Caring for the Community

Good Advice With Glen

Glen Hatchell, HSTB Behavior Enrichment Manager, says to remember these 3 things when meeting a dog.

1. ASK THE OWNER . From a distance ask the dog handler if you may pet their dog instead of asking, “Is your dog friendly?”. That allows the handler the option to say “No” without making the pet appear dangerous.

2. MOVE SLOWLY, WITH LOWERED, CLOSED HANDS . Keep your energy low. Fast movements, flailing limbs, and running can cause an animal unnecessary fear.

3. PET UNDER THE CHIN, ON THE CHEST, OR ON THE BACK .

Petting the head can be seen as a sign of dominance for a dog. Stick to the chest, back or under the chin while keeping your body parallel to theirs so your face is not up close to theirs.

Pocket Pets For Teachers

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is proud to waive pocket pet adoption fees for teachers.

Classroom pets have long been used to enhance education. Having a class pet can provide many benefits including:

Helping students learn in new ways

Improving attendance

Teaching responsibility and respect

Developing a sense of pride as the class unites in caring for the pet