💵 Classroom Pet Grants: How to Get Your Class Pet Funded
The main classroom pet grant in the US and Canada is Pets in the Classroom, run by the Pet Care Trust, a nonprofit foundation. For the 2026–27 school year it gives Pre-K–12 teachers one starter grant: a store coupon for a set pet and supplies at Petco, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus or Petland, or a rebate of up to $125 for fish, reptiles and amphibians, or up to $75 for a small animal, bird, hermit crab or betta fish. Applications close April 30, 2027. This guide covers who qualifies, which pets each grant covers, how to apply, and other ways to pay for a class pet.
Who can apply
- Pre-K–12 teachers in public and private schools in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada. The program's eligibility page also invites school librarians, counselors and nurses. Homeschools, home daycares and virtual schools don't qualify.
- One starter grant per teacher, for life. You get one initial grant, a store coupon or a rebate, even if you change schools later. The grant goes to you, not your school, and the pet belongs to you.
- Your principal's permission. The application asks for your principal's name and email, and you confirm they've agreed to a pet in your room.
- A pet that's legal where you live. The grant won't pay for an animal your state or town restricts, and checking is up to you. Our pet legality guides cover the common ones state by state.
After your first grant, you can apply for a $50 sustaining grant every school year, though not in the same year as your first grant. It pays for food, supplies or a replacement pet from any pet supply store.
Which pets each grant covers
You choose one of seven starter grants: a coupon from one of four stores, or one of three rebates. Rebate amounts are a cap, so you're paid back what you spend up to that amount.
| Grant | Pets it names |
|---|---|
| Up to $125 Fish, aquarium, amphibian & reptile rebate | Fish, snails, shrimp, axolotls, frogs and toads, turtles and tortoises, lizards (including geckos, bearded dragons and anoles), snakes, chameleons |
| Up to $75 Small animal, bird & hermit crab rebate | Guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas, hedgehogs, birds, hermit crabs, spiders, hissing cockroaches |
| Up to $75 Betta fish rebate | Betta fish only |
| A set list Store coupon | One pet from the store's own list, with the supplies printed on the coupon |
| Up to $50 a year Sustaining grant, after your first | Food, supplies or a replacement pet |
Two catches. Hermit crabs and bettas live in tanks, but they don't go on the $125 rebate: hermit crabs use the $75 small animal rebate, and bettas have their own $75 one. And you can take only one rebate, so choose the one that matches your pet.
What the store coupons offer
A store coupon means you don't spend your own money first, but it only works at a participating store near you, for the pet and items printed on it, with no substitutions. Each store has its own list:
- Petco: ball python, bearded dragon, betta fish, corn, king or milk snake, crested gecko, freshwater fish, GloFish, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil or mouse, hermit crab, jumping spider, leopard gecko, Pacman frog, roly poly (isopods), tarantula.
- PetSmart: bearded dragon, betta fish, guinea pig, hamster, leopard gecko, tropical fish. Set up a PetSmart Treats account online before you redeem.
- Pet Supplies Plus: ball python, bearded dragon, betta fish, corn snake, crested gecko, dwarf hamster, GloFish, guinea pig, jumping spider, leopard gecko, Pacman frog, tarantula, tropical fish. Not every location sells live animals.
- Petland: fish, guinea pig, hamster or Pacman frog in the US; betta fish or hamster in Canada.
Puerto Rico has shorter lists at Petco and PetSmart, and every pet and item depends on what the store has in stock. Call your nearest store before you apply to check it carries the pet you want.
What no grant covers
- Dogs, cats and visiting animals. The pet has to live in your classroom.
- Insects and butterfly kits. That rules out stick insects, praying mantises, ant farms and caterpillar kits.
- Farm and project setups. No livestock such as chickens or goats, no egg incubators, and no worm or compost bins.
- Adoption fees, DIY or repurposed habitat materials, and experiments of any kind.
One gray area: the terms exclude insects, yet the $75 rebate lists hissing cockroaches. If a hissing cockroach is your pick, email the Trust before you apply. Spiders and isopods are clearer: spiders are named in the $75 rebate, tarantulas and jumping spiders are on two store lists, and Petco's list includes roly polies (isopods).
A pet being on a grant list doesn't make it right for your room. Hamsters sleep through the school day, and the CDC says reptiles, amphibians and rodents aren't suitable for children under 5. The classroom pet quiz asks whether you're applying for this grant and leaves out pets it won't cover, along with pets that don't fit your grade, allergies or weekends.
Store coupon or rebate: which to pick
Choose a store coupon if you'd rather not pay up front and a participating store near you stocks the pet you want. The catch is the fixed list: you get the items on the coupon and nothing else, so budget for anything else the pet needs.
Choose a rebate if you want to pick your own habitat and gear, your pet isn't on a store list, or you'd rather shop at a local pet store. You pay for everything first and get paid back later, which can take 8 to 12 weeks or more after your receipts are approved. Receipts are accepted from pet specialty stores and authorized online retailers such as Amazon and Chewy, but not from grocery stores or mass retailers like Walmart, Target or Home Depot.
Either way, the grant rarely covers everything. Most setups cost more than the grant pays once you add heat, lighting or filtration, so price yours with our pet cost calculator or the setup costs guide, and plan for food, bedding and vet visits after that.
Before you apply: a checklist
- Check your school's pet policy and get your principal's OK. Some districts ban particular species or want approval in writing.
- Ask families about allergies before you choose the pet, not after it arrives.
- Pick a pet that fits your room. The classroom pet quiz weighs your grade, allergies, school rules, weekends and the grant.
- Plan weekends, holidays and summer. Decide who checks on the pet, who takes it home over breaks, and who keeps it for good if you change schools. Our low-maintenance classroom pets guide covers the pets that cope best with a gap.
- Price the whole setup and decide whether a coupon or a rebate fits it better.
- Have your paperwork ready: a personal email address (the program asks for one rather than your school address) and proof of employment, such as a school badge or pay stub.
How to apply, step by step
- Step 1: Create your account. On petsintheclassroom.org, click Login, then Register, and fill in your profile. An email arrives with a link to set your password. You keep this one account for every school year.
- Step 2: Upload proof of employment, such as a photo of your school badge or a pay stub.
- Step 3: Start a new application. Agree to the grant terms, then choose your grant: a store coupon or a rebate, and the pet.
- Step 4: Check your details. Confirm your personal and school information, and your principal's name and email, which is how you confirm their permission.
- Step 5: Fill in the grant details, where the Trust asks about you and your pet. Be specific: name the species, where the habitat will go, what students will do each week, and who covers weekends and breaks.
- Step 6: Submit and watch your inbox. Most decisions arrive within about two weeks, though the program says it can take two to three weeks when it's busy. Add no-reply@portal.petsintheclassroom.org to your safe senders so the email doesn't land in spam, and write to info@petsintheclassroom.org if you've heard nothing after three weeks.
Applied before? The program moved to a new grant system for 2026–27. Your old login was carried over, but you need to set a new password with "Forgot your password?" on the new login page before you apply.
After you're approved
Store coupons: take the original coupon (copies aren't accepted), the store cover letter, and a school ID or driver's license. Use it before it expires, because expired or lost coupons aren't replaced.
Rebates: buy the pet and supplies, then upload every receipt together, in one submission, within 90 days of approval and no later than May 31, 2027. Receipts must be itemized and show the total and how you paid. Teachers in the US and Puerto Rico are paid through Bill.com (accept its invitation within 7 days, or a paper check comes instead); teachers in Canada get a paper check.
Changing your mind: you can switch animals once per school year by emailing the Trust, and switch grant type once, but only before you've used any of the grant.
Other ways to fund a class pet
If you've already had your Pets in the Classroom grant, your school isn't covered, or the setup costs more than the grant pays, these are worth asking:
- DonorsChoose. Public school teachers post a classroom project and the public funds it. Teachers have used it for class pet habitats and supplies; check its current rules on live animals before you list the pet itself.
- Your PTA or PTO. Ask whether it has a classroom fund or teacher mini-grants. A one-page plan with the pet, the setup cost and your weekend plan makes it an easy yes.
- Your district's education foundation. Many fund small classroom projects each year, and a class pet tied to a science or life-cycle unit makes a strong case.
- Local pet stores. Ask about a teacher discount. Some stores donate supplies, or even an animal.
- Shelters and rescues. Some humane societies help teachers with classroom pets and lesson ideas, and rescues often have guinea pigs, rats and other small animals that need homes. Pets in the Classroom doesn't pay adoption fees, but a rebate still covers the supplies.
- Class families and local businesses. A parent upgrading an aquarium or a local business may donate gear. Clean and check any used tank or cage before an animal goes in.
Setup checklists for grant-covered pets
With a rebate, you choose the gear. Our setup guides list everything each pet needs, and the rebate accepts receipts from online retailers such as Amazon:
- Leopard gecko setup: the $125 reptile rebate
- Bearded dragon setup: the $125 reptile rebate
- Beginner fish tank: the $125 aquarium rebate, or $75 for a betta
- Guinea pig cage: the $75 small animal rebate
- Hermit crab habitat: the $75 small animal rebate
Where these facts come from
Grant amounts, eligibility, deadlines and pet lists come from the Pets in the Classroom 2026–27 grant terms, its how to apply and grant options pages, and its FAQ, checked October 31, 2026. The program updates its terms each school year, so read the current ones before you apply. The under-5 rule is from the CDC's guidance for schools and daycares.
Still choosing a pet? Start with our best classroom pets guide, or the best pets for an elementary classroom for younger grades. Our free classroom pet toolkit has a care routine, a holiday plan and a student job chart to print.
❓ Common questions
Is there a grant for classroom pets?
Yes. Pets in the Classroom, run by the nonprofit Pet Care Trust, gives Pre-K–12 teachers in public and private schools in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada one starter grant for a class pet. For 2026–27 it is a store coupon or a rebate of up to $75 or $125, and applications close April 30, 2027.
How much is a Pets in the Classroom grant?
Up to $125 for fish, an aquarium, a reptile or an amphibian; up to $75 for a small animal, bird or hermit crab; and up to $75 for a betta fish. A store coupon covers a set pet and supplies instead of a dollar amount. After your first grant, you can apply for $50 each school year.
Who qualifies for a classroom pet grant?
Pre-K–12 teachers in public and private schools in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, with their principal's permission. Homeschools, home daycares and virtual schools don't qualify, and each teacher gets one starter grant for life.
When is the deadline for the Pets in the Classroom grant?
Applications for the 2026–27 school year close April 30, 2027, for every grant type. Rebate receipts are due within 90 days of approval and no later than May 31, 2027.
Can I buy classroom pet supplies on Amazon with the grant?
Yes, with a rebate grant. Rebates accept itemized receipts from pet specialty stores and authorized online retailers such as Amazon and Chewy, but not from grocery stores or mass retailers like Walmart or Target. Store coupons only work at the participating store.
Does the classroom pet grant cover insects?
No. The terms exclude insects and caterpillar or butterfly kits, so stick insects, mantises and ant farms aren't covered. Spiders are named in the $75 rebate, and Petco's coupon list includes roly polies. The $75 list also names hissing cockroaches, so ask the Trust before you count on one.
How long does a classroom pet grant take?
Most applications are decided within about two weeks, sometimes two to three when the program is busy. Rebate payments take longer: 8 to 12 weeks or more after your receipts are approved.
Can I get a second classroom pet grant?
Not a second starter grant: Pets in the Classroom gives one per teacher for life, even if you change schools. After that, you can apply for a $50 sustaining grant every school year for food, supplies or a replacement pet.
👩🏫 Reviewed by a teacher
Stacey Fernandez, M.A. — gifted education teacher in New Mexico
Stacey has taught K-8 for more than a decade in New Mexico, Virginia, and Georgia — mathematics, algebra, information technology, and STEAM — and now teaches gifted education, holding New Mexico’s Gifted Education Endorsement. She reads our classroom pages the way a teacher reads a lesson plan: for whether the advice would actually survive a real classroom, a real school schedule, and a real group of children.
Neither her school nor her school district is affiliated with, or has endorsed, this site. How we review pages.