Rescue Tails / Buddy the Teacher

By Tara MFarland

Growing up, I distinctly remember our class pet. In fact, my mother also remembers her class pet, a rabbit named “Poopsie.” The concept of a class pet goes beyond having an animal around for school kids to love on. A class pet is an opportunity to teach children about that specific species, to learn to properly house and care for an animal, and the responsibilities that comes with caring for a living creature. In the right situation, a class pet is a great opportunity for children of all ages.
Taylor is a long-time friend, foster and adopter of our Marathon campus, as well as a local teacher. With a huge heart for animals and a passion for teaching, she reached out to us about a sweet bunny at our shelter, Buddy.
Brought in as a stray, Buddy was an exceptionally sweet and friendly rabbit. With such an outgoing personality, and a love of attention and affection, Buddy was actually the perfect candidate for a classroom environment. Knowing Taylor, and her commitment to her beloved animals, we knew it would be a great fit, for Buddy, Taylor and her students.
Since arriving at school on his first day of class, Buddy has become the star of the classroom. Each week the students get a lesson on rabbit biology, anatomy, care, and responsible pet ownership. He has truly become an ambassador for his species, and loves free roaming through the class, getting attention from all his humans. On the weekends, Buddy heads home with Taylor for a relaxing weekend off, before returning to work on Monday.
Rabbits are social, intelligent companion animals and require proper care, environment, diet and socialization. Sadly, they are often purchased as gifts, especially around Easter. All too often, that means rabbits end up in shelters. Just like our cats and dogs, we strive to ensure that every single animal that comes into our campuses in Key West or Marathon finds their perfect match. Learn more about rabbits by visiting us online at https://fkspca.org/adopt/adopt-small-animals/ or call us at (305) 295-4857
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