Classroom Bunny

[SeeShmemilyPlay]

I now run a registered non-profit small animal rescue, and a part of my adoption contract is that my bunnies will never be a classroom bunny. I’ve gotten a few annoyed teachers who wanted to adopt from me, and made the case that as long as the bunny is taken care of, there’s nothing wrong with a classroom bunny. Does anyone here have any thoughts? Do you think it’s likely a rabbit in the classroom could go well?
On a related note, what are your thoughts on that subject with hamsters, gerbils, and mice? Should I be a little looser with those animals since they don’t require nearly as much care?
I appreciate any opinions you might have!

[Paige]

I think that animals shouldn’t be in the classroom especially if they are going to be taken home by students.

[Limit]

No, I completely agree that rabbits or any pet in my opinion should not be a ‘classroom’ animal. I don’t think any get the care they need and I think it’s very stressful.

They get passed around the classroom and I just don’t think it’s fair.

[sarahthegemini]

Stick to your guns. A rabbit is not suited for a classroom full of brats.

[Bam]

I too think rabbits are to fragile to be classroom animals. But I remember when my brother was in pre-school way back in the day they had a hamster there that was very popular. Our family used to hamster-sit during the weekends. Hamsters seem sturdier than rabbits. But to be honest, I don’t believe in classroom pets.

[tobyluv]

I do not think that rabbits belong in a classroom, nor any animals really. The Sanctuary where I volunteer has taken in a few classroom rabbits, and they are usually in poor health and often aggressive. They are not fed correctly, or handled correctly, are usually kept in small cages, and probably don’t receive medical care when needed. Then at the end of the school year, they are often discarded.

[pinknfwuffy]

I agree, I think you’re right to turn down classroom rabbits and should stick to your guns. I’ve heard a few positive experiences but the horror stories far outweigh them. I appreciate the sentiment of these teachers but their reasoning, often to teach children responsibility and how to care for animals, can be taught a million other ways than to risk a rabbit’s life. I knew a teacher who took the rabbit home for the weekend and left him in the car for a “few minutes” while running errands. He passed away from heatstroke. That, on top of grabby children and loud noises, seems enough to keep them out of the classroom. My family also ended up voluntarily raising a dozen chicks after a teacher did an incubation lesson but didn’t quite work out the details on what to do with them after they hatched. I love when children are able to visit shelters or wildlife sanctuaries but classroom pets rarely end well.

[Sr. Melangell]

I don’t think so, as nice as it seems to have a pet in class small animals are in danger, if a small animal gets ill and if no teacher can take the animal to the vet the animal could die in a few hours, also it would take one little jealous monster (Or big monster) to drop in some food not for the animal and end up with a dead animal, we had a goldfish called Goldie at the infants school, people took him home during holidays, he died on holiday at a boy’s house, because when he had to take it back he didn’t want to give it up and he did something to the water.

The next class had a hamster, that died on holiday too.

Also one kid might turn up at school and you find out he is allergic to the animal and they have to find a new home for the pet.

I don’t agree on classroom pets, but if a child needs an assistance dog or guide dog, that’s fine, also too many owners to a pet is a problem, the pet might trust someone and that someone could be the animals worst enemy.

[LBJ10]

Classroom pets are generally not a good idea. I mean, yeah, there are the few teachers who do a really good job and make sure the animal is well cared for and all the kids are respectful. But how would you really know if that was going to be the case? A lot of times it’s not. That being said, we never had a classroom pet when I was in grade school. In high school, however, the science teachers often kept animals in their rooms. Mostly fish, but the zoology teacher had some ball pythons and a caiman. She also brought her pet raccoon to class, but she went home with her every night.

As for hamsters, I do think they are a little sturdier (as Bam put it). They have compact bodies made to withstand a fall since hamster jump off of ledges in the wild if they present an obstacle. I guess I would be less horrified if one was in a classroom, but I would still worry if the teacher was doing a good job to taking care of it and ensuring the kids aren’t harassing it.

[percysmom]

Buns have such a big personality and need a loving home, not a classroom with people always coming and going and being alone at night.  Plus, I cannot believe that a classroom rabbit would have the proper care/love.  I can’t imagine my bun being on show like at a zoo for a bunch of loud, rambunctious children.  I think if you would not have a dog or cat classroom animal then you shouldn’t have a rabbit classroom animal.  They definitely wouldn’t get that close bond and familial love.  

[kirstyol]

I don’t think any animal should be stuck in a cage in a classroom. Who pays the vet bills? Who takes it to the vet? Who notices if/when its ill? and that’s not thinking about all the kids possibly being rough with the animal. It also has to go somewhere at the weekend and holidays I assume? Where does it go? does it go to the same place all the time? if not how does it feel like it has a home? what if it takes unwell at someones home? also what about overnight? that’s a lot of hours for an animal to be alone and I assume they don’t heat the building overnight?

I totally disagree that hamsters need less care than buns, they need fed just like buns do, they need human interaction just like buns do, they need appropriate vet care, safe housing and plenty of time outside of their cage just like buns do. The only real difference is that they would probably be ok on their own overnight as because they hide food they can be left for a good few hours and not run out of things to eat. Hamsters are also nocturnal so should be asleep during the school day, because the kids want to play with the hamster they will wake it up which not only distresses the poor hamster but can also frighten it causing it to bite, believe me a hamster bite to a child is agony – I made the mistake of waking one of mine when I was a child and still remember the pain very well.

[Bladesmith]

My daughter’s school has outdoor rabbits in their AG class.  To a bun they live daily in cages, no runs, and no real contact, love or cuddles.  For a social animal like a rabbit, it’s an abysmal life.  I’m trying to convince them to either re home the rabbits with good families or a rescue, or at the very least, let me build a protected rabbit run that’ll let the rabbits get out of their cages one at a time and run around and dig and be rabbits.

[Limit]

Posted By kirstyol on 3/26/2017 8:25 AM
I don’t think any animal should be stuck in a cage in a classroom. Who pays the vet bills? Who takes it to the vet? Who notices if/when its ill? and that’s not thinking about all the kids possibly being rough with the animal. It also has to go somewhere at the weekend and holidays I assume? Where does it go? does it go to the same place all the time? if not how does it feel like it has a home? what if it takes unwell at someones home? also what about overnight? that’s a lot of hours for an animal to be alone and I assume they don’t heat the building overnight?

I totally disagree that hamsters need less care than buns, they need fed just like buns do, they need human interaction just like buns do, they need appropriate vet care, safe housing and plenty of time outside of their cage just like buns do. The only real difference is that they would probably be ok on their own overnight as because they hide food they can be left for a good few hours and not run out of things to eat. Hamsters are also nocturnal so should be asleep during the school day, because the kids want to play with the hamster they will wake it up which not only distresses the poor hamster but can also frighten it causing it to bite, believe me a hamster bite to a child is agony – I made the mistake of waking one of mine when I was a child and still remember the pain very well.

Agree with all this! I too had a nasty bite from a hammy when I was younger because I disturbed his nest!

[BunnyFriends]

Rabbits, and most animals in general, aren’t suitable for classrooms.

Only class pet I ever had was a Jack Russell. He was an older dog who was owned by a terrific teacher who had other dogs at home and deeply cared for him. He had been coming to the school since he was a puppy until he was 13 and unfortunately passed, but he was always a very calm, laid – back dog which was odd considering his breed. He never bit and was extremely patient. (Only the teacher took him home, and every afternoon she did). Despite him being a wonderful class pet, I still don’t support most other cases and you never know what kind of class they’re going to.

[Author]

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