The Pet Care Trust recently announced that the Pets in the Classroom grant program has officially begun accepting applications for the 2026–2027 school year. Established to enhance students’ educational and personal development through interaction with classroom pets, the program provides essential funding for teachers to introduce or maintain small animals in their learning environments.
The program offers financial support for small animals and pet supplies to Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers in private and public schools across the U.S. and Canada. Through a direct, “no-hassle” application on the program’s website, educators can choose from several grant options, including store account grants for use at participating retailers — Petco, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, and Petland — or rebate grants for local pet store purchases or online pet specialty retailers.
Past grant recipients are also eligible to apply for sustaining grants to help maintain existing classroom pets.
In addition to funding, the Pets in the Classroom website provides a wealth of free resources, including standards-aligned lesson plans with a focus on STEM. These materials are designed to help teachers integrate pets into their educational strategies to enhance hands-on learning. The Pet Care Trust also continues to support the Dogs in the Classroom program, which partners with leading therapy animal organizations to bring thoroughly screened therapy teams into schools for visits to support student well-being.
“Education is at the center of everything Pets in the Classroom does,” Melinda Thomas, Executive Director of Pet Care Trust. “We provide children with an opportunity to interact with pets — an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come.”
Studies and teacher testimonials reinforce that classroom pets provide significant benefits, including improved school attendance, increased empathy, and the promotion of responsibility. Since the program’s inception in 2010, Pets in the Classroom has issued over 279,000 grants, impacting an estimated 11.1 million children.
Teachers interested in applying for the 2026-27 school year are invited to visit the Pets in the Classroom website to research grant options and pet care resources, and submit an application.
