse, Sarah, wears two hats at our kids’ school in Lebanon, Oregon. She teaches gardening and also serves as a teaching assistant in a fourth-grade classroom. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, we unexpectedly became the caretakers of the class pet: a Venus flytrap named Snappy.
You might wonder how a plant qualifies as a classroom pet. Well, Snappy does catch bugs, and Venus flytraps are fascinating plants, so we’ll let that slide. Right now, Snappy sits in my 13-year-old son’s window, eagerly awaiting the next insect to fly through our open patio door.
However, there are plenty of more traditional class pets that require greater care. A recent conversation with several parents revealed how they are managing the responsibilities of these classroom companions during these challenging times. Luckily, many families have stepped up as temporary zookeepers due to the pandemic.
Guinea Pigs and Other Classroom Companions
Take the case of Laura Martinez, whose daughter is in fourth grade in Queens, New York. Their class guinea pig, named Oreo, was meant to rotate homes each weekend until everything changed. Now, Laura reports that Oreo is back on a schedule, with coverage all summer, returning to school in September. “He’s so adorable that I’d keep him indefinitely, but other families want their turn too,” shared Laura.
In the Bronx, Jenna Lee faced a bigger challenge: she had numerous pets in her classroom. Before the school closure, she managed to find homes for all of them. “I took two gerbils, a small container with eight discoid cockroaches that my class had previously worked with, and a whole colony of at least 60 hissing cockroaches,” Jenna explained. Four hamsters, a leopard gecko, a bearded dragon, and a blue-tongued skink found temporary homes with students as well. To keep connected, Jenna even created an Instagram account for the class pets, allowing everyone to follow their adventures during lockdown.
Back in rural Oregon, my son’s former teacher, Mia Roberts, had to take home their classroom pet, Cujo. Despite his fierce name, Cujo is just a teddy bear hamster. His popularity is undeniable; when I mentioned writing about classroom pets, my son immediately asked about Cujo and even suggested trading Snappy for him. I briefly entertained the thought, but considering we already have a dog and a cat, Cujo might not fare well in our home. Honestly, I’m surprised our dog hasn’t snatched Snappy yet.
Pets Left in Limbo
Meanwhile, some class pets were left in limbo when schools shut down. In Lunenburg County, VA, teacher Kim Adams was in the middle of a science lesson with her third graders, incubating eggs. She ended up with 16 baby chicks after the closure. Luckily, Kim recorded the hatching process and shared it on YouTube, allowing her students to experience it virtually. However, she now faces the challenge of caring for all those chicks.
Not every pet found a willing caretaker. In Ohio, teacher’s aide Rachel Green found herself looking after Peppa, the class fish. As she left with Peppa’s tank, she ended up with three more fish because several teachers were hesitant to care for them. “My experience with fish is why I ended up with them. The others were going to flush their fish if I didn’t take them,” Rachel lamented. It’s a tough reality; fish often lack the affection that other pets receive.
Community Support for Classroom Pets
Across the country, the fate of classroom pets remains uncertain, but it seems that parents and teachers are teaming up to care for these little creatures. Many families are fostering unexpected pets, discovering that the experience offers valuable learning opportunities and moments of joy. As a mother in Brooklyn noted about her child’s classroom tortoise, “Holly has brought comfort during these unpredictable days of lockdown.”
It’s heartwarming to see so many kind-hearted individuals welcoming frogs, gerbils, cockroaches, and even Venus flytraps into their homes. We can only hope that once things return to normal, every class pet will be safe and sound, ready to bring joy back to their classrooms.
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Summary
This article explores how families are stepping up to care for classroom pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. From guinea pigs and hamsters to a colony of hissing cockroaches, many parents and teachers have taken on the responsibility of fostering these animals. As schools closed, the fate of these pets became uncertain, but numerous individuals have opened their homes to them, ensuring their well-being and providing valuable lessons along the way.