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Dog adds incentive for students to learn
An adopted dog in the classroom of one local junior high has students eager to come to class and complete homework if it means helping out with the new pet.
Bloomfield junior high teacher Stephanie Arthur explained that the recent adoption of Chloe -- a whippet-- from the Greene County Humane Shelter was one in a million.
"I wanted this to teach the students the responsibility of taking care of a pet," Arthur said.
Having a pet is a huge responsibility and it's important for the students to know what it entails.
"But we got lucky in the fact that Chloe is such a good dog," she explained.
The project was paid for by a Learn and Serve Grant which was used to cover the initial costs of the adoption from the Greene County Humane Society.
But a dog was not the first choice for her classroom, she said. She had hoped for something a bit smaller.
"When they (GCHS) mentioned a dog I was really apprehensive," she said.
But Chloe was a perfect match for her class, she noted.
After the initial adoption, Chloe was checked by a vet in Odon who found that she had heart worms.
Arthur explained, "We had just got her and she had to stay overnight at the vet," noting that it was hard to leave her so soon.
"But she is fine now. The heart worms are gone," she explained. "We're not glad that she had heart worms, but the people at the shelter didn't know. We see it as we saved her life."
Students in Arthur's class now hurry to finish up homework just to take Chloe outside.
One student, Robert Graves, explained, "It's pretty cool. I think we're the only school that has adopted a dog."
Arthur explained that the kids get to take her out if they have all of their homework completed.
"Each night I take her home, but if for some reason she doesn't come to school with me the kids want to know why," Arthur said.
Chloe has been an amazing addition to the classroom, she added.
"It's an incentive to come to school and when she isn't here they (students) miss her," Arthur said.
But this project has allowed the students to learn more than just pet care.
The Learn and Serve grant establishes guidelines which are in part being met by the creation of an informative pamphlet on the spade and neutering process of dogs and cats.
"Our class is involved with the CAPE organization and a Learn and Serve Grant. Our goal is to inform the public of certain animal situations in which we can be of service," Arthur explained. "The class and myself are working to create a pamphlet that informs people of the alteration process of dogs and cats. We are working with the Greene County Humane Society, Dr. Royal's veterinary service and our school to complete the project."