MINI COURSE DAY - FOX MEADOW 2010

NAFA volunteers attend an event held at Fox Meadow School year that is called Mini Training Course Day. NAFA goes to help familiarize children with typical and not so typical pets. We try to address what makes a good pet owner and why animals are a lifetime commitment. Only one class talked about taking their animal to a veterinarian. We also teach about Bite Prevention while we are there.

Fun Fact: Well not actually fun or funny, 63 of the 93 students in our sessions that day have been bitten by a dog or cat.

Ciderella, who is a corn snake, goes each year to help kids not be fearful of pet reptiles. She is a very docile snake and has a very temperament. The home she lives in handles her frequently to help her stay friendly. Reptiles do carry salmonella and you should always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after handling a reptile.

This brave little girl is holding Medusa, a Bearded Dragon who is a new addition to the school program. Medusa was blind from eye swelling when she came to NAFA. She has healed quite well. Bearded Dragons are also in the reptile group.

This is Marigold. She is a Guinea Pig.

One of the questions asked is "What kind of animals do not make good pets?"

Here are some of the answers we received through out the day:

White Tiger/Lion

Raccoon

Alligator/Crocodile

Snakes

Bear
Red Panda

Camel

Shark

Sting Ray

Pronnah

Bobcat

Jelly Fish

Our favorites however were:

Elephants- "An elephant would not fit in your house."
Skunks- "If it sprays one time it makes the house stink for a week."

The kids answered questions about many things that Ms. Wannda asked. One of the things that was discussed was that if they are to encounter and injured animal, even their own, to have a parent get the animal not them.

NAFA would like to thank Mrs. Pierce for the use of her room for our Mini Course presentation.

NAFA also took packets to hand out to the kids that included an Essay contest to be written about their pet. If your child would like to enter and is in the fourth through sixth grade you can download your form here along with contest rules. Essay's must be submitted no later than 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 19th.

Can't wait for next year,

Tut