Brownies: Pets Badge

We chose to do this as a 100% do-at-home (or at a friend's home, or an animal hospital, etc.) badge. Normally I try to avoid giving them homework. However, it simply wasn't feasible for us to work in a troop visit to the animal hospital, or something, in the midst of the holiday craziness (plus our service unit has several events during the holiday season, plus there are school parties and gah! Too much!).

So yeah, I totally used the "girl-led" approach for this one, and let the parents know I had faith their daughters could easily complete the requirements for this badge.

I tweaked them, so they'd work. You do what you've got to do. See your Brownie book for more

I told the girls it was their choice. I was pleasantly surprised at how many did it.

Here's the handout. Feel free to follow any or none. As always, do what works for your troop!

Pets Journal for girl scouts

Fill in the blanks and complete at least five of the steps at the bottom and back of this sheet. When you've finished, have your parent drop it in my mailbox, email it to me, or bring to the next troop meeting. Don't lose it! If you do, have your parent contact me.

You may choose to do this for more than one pet, if you want. Just write the information down for each pet. If you do not have a pet, you can help with someone else's pet, or visit the Humane Society, Adoption Center, or Animal Hospital if you want.

Girl's Name:____________________________________________________________

Pet's Name: ____________________________________________________________

Type of Animal: ________________________________________________________

Breed (if known; also list physical description):________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Choose FIVE (or more) activities and document your actions by listing what you did. Not all pets need the same things, and that's okay (you can't walk a fish, after all)! Just be sure to complete at least five of the activities at some point during the next two weeks, and write about what you did:

1. Physical Needs (feed, water, walk, potty/litter box):__________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
2. Emotional Needs (playing with pet, showing affection, petting, and so on):
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
3. Describe Your Pet's Personality:_________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
4. Something You've Learned from Caring for an Animal:_____________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   
5. Draw a Picture of Your Pet:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Describe How You Feel About Your Pet/Animals in General:______________
   _________________________________________________________________
   _________________________________________________________________
   

7. Learn About Animals! Have your parents go to this website so you can read about caring for all kinds of pets: http://www.petco.com/CareSheets/petco_CareSheets.aspx. List something you learned here: ______________________________________________________
   _________________________________________________________________
   _________________________________________________________________
8. Create a LOST Sheet for Your Pet. Include the pet's name, physical description, recent photograph, and your address/phone number. Keep it on hand just in case. (Check yes if you did this: _____ YES. Leave blank if not.)
9. List Some Ways to Keep Pets Safe. Include foods/plants that can be dangerous to pets, information about safe shelter for when the weather is cold, and so on:
   _________________________________________________________________
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   _________________________________________________________________
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