“Amazing! I took this course for earning volunteer hours, but I believe every animal lover should take it! It’s taught me so much more about animals which I didn’t know!” – Sherya
***** 5 star rated by students!
Created and taught by Karen Marsh, our Humane Education Coordinator, and funded by an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, Karen has seamlessly transitioned the innovative, one-of-a-kind program from in-class/in-shelter education to online courses.
Three courses are currently offered:
Pet Sitter Certificate Course – $39
Consists of a series of eight modules and takes 8-10 hours to complete. It is designed for youth (10-17) who love learning about animals and caring for them. This course is targeted to students who want to turn that passion into a job. Participants will learn how to: feed, water and exercise pets, identify and handle emergency situations, practice dog and cat care basics, and create a business and marketing plan. The fee for this course is $39.00, but there is a special promotion on now for $31.00. Registrants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, which they can use to market their business.
Responsible Pet Ownership Course – Free
This course is for anyone thinking about bringing a new pet into their home and for all existing pet parents. Topics include guidelines for responsible pet ownership: why we have pets and the health benefits of pet ownership, details the five freedoms that pet owners must provide for their companions and the ten responsibilities that go with those freedoms. This course is recommended for youth but is open to all ages. There is no fee for this course thanks to the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Registrants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion.
Junior Animal Wellness Certificate Course – Free
Suitable for Grade 6+ teachers and home school parents in the Simcoe/York geographical area. This program is a self-directed course for individual students or it can be taught online to youth through the direction of an educator. It replaces the in-class, in-shelter course that was offered before the COVID-19 pandemic. Registrants who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion.
Students at the secondary level may also want to take advantage of these online courses for community involvement hours. You can earn 10 by completing the Junior Animal Wellness and 4 for the Responsible Pet Ownership. Students should check with their guidance counsellors for more information.
For more information on the GTHS Humane Education program, please visit www.gths.ca/services/humane-education/ or contact Karen Marsh, Humane Education Coordinator at the GTHS, 705-445-5204, Ext. 213
