The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) recognizes that the appropriate and humane use of animals in the elementary and secondary classrooms can provide significant educational benefits to the students, and that a positive interaction between students and animals in the classroom enhances not only scientific learning but also provides an additional avenue promoting the development and growth of the students’ sense of responsibility and respect for all living things.

As part of its broader educational mission to ensure that all animal use is performed responsibly and humanely, AALAS has developed a position statement on the use of animals in the precollege classroom and a series of species-specific informational pamphlets about species commonly found in classrooms settings such as mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, and amphibians.

Caring for Animals sheets (all files PDF format)
Complete booklet
The Use of Animals in Precollege Education
Should You Have a Pet in Your Classroom?
Recognizing Common Diseases in Animals in the Classroom
Signs of Pain and Distress in Rodents and Other Classroom Animals
Animals in the Classroom: Allergy and Asthma Concerns
Establishing a Critter Care Committee
Species-Specific Animal Care Sheets:
Gerbil
Guinea Pig
Hamster
Mouse
Rat
Rabbit
South African Clawed Frog
Turtle
Snake