What Is a Teacher’s Pet?
PETFINDER’S Teacher’s Pets are a cast of sometimes lovable and not-so-lovable pets who are already adopted, but go into families’ homes and give them an idea as to what will and will not work for their family. From the traditional to the exotic, these animals give the families a feel for what fits best into their family dynamics as well as their homes. What a family may think is the ideal pet and what actually is can be very different. A Teacher’s Pet helps them tell the difference.
Smith Family
Dilemma: Mom wants a pet to sooth her empty-nest syndrome, Son wants a big dog and Dad wants a talking bird.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Ranger (blue and gold macaw): Can live to be 100 years old and Dad requested a bird for singing purposes.
Cleopatra (sphinx cat): A rare breed of hairless cat; Cleopatra was chosen for Mom, Nikki, because she does not shed.
Sylvester (cocker spaniel and Portuguese water dog mix): A non-shedding, poodle relative.
Greg & Divinity
Dilemma: Divinity wants an exotic pet while Greg wants a playmate for his current dog.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Dolly (12-week-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig): Selected because Divinity had requested a unique pet.
Jack (Five-year-old harlequin great dane): Selected because throughout the course of her life Divinity has owned six great danes. Jack was a rescue.
Kookaburra (Nine-month-old Jack Russell terrier): An extremely hyperactive dog, characteristic of Jack Russell terriers. The dog was chosen to be a playmate with Greg & Divinity’s current dog, Nesta.
Gee Family
Dilemma: How to pick the perfect first family pet. Dad wants a dog, but Mom isn’t sure the family is ready for one.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Phoebe (four-month-old shepherd mix): Phoebe is a young, active puppy. She was chosen for Dad, a dog-lover. She is a rescued dog.
Dixie (mini rex rabbit): Chosen to demonstrate to the children the frailty of rabbit bone composition. Additionally, Rabbits shed quite a bit.
Lightning (sulcata turtle): May live up to 100 years old and grow to be over 100lbs.
The Hopwoods
Dilemma: Steve wants an exotic pet while Brenda has her heart set on a teacup yorkie.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Sugar Glider (a type of gliding possum): A sugar glider is an exotic and nocturnal animal.
Dolly (12-week-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig): Selected because Steve had requested a unique pet.
Rufus (three-year-old papillon): Papillons are extremely trainable little dogs.
The Bissels
Dilemma: The family can’t agree on the specie of their next pet to add to their burgeoning animal family.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Hatcher (four-month-old goat): Selected for Mom who wanted a goat to make Chevre and mow the lawn.
Lieutenant (six-foot-long monitor lizard): Was selected for son, an honorary member of the herpetological society.
Bella (one-year-old boxer): Was selected as a playmate for the Bissels current dog Champ. Bella was a rescue.
Steve & Tamara
Dilemma: Tamara wants a pet bunny while Steve wants a golden retriever.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Owie (nine-month-old golden retriever): Owie was selected for Steve, who grew up with golden retrievers.
Leonardo (the Ferret): Leonardo is nocturnal, hydrophilic, and a cousin of the skunk.
Stormy (a litter box-trained rabbit): Stormy was selected to appease Tamara, who had previously owned a rabbit.
The Barrings
Dilemma: The family needs this pet to act as both their pet and their son’s school mascot.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Crackers (sulphur-crested cockatoo): 18 years old and low maintenance. Crackers is well socialized and can say “I love you” and “water.”
Apache (green iguana): The 20lb Apache is ten years old and intimidating, perfect for the Pioneer lacrosse team. Apache likes to swim and bask in the sun.
Gilbert (one-year-old hamster) & Guinness (one-year-old dumbo rat): Guinness is a rat that makes appearances at the LA and Orange County Fairs. He also likes to climb into people’s mouths after they drink coffee.
The Finns
Dilemma: Heath wants a dog while Darlene wants a cat.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Bear (Maine coon Siamese cat): Mild-tempered, eight-month-old cat.
Jacks (labrador retriever): Has a lot of energy as a labrador puppy and loves to go on hikes.
Leo (mixed breed dog): Five-year-old trained dog who can fetch, shake a paw, lay, roll over and has hyper salivary glands.
Carless Family
Dilemma: Carless family needs a horse to help with their daughter, Star’s rheumatoid arthritis.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Dancer (White Horse): Dancer was selected to demonstrate to Star that white horses are very difficult to keep clean.
Mack (Belgian Horse)
Cinnamon Candy (Miniature Horse)
Sweet Sue (Missouri Fox Trotter)
Snowflake (German Palomino) Snowflake is a member of Ponies of America. She is used in the RIDE YOUR HORSE! Therapeutic Riding Program.
The Hoffman Family
Dilemma: Mom wants an exotic animal while Dad is having a hard time opening his heart to the idea of a new pet at all.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Pee-Wee (Miniature Horse): Five-years-old and can only handle 30lb riders.
Rusty (Ferret): A semi-exotic pet, but without the care and danger of a more exotic animal.
Binky Ramon (Mexican hairless dog): Bred by the Aztecs, these were the first therapy dogs.
James Family
Dilemma: Mom and Son can’t agree on anything, including the type of pet they want.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Frenchie (chinchilla): A ferret-like animal that is legal in the state of the California.
Buffy (yorkshire terrier): Three-years-old and rescued off of the streets of
Taiwan.
Leo, (mixed breed dog): Five-year-old trained dog who can fetch, shake a paw, lay, roll over and has hyper salivary glands.
Morris Family
Dilemma: Alex III wants an anaconda and Mom is terrified of snakes. They need to find the perfect pet to surprise their daughter and keep Alex III happy.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Rosie (python): Rosie is a rescued animal and is about 70 lbs and 30 feet in length.
Big Blue (rabbit): Twenty pounds and loves vegetables. Is a confirmed couch potato.
Piper (long haired chihuahua): Fully grown, but only two pounds. Loves to dance for treats.
The Kirshners
Dilemma: The entire family but Mom wants a pet. Mom feels they aren’t ready for another one.
Cast of Teacher’s Pets and why they were chosen:
Casper (the cockatoo): Nine-years-old and can live up to 50 years old. One of the most endangered species of birds in the world.
Guinness the Rat (dumbo rat): Guinness is a rat that makes appearances at the LA and Orange County Fairs. Guinness likes to climb into people’s mouths after they drink coffee.
Rusty (Corn Snake): Corn snakes make some of the best pet snakes in the world.