WCPSS Board Policy 4203/5031/7273 associated Rules and Procedures
The Wake County Board of Education allows the appropriate and safe inclusion of live animals in instructional programs and as classroom pets, in accordance with this policy. The (R&P) governs the use of animals in schools as part of the curriculum or as classroom pets, including procedures to prevent the transmission of animal-borne diseases, proper handling of animals and their waste, and protocols for preventing and responding to injuries. It only addresses animals used for curricular or classroom purposes, and it does not create a right for staff, students, or others to bring non-service animals onto school property.
Approval Process
The process for animals in schools requires school staff to provide parents/guardians with the “Parent/Guardian Permission for Student Exposure to Animals in School” attached to this R&P.
Permission for animals in school must be in writing and submitted to the principal no less than ten business days prior to having the animal in the school.
Protocol for Animal-Related Injuries
· All bites, scratches or other injuries acquired by students or staff must be immediately washed with soap and warm water for at least one minute and reported to the school’ administration and WCPSS Health Services for first aid and recommendation for further medical evaluation and parental contact.
· Administrators will be notified immediately of the injury and an incident/accident report (WCPSS Risk Management Form #2903) will be completed by the staff member responsible at the time of the injury and forwarded to WCPSS Risk Management and WCPSS Health Services.
· If students receive a bite or scratch from a wild animal, school administration will notify:
o Wake County Animal Control
o WCPSS Risk Management
o WCPSS Health Services
o Parents/Guardians
Animals which are UNACCEPTABLE for schools:
Venomous Animals
Venomous, poisonous, or potentially toxic animals are prohibited from school grounds. Exceptions to this recommendation may include situations where such animals are presented at schools by professionals who have experience handling such animals.
Hybrid Offspring of Wild Animals
These animals may exhibit unpredictable behaviors, especially in unfamiliar situations that may occur in a classroom setting with children. Therefore, hybrid offspring of wild animals should not be allowed on school grounds.
Non Domesticated Native Wild Life and Exotic Animals
These animals, including non-human primates, pose a risk for transmitting rabies and other zoonotic diseases (diseases which can be transferred from animals to man). Behavior of these animals also tends to be unpredictable. Therefore, these animals should not be brought to school or handled by children. Exceptions to this recommendation include those instances where animals are presented at schools by professionals who have experience handling wildlife and/or exotic species. Because of the high prevalence of rabies in bats, raccoons, skunks, and other wild carnivores, these animals (including recently dead animals) should not be permitted on school grounds under any circumstances.
Stray Animals
Stray dogs and cats, and other animals, should never be brought onto school campuses because the health and rabies vaccination status of these animals is seldom known. School administrators should notify local animal control if a stray animal is discovered on the school campus.
Baby Chicks and Ducks
Because of the high risk of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis associated with baby chicks and ducks, and because it is unlawful to sell such animals as pets in North Carolina, they are inappropriate in schools unless they are used as a component of a comprehensive embryology curriculum (ex. CTE Agricultural Education program). Optional embryology programs should be conducted only in collaboration with the NCSU Cooperative Extension Service (4H). See: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/4h/embryology/embryology.html for details.
It is imperative that hand hygiene for students and staff be enforced before and after handling all animals. Additionally, children less than five years of age should not have contact with baby poultry under any circumstances.
Aggressive Animals
Animals which are bred or trained to demonstrate aggression toward humans and/or animals, or animals which have demonstrated aggression toward humans and/or animals in the past should not be permitted on school campuses. Aggressive, unprovoked, or threatening behavior should mandate an animal's immediate removal. Exceptions may be made for sentry or canine corps dogs for demonstration or law enforcement purposes when the animals are under the control of trained military or law enforcement officials.
General Guidelines for Animals in Schools
Domesticated / CatsDogs / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Must be clean and free of disease or parasites (including fleas, ticks, mites)
· Evidence of rabies vaccine is required
· Proof of health signed by a licensed veterinarian is required
· Dogs must be housebroken
· Visiting animals should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator
· Must be supervised by responsible adult at all times
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with
animals ,their products, or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages or under appropriate restraint (collar, harness, leash)
· Are not allowed to roam on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected
· All animal waste must be disposed of by a staff member using plastic bags and gloves
· Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled
Domesticated / Ferrets
Rabbits / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Must be clean and free of disease or parasites (including fleas, ticks, mites)
· Proof of health signed by a licensed veterinarian is required
· Visiting animals should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator
· Must be supervised by responsible adult at all times
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages or pens or under appropriate restraint (collar, harness, leash)
· Must be humanely and properly housed in cages or pens
· Are not allowed to roam on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Cages, pens, and surrounding areas must be meticulously maintained and completely cleaned at least weekly
· Staff must make provisions for the care and maintenance of the animal(s) during the periods of time school is not in session (weekends, vacations, evenings)
· All animal waste must be disposed of by a staff member using plastic bags and gloves
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled
Fish / All / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Students are not allowed to clean aquariums or handle animal waste (unless
Part of the CTE Agricultural Education program)
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Must be humanely and properly housed in aquariums
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Aquariums and surrounding areas must be meticulously maintained and completely cleaned at least weekly
· Staff must make provisions for the care and maintenance of the animal(s) during the periods of time school is not in session (weekends, vacations, evenings)
· Staff must use disposable gloves when cleaning aquariums
· Do not dispose of aquarium water in sinks used for food preparation or for obtaining drinking water
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected
· Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled
Livestock / Cows
Goats
Horses
Pigs
Poultry
Sheep / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Must be clean and free of disease or parasites or on a treatment program for disease or parasites (including fleas, ticks, mites)
· Proof of health signed by a licensed veterinarian is required
· All sheep and goats must have an official scrapies ear tag
· Visiting animals should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator
· Must be supervised by responsible adult or properly contained at all times
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products, or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages, pens or under appropriate restraint
· Are not allowed to roam on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Student must not enter enclosed spaces that hold livestock unless properly supervised and/or authorized by a responsible adult
· Young children should never enter enclosed spaces containing livestock
· If possible coveralls or similar clothing will be worn over “school clothes’ in order to reduce the risk of transmission of disease
· Clothing contaminated with urine, feces or animal products should be changed immediately
Procedures / · Areas where animals have been presented must be cleaned and disinfected
· Raw dairy products must not be consumed. Other animal food products should be properly prepared to reduce the risk of disease
Pocket Pets / Chinchillas
Gerbils
Guinea Pigs
Hamsters
Hedgehogs
Rodents
Sugar Gliders / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Must be clean and free of disease or parasites (including fleas, ticks, mites)
· Proof of health signed by a licensed veterinarian is required
· Visiting animals should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator
· Must be supervised by responsible adult at all times
· Students are not allowed to clean cages or handle animal waste
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products, or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages or under appropriate restraint
· Are not allowed to roam on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Must be humanely and properly housed in cages specific for the species
· Animal cages and the surrounding area must be meticulously maintained and completely cleaned at least weekly
· Staff must make provisions for the care and maintenance of the animal(s) during the periods of time school is not in session (weekends, vacations, evenings)
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected
· All animal waste must be disposed of by a staff member using plastic bags and gloves
· Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled
Birds / Budgies
Cockatiels
Macaws
Parakeets
Parrots / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Proof of health signed by a licensed veterinarian is required
· Must be treated or negative for psittacosis (chlamydiosis)
· Must be supervised by responsible adult at all times
· Student should not handle birds
· Students are not allowed to clean cages or handle animal waste
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products, or their environments
Animal Needs / · Will be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages or under appropriate restraint
· Are not allowed to roam/fly on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Must be humanely and properly housed in cages specific for the species
· Animal cages and the surrounding area must be meticulously maintained and completely cleaned at least weekly
· Staff should clean cages when students are not present
· Staff must make provisions for the care and maintenance of the animal(s) during the periods of time school is not in session (weekends, vacations, evenings)
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected
· All animal waste must be disposed of by a staff member using plastic bags and gloves
· Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled
Reptiles and Amphibians / Frogs
Lizards
Salamanders
Snakes
Turtles / Information for Principals / · Parent/Guardian notification required (use letter provided)
· Must be supervised by responsible adult at all times
· Students are not allowed to clean cages or handle animal waste
· Visiting animals should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator
· Hand washing with liquid soap and water is required after contact with animals ,their products, or their environments
Animal Needs / · Must be handled humanely
· Can be humanely displayed in enclosed cages or under appropriate restraint
· Are not allowed to roam on the school campus or in the classroom
· Are not allowed to have contact with wild animals
· Are not allowed in areas where food and drink are consumed
· No turtles with a carapace length less than four inches should be allowed in schools
Procedures / · Food for animals must be stored in an airtight container
· Must be humanely and properly housed in cages, aquariums, etc. specific for the species
· Animal housing and the surrounding area must be meticulously maintained and completely cleaned at least weekly
· Staff must make provisions for the care and maintenance of the animal(s) during the periods of time school is not in session (weekends, vacations, evenings)
· Areas where animals have been present must be cleaned and disinfected
· All animal waste must be disposed of by a staff member using plastic bags and gloves
· Spills or “accidents” must be immediately handled by school custodial staff
References