How Your Business Can Support The Next Generation Of Pet Owners

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF THE pet industry starts long before a customer walks into a retail store — it begins in the classroom. Whether you are a manufacturer, brand leader, distributor or store owner, your business has a unique opportunity to champion responsible pet ownership in your community.

Through the Pets in the Classroom and Dogs in the Classroom initiatives — grant programs established by the Pet Care Trust to help teachers bring small animals and therapy dogs into schools — more than 279,000 grants have been awarded, enriching over 11.1 million children across the U.S. and Canada. In the 2025–26 school year alone, over 674,000 students benefited from these life-changing interactions.

While industry associations heavily support the program, pet retailers, brands, manufacturers and leaders are the vital community anchors driving this mission forward.

THE STATS: TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS AND SHAPING FUTURE OWNERS

Pets in the Classroom’s annual teacher survey data proves that bringing animals into learning environments yields extraordinary outcomes:

• 97% saw a measurable increase in student responsibility.
• 97% witnessed an increase in student empathy and compassion.
• 95% reported that students expressed a strong interest in owning a pet at home.
• 94% reported that students deeply understand how to care for their classroom pet.
• 56% reported that at least one family acquired a pet at home as a direct result of the classroom pet!

REAL IMPACT: STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES

Behind every survey stat is a classroom transformed. Here is how grant recipients describe the real-world difference these programs make:

• “After getting my bearded dragon through this grant, many students have expressed interest in animals and shown more empathy throughout the year. My students use the bearded dragon area as regulation for mood as well as building responsibility.” — Ashley Thomas, Grant Recipient
• “I’ve seen students become more gentle, patient and responsible through caring for Stitch [our classroom Betta fish]. Stitch has created opportunities for social interaction, emotional connection, and hands-on learning …” — Tiffany Drebenstedt, Grant Recipient

HOW RETAILERS & SPONSORS CAN TAKE ACTION

Connect with Your Local Education Community

1. You don’t have to wait for educators to walk through your doors! Independent retailers and industry partners can easily connect with neighboring schools. Pets in the Classroom has free window clings, counter flyers, and digital graphics to show your community that you support local education. Visit petsintheclassroom.org/retailers to download customizable outreach templates to send directly to local Pre-K–12 principals, science coordinators, and PTA heads to let them know grant applications are open.

Launch a Register Round-Up Campaign

2. Turn checkouts into community powerhouses! By inviting shoppers to round up their spare change at the register to fund classroom pet grants, independent retailers build deep customer trust while directly supporting nearby schools.

Become an Official Corporate Sponsor

3. Aligning your brand with Pets in the Classroom is an investment in future pet lovers. Custom corporate sponsorships offer brand visibility across teacher networks, educational channels and industry press while supporting STEM and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).

Join the Exclusive “100×100 Club”

4. You don’t have to be a major corporation to make a big difference! The 100×100 Club brings together a community of 100 dedicated individuals, pet lovers and small businesses who commit $100 monthly to support classroom pets. It’s a simple, powerful way to directly empower educators and nurture the human-animal bond with local students.

Happening NOW at SUPERZOO: Double Your Impact!

Help Pets in the Classroom fund these incredible outcomes right now. During SUPERZOO, the World Pet Association (WPA) is matching every single donation made to Pets in the Classroom 1:1.

• $50 becomes $100 — Funding a complete habitat setup for an entire classroom!
• $150 becomes $300 — Introducing multiple classrooms to the power of a pet!

By connecting local teachers with grants or becoming an official sponsor, you elevate your business into an irreplaceable champion for education and compassionate animal care. Stop by Booth #6340 to meet the team and grab retailer resources and sponsorship packages — or visit petsintheclassroom.org/donate to take advantage of the WPA 1:1 matching gift today!