I developed the Virtual Class Pet Program to provide a humane alternative to traditional classroom pets, inspired by Brewster, a rooster who was mistreated after being part of a classroom project. This program protects animals from the overwhelming environment of busy classrooms and offers a safe, inclusive way for kids to learn about animals, regardless of budget or location.

The curriculum aims to foster empathy in children, addressing key issues like bullying and violence while providing students with a unique bonding experience during virtual learning, promoting character education and kindness to animals.

Many US states mandate or encourage character education to combat bullying. To support busy teachers, this program was designed to align with curriculum requirements.

During the first 3 years, the program reached 250+ classrooms, with approximately 40% being Title 1 schools serving low-income students, demonstrating its accessibility and impact on underserved communities.

Esperanza (Espy) was one of our most popular class pets. Because Espy was born without back hooves and used custom prosthetics to get around, she opened a door for teachers to discuss different abilities in a safe and accessible way. Students loved to see Espy run and jump with her prosthetics, play with her friends, and even act a bit silly.

Petunia is a potbellied pig who began her life being used for animal testing in a laboratory. Students love hearing about her journey to recovery once she arrived at the sanctuary and discussing what animals need to be happy, including companionship.

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