Lesson Plan - Saving Shelter Pets

Watch the Video
Play the video “Paw-some Pets.” Then discuss: According to the video, what kinds of evidence have helped experts figure out how long humans have kept animals as pets?

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify the problems that the New York law is designed to solve.

1. What is the goal of the new law in New York and other laws like it?
The goal of the New York law and others like it is to help more shelter pets find homes.
^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}

2. According to the article, how are animals often treated at puppy or kitten mills?
The article explains that at puppy or kitten mills, breeders often put the mother animals in tiny, dirty cages. Animals in the mills often have health problems.
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

3. Based on the article, what is the meaning of the word overcrowded?
Based on the article, overcrowded means “too crowded.” Shelters that are overcrowded have too many animals. One clue is the sentence, “In 2023, about 6.5 million dogs and cats ended up in U.S. shelters and rescues.”
^{(RI.3.4 Vocabulary)}

FEATURED SKILL: Problem and Solution
Distribute the skill builder “What’s the Problem?” and have students work in pairs to identify the two problems and the potential solution described in the article.
^{(RI.3.8 Problem and Solution)}