Names: Lana | Archer
Ages: 9 years | 5 years
Breeds: Rottweiler | Boxer-Bulldog Mix
Characteristics: big, big personality, big heart | athletic, playful, cuddly
Location: Washington, USA
Parent: Brittany L.

Lana is consistently on the “dangerous dog breed” list, but the most dangerous thing about her is stepping on someone’s toes with her 100 lb weight! Lana is a certified canine good citizen dog; she and Brittany volunteered in a resource teacher’s classroom, where students read and wrote to Lana. Both Lana and Archer have also visited a middle school, where Brittany spoke about dog training and how dogs can support mental health.

Name: Phoebe
Age: 7 years
Breed: Welsh Corgi
Characteristics: resilient, fluffy, always hungry
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Parent: April S.

Name: Smooch
Age: 11 years
Breed: Domestic Longhair
Characteristics: affectionate, smart, brave
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Michelle D.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: September/October 2025 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Angel
Age: 11 years
Breed: Chug
Characteristics: spunky, curious, loving
Location: Texas, USA
Parent: Trina T.

Name: Skye
Age: 3 years
Breed: Ragdoll
Characteristics: energetic, vocal, a hunter
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Jaimie L.

Name: Boots
Age: 11 years
Breed: Chihuahua Mix
Characteristics: loyal, stubborn, cuddly
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Lea K.

Boots is a regular topic of conversation in Lea’s Grade 2 classroom. He is often used as an example when teaching students how to write sentences. The kids love to ask about things that Boots and Lea do together, and even draw pictures of him!

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: May/June 2025 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Emma
Age: 9 years
Breed: Schnauzer/Poodle Mix
Characteristics: precious, gentle, loving
Location: Texas, USA
Parent: Maryanne S.

Name: Layla
Age: 15 years
Breed: Beagle Cross
Characteristics: intelligent, soft, ruled by her nose and stomach
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Corrie W.

Names: Mardi & Lundi
Age: 1 year
Breed: American Shorthair
Characteristics: overactive, endearing, affectionate
Location: Louisiana, USA
Parent: Chelsea C.

Name: Sugar
Age: 2 years
Breed: Syrian Hamster
Characteristics: washes her hands before she eats, picks up any food from the floor of her cage and puts it back in the bowl before eating
Location: Ontario, Canada
Parent: Marilena M.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: March/April 2025 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Davy Crickett
Age: 1 year
Breed: Bearded Dragon
Characteristics: alert, spoiled rotten, a survivor
Location: Texas, USA
Parent: Candy J.

When I started teaching fourth-grade science and social studies, I decided I wanted to have a class pet. ‘A lizard would be a good choice,’ I thought. ‘You could never get too attached.’ Then I saw Davy at Petco and realized I’d been kidding myself. He was the most beautiful orange colour, and was bigger than all the other lizards there. I knew immediately that he was the one.

He quickly became a hit with all the students; every day they grew closer to him. I did too.

I used him in my lessons right from the beginning. The class examined his skin when he shed, studying it under the microscope. We researched his role in the food chain, his adaptations, and how he compares to other lizards in Texas. Davy even has his own Meal Worm Saloon, where we are able to raise, study, and witness metamorphosis take place under a microscope.

Leading up to the Christmas holidays, Davy began eating less and less. I took him to the vet, but after a prescribed regime of hand-feeding, medication, and injections of sterilized water, he wasn’t improving much. Eventually, I had to take him to an expert in the Dallas area. The kids made a video, asking for this specialized vet to “please save our friend, Davy!”

After another month of shots and a special diet, Davy began to recover. Now he’s back to his regular self and eats about 30 crickets a day!

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: January/February 2025 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Capt’n Crunch
Age: 2 years
Breed: Syrian Hamster
Characteristics: shy, loves cooked rice and oatmeal
Location: Ontario, Canada
Parent: Marilena M.

Name: Luke
Age: 11 years
Breed: Goldendoodle
Characteristics: loving, loyal, sweet
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Linette M.

Name: Peaches
Age: 4 years
Breed: Domestic Shorthair
Characteristics: affectionate, cuddly, loves food
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Jaimie L.

Name: Tyrion
Age: 2 years
Breed: Long-Haired Chihuahua
Characteristics: protective, not friendly, the cutest dog in existence
Location: Texas, USA
Parent: Flor J.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: September/October 2024 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Daisy’s Near CATastrophe by Debra Westgate-Silva is a children’s book based on true events. It traces the true story of a fearless feline who goes missing and the K9 pet tracker who comes to her rescue.

Vacation Gone Wrong

It all starts when Daisy’s family goes on vacation, and Daisy is sent to a cat kennel. But this feisty feline doesn’t want to stay there—not without her best friend, Bear! While the story follows Daisy’s adventures and mishaps, the illustrations reveal another part of the story that Daisy is unaware of—a pet-detective dog is searching for her.

Just when things are at their darkest, Daisy remembers who she is: a kitten who can open doors and doesn’t give up. Daisy’s unique talent may have caused her trouble, but it could also be the key to reuniting her with Bear and their family.

Teaching Moments

Written for children ages 4–9, Daisy’s Near CATastrophe gives readers of all ages an inside look at the real-life search and rescue efforts conducted by K9 pet trackers. And the book’s beautiful illustrations contain clues for kids to spot along the way.

“The story offers many teachable opportunities,” says Westgate-Silva. “The curriculum includes social emotional activities about friendship and assertiveness as well as literacy skill-based lessons on making connections between illustrations and text, distinguishing fact from fiction and experimenting with point of view.”

Ultimately, Daisy’s Near CATastrophe is a heartwarming and empowering tale of perseverance, friendship and the unbreakable bonds between pets.

To help families and teachers reinforce the underlying messages of friendship and perseverance, Westgate-Silva, a former educator, created a full curriculum guide available on her website.

About the Author

Debra Westgate-Silva worked in public education for many years and now writes grants to support non-profit organizations focused on literacy, education, and trauma-impacted youth. 

The post Daisy’s Near CATastrophe: Real-life Tale of a Fearless Feline appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Dakota
Age: 4 years
Breed: Northern Special (Husky/Shepherd Cross)
Characteristics: loving, intelligent, energetic
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Shirely B.

Name: Luna
Age: 8 years
Breed: Papillon/Chihuahua Mix
Characteristics: big scary wolf, family protector
Location: North Carolina, USA
Parent: Eric G.

Names: The Great Grey Ooblek (left) | Gandy Fluffyjammiepants (right)
Ages: 2 years | 9 years
Breeds: Domestic Longhair | Norwegian Forest/Tabby Cross
Characteristics: in love, devoted, nice
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Holly C.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: May/June 2024 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Bear
Age: 4 years
Breed: Belgian Malinois Mix
Characteristics: dramatic, huggable, smart
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Parent: Chrissy R.

Name: Bonk
Age: 2 years
Breed: Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Characteristics: brazen, earnest, robust
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Lucy Y.

Name: Lucy
Age: 3 years
Breed: Anatolian Shepherd/ Maremma Sheepdog/Poodle Mix
Characteristics: energetic, protective, snuggly
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Nicola G.

Name: Obi Wan Catnobi
Age: 6 years
Breed: American Shorthair
Characteristics: apprehensive, doting, self-sufficient
Location: Louisiana, USA
Parent: Chelsea C.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: March/April 2024 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Angela
Age: 4 years
Breed: Domestic Shorthair
Characteristics: loving, princess, shy
Location: Haryana, India
Parent: Neelam R.

Name: Minnie
Age: 1 year
Breed: Domestic Shorthair
Characteristics: goofball, talkative, Mama’s boy
Location: Haryana, India
Parent: Neelam R.

Name: Otto
Age: 3 years
Breed: German Mittelspitz
Characteristics: fluffy, needy, mischievous
Location: Ski, Norway
Parent: Nani T.

Name: Sophie
Age: 8 years
Breed: Chihuahua/Shih Tzu Mix
Characteristics: affectionate, clever, patient
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Parent: Lloyd L.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

The post Teacher’s Pet: January/February 2024 appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Name: Hugo
Age: 3 years
Breed: Goldendoodle
Characteristics: cuddly, silly, springy legs
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Parent: Noemi M.

Name: Mac
Age: 5 years
Breed: Golden Retriever
Characteristics: gentle, outgoing, playful
Location: Ontario, Canada
Parent: Megan P.

Name: Miles
Age: 3 years
Breed: Tabby
Characteristics: calm, loving, sweet
Location: North Carolina, USA
Parent: Eric G.

Name: Wynnie
Age: 2 years
Breed: Black Mouth Cur Mix
Characteristics: determined, smart, sweet
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Parent: Hadley Z.

During COVID, Wynnie would often feature on video calls with students. She was a puppy back then and the students loved watching her grow! She brought them so much joy and helped them connect with each other. Now that classes are back in person, students still like to hear Wynnie stories and always ask to see pictures of her.

If you’d like your pet to be featured, check out the submission guidelines.

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