The purpose of these guidelines is to provide information to promote safety for faculty and students when animals are brought into the classroom, to provide guidance about which animals pose a public health threat in a school setting, and to establish parameters concerning animals in school.
Animals prohibited from school due to their high susceptibility of rabies include bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolf-hybrids and all wild or stray animals. Poisonous animals of any type are prohibited from school for safety reasons. Pet dogs, cats and ferrets will be allowed under the following conditions: a current up-to-date proof of vaccination against rabies and other common diseases carried by fur bearing animals must be provided by the owner to the school principal or his designees at least 24 hours prior to the animal's arrival at school.
Animals must be brought to school by adults and are not allowed on school buses. Ferrets must be brought to school in cages.
No animals should be allowed in food preparation areas at any time.
The principal will impose limitations on the amount of time in which animals are allowed to be on school grounds.
Birds - Psittacosis is a serious disease that infected birds can transmit to humans. Birds should not be handled by children and should never be allowed to fly free in the classroom.
Reptiles and amphibians, chicks and ducks - Since reptiles can spread salmonella, these animals should not be handled by children. They must be brought to school and kept in cages.
Guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and rabbits - These animals pose a limited health risk. Direct contact should be supervised, and the animal must be kept in cages while in school.