Pets

Whether they’re cute and cuddly, or slime and scaly, pets are so much fun. If you hope you have a pet someday, use this badge to learn how to choose the pet that’s right for you – and make sure it stays happy and healthy. Or, find out how to take the best care of a pet you already have!

Steps

1. Find out what care different pets need
2. Keep a pet comfy
3. Help a pet stay healthy and safe
4. Make a pet feel loved
5. Feed a pet

Purpose

When I’ve earned this badge, I’ll know how to take care of a pet.

Every step has three choices. Do ONE choice to complete each step. Inspired? Do more!

When you’re a great friend to a pet a pet will be a great friend to you!

Step 1 Find out what care different pets need

Your family might not be able to have a pet right now. That’s okay! You can do this badge with a friend or neighbor’s pet, a classroom pet, or another pet that could use your help.

CHOICES – DO ONE:

Play bingo at a pet store. Ask the staff for help!
OR
Play bingo at a veterinarian’s office. You might, also, ask a vet or vet’s assistant to visit your group.
OR
Play bingo online. Team up with an adult and your Brownie friends to research pets on the Web.

Bingo instructions
How to Play:
Put a picture of an animal in each square of a tic-tac-toe game or a bingo game.
Pick one of the squares. Then answer these questions about the animal listed:
When you find the answers to the questions below, make an X on the square. You’re finished with the game when you’ve Xed out one row, column or diagonal.
How much does it cost to care for this pet?
How much space does this pet need?
How much food does this pet need?
What kind of human contact does this pet like?

More to Explore

Answer the questions for every pet on the bingo card. Work with friends to find the answers together.

Fun Fact: A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

Step 2 Keep a pet comfy

Pets need a clean and comfortable place to live – if their cage, tank, or doghouse is dirty, they can get sick. Learn what one pet needs to have a home sweet home.

CHOICES – DO ONE:

Be the cage or tank cleaner. For two weeks, take care of the cleaning for a fish, hamster, bird, cat, or other pet with its own little house or litter box.
FOR MORE FUN: Make an aquarium castle with a recycled plastic bottle. Be sure the plastic is safe for the fish before you start.
OR
Learn how to muck out a stall. Team up with an adult and find out how to clean a horse’s stall. Help at a stable by doing it three times.
OR
Make a cozy sleeping space for a pet. Find out how the pet likes to sleep, and, then, make a bed for a cat or a dog, or a sleeping nook for a hamster or guinea pig.

Step 3 Help a pet stay healthy and safe

Just like humans, pets need special care to stay healthy. Find out about how to keep them safe, feeling good, and looking good, too.

CHOICES – DO ONE:

Ask a veterinarian about health issues for three pets. What are common sicknesses? Does the pet need any special shots? Make a list that shows each pet, its possible health issues and how you would keep it healthy. Share your lists with pet owners!
OR
Help a dog get exercise for one week. Team up with an adult to walk a dog or take it to a dog park. Decide where to go based on the weather, how much exercise the dog needs, and where it is safe and fun.
FOR MORE FUN: Draw a map of the best place to walk a dog in your neighborhood and share it with dog owners.
OR
Find out how to keep different pets looking good. Pick three pets and find out how often they have to be washed or brushed and any other special care tips. Then, try out what you’ve learned by grooming a pet.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Try an activity from the 1940 World Interpreter badge. Find out what people in different countries call the sounds that pets make. For example, in Russia, a dog says “gav-gav” instead of “bowwow.” What other sounds can you find?

Step 4 Make a pet feel loved

Pets need attention, hugs, and kind words, as well as lots of time to have fun and play. Learning to be a good pet owner is like learning to be a good parent!

CHOICES – DO ONE:

Make up a game to play with a pet. It might be throw-and-catch for a dog, or a game with a feather toy for a cat. Write down your game so you can share it with others. Then, play the game!
OR
Make a simple pet toy. You could fill an old sock with catnip, knot the top and leave it for a cat to play with. Or, make a sock doll to keep a dog happy.
OR
Learn about how three different kinds of pets communicate their feelings. For example, a happy cat purrs and a dog that wants a walk might scratch at a door. Share what you’ve learned by playing animal charades. Have friends or family guess which pet you are and what you’re feeling.
FOR MORE FUN: Make a list of a pet’s 10 favorite things (like games, treats, and toys). Post it where people who love the pet can see it.

FUN FACT
A cat can jump seven times its height!

Step 5 Feed a pet

One of the most important responsibilities of a pet owner is knowing what her pet eats, how much it needs to eat, and what it can’t eat. And, of course, making sure there’s food ready when the pet gets hungry.

CHOICES – DO ONE:

If you have a pet of your own, make a feeding schedule. Make sure you know when and how often your pet needs to eat. Then, feed your pet using your schedule for two weeks.
OR
Volunteer to feed someone else’s pet. Create a feeding schedule, and, then, feed the pet at least once a day for a week. Make sure an adult goes with you.
OR
Make a pet budget for two weeks. Add up how much it costs to feed two different pets for one month. Think about regular food and any extras, such as treats and vitamins. Does the cost surprise you?
FOR MORE FUN: Cut out pet food coupons for your family or friends to use.

More to Explore

Make tasty pet treats. Freeze low-sodium chicken broth in an ice cube tray to make a cool treat for a dog, or work with an adult to find a recipe for treats you can bake. You could give the treats to a friend’s or a neighbor’s pet, and make a card for the pet to go along with your present!

It is unfair to have a pet and not take good care of it . . . . If a pet belongs to you, it is your job to keep it well and happy.
-Girl Scout Handbook 1953

Add the Badge to Your Journey

For step 1, try finding out about pets in other places around the world that girls have. Or, when doing your Hear a Story award see if you can find a pet story that has a “Clue for Change.”