With these funds I will purchase items for our class/school pet guinea pig, Basil. Basil was purchased by our 5th grade reading teacher, and he has quickly captured the hearts of nearly everyone in our building. He is about 8 months old and is pretty big as you can see in the picture. The boys are learning so many things by having a classroom pet and it's amazing to see them interact with him. The first question of the day is where is Basil? Did you feed Basil? Can I feed him? Did you come play with over the weekend? Can I take him home for the weekend? Basil, Basil, Basil! They love taking care of him and are always concerned for his well-being. Having a pet has taught them great responsibility and how important it is to care for what's yours. Basil is also a friend for a lot of the boys. If they could they would pet and talk to Basil all day. Many of our boys face many challenges outside of school and interacting with Basil is therapy for them. They get to love and be loved unconditionally. 

With that comes a cost, and Basil isn't cheap. Basil of course needs food, Timothy Hay and bedding on an ongoing basis. He has some toys to chew on but he could use more. The two major things he needs is a larger pin to be put in so that more of the boys can interact with him and so Basil can get the exercise he needs; the other is a book on guinea pigs so the boys can learn more about how to care for him. For instance, Basil choked on his water the first time a few weeks ago and we all stopped and stared because none of us knew what to do. The book would help us learn more about how to care for him and what to do in case of emergencies. 

Lastly, Basils' scent is beginning to take over our classroom and we need air freshener to neutralize his smell. 

Back Up Plan