Given the strong evidence that has accumulated in recent years
demonstrating the value to children and juveniles of social relationships with
companion animals it is important that children be taught proper and safe
behaviour towards those animals and the correct care, handling and treatment of
the various companion animal species.
Realizing that companion animals in school curricula encourage the moral,
spiritual and personal development of each child, bring social benefits to the
school community and enhance opportunities for learning in many different areas
of the school curriculum, IAHAIO members have adopted fundamental guidelines on
pets in schools at their General Assembly, held in Rio de Janeiro in September
2001.
IAHAIO urges all school authorities and teachers, as well as all persons and
organizations involved in pet programs for schools, to consider and abide by the
following guidelines:
Programmes about companion animals should, at some point, allow personal
contact with such animals in the classroom setting. Depending on school
regulations and facilities, these animals will :
a) be kept, under suitable conditions, on the premises, or
b) be brought to school by the teacher, or
c) come to visit, in the context of a visiting programme, together with their
owners, or
d) accompany, as a service dog, a child with special needs.
Any programme involving personal contact between children and companion
animals must ensure:
a) that the animals involved are safe (specially selected and/or trained),
healthy (as attested by a veterinarian),
prepared for the school environment (e.g. socialized to children, adjusted to
travel in the case of visiting animals),
properly housed (either in the classroom or while at home), and
always under supervision of a knowledgeable adult (either the teacher or the
owner);
b) that safety, health and feelings of each child in the class are respected.
Prior to the acquisition of classroom animals or visitation of the class by
programme personnel with companion animals that meet the above criteria, both
school authorities and parents must be informed and convinced of the value of
such encounters.
Precise learning objectives must be defined and should include:
a) enhancement of knowledge and learning motivation in various areas of the
school curriculum
b) encouragement of respect and of a sense of responsibility for other life
forms
c) consideration of each child's expressive potential and involvement.
The safety and well-being of the animals involved must be guaranteed at all
times.
