Pets
“Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!" Do not make good pets but many other animals do. The 4-H pet project helps you explore what kind of pet fits into your family’s lifestyle and how to be an excellent caretaker of your pet.
- Identify breeds and animal species and their characteristics.
- Explore health regulations, first aid, and simple treatments for ailments.
- Demonstrate care and management in feeding, handling, grooming and fitting/showing.
- Learn about the selection, care, needs of pets and basic principles of pet behavior.
Ideas for Project Area Learning!
- Learn about the proper care, grooming and feeding of your pet.
- Plan a training and exercise program for your pet.
- Make a decision about breeding or not breeding your pet.
- Compare the labels on pet foods to make an informed decision on content and price.
- Identify symptoms and a course of action for a disease in your pet.
- Create a plan to prevent your pet from getting lost or finding it if it gets lost.
- Purchase and use the appropriate grooming equipment and techniques.
Project Area Events
Iowa 4-H Contact
Celine Beggs
Share What You Learn With Others!
Communication
- How to approach a pet safely
- How to select a nutritional diet
- How to select a cat, gerbil, hamster, etc. as a pet
Civic Engagement
- How to select a nutritional diet
- How to select a cat, gerbil, hamster, etc. as a pet
- Organize a fundraiser to help benefit an animal shelter
Leadership
- Organize a pet show for your club
- Research and share with others why it’s not a good idea to keep wild animals as pets
- Develop a plan to foster pets of deploying soldiers
Exhibit Ideas
- Exhibit your cat or pet at the fair
- Make a first aid kit for a pet. Tell why and how each item is used.
- Share diet and nutrition information for raising a healthy pet.
- Make a poster on diseases your pet could get. Tell about its discovery, effects, treatments, etc.
- Design a toy for your pets; tell about your decisions related to safety and cleanliness.