District Policies for Animals in Classrooms
Some school districts have developed policies for the use of animals in the classroom. Whether or not your school is in one of these districts, the documents provide useful information on caring for classroom animals and how to decide if an animal is a good choice.
The Calgary Board of Education has developed an extensive policy for animals kept in or visiting a classroom. Their guidelines provide specific information for caring for animals, including animal care sheets for gerbils, hamsters, captive-bred snakes and tarantulas.
Please note that policies regarding animal use do not apply to service dogs (such as guide dogs and other assistance dogs), which are governed in Alberta by the Service Dogs Act and Service Dogs Qualification Regulations.
Higher education institutes such as colleges and universities generally need to comply with the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines, which include rigorous documentation and peer review.
