From the Classroom to the Crate: How One Teacher is Raising the Next Generation of Rescuers

Featuring Kelly – RPoF Volunteer, Foster, Educator, and All-Around Hero

At RPoF, we’re constantly in awe of the dedication and creativity our volunteers bring—not just to the animals, but to their own communities. One of those incredible volunteers is Kelly, who’s been with the rescue for almost five years and has found a unique way to combine her work as an elementary school teacher with her passion for fostering animals in need.

We recently sat down with Kelly to hear more about her journey—from getting started with the rescue to bottle-feeding orphaned kittens and puppies in her classroom with her students.

How It All Started

Kelly began volunteering almost five years ago when her son needed service hours for school. After he finished his 100-hour requirement, Kelly stuck around—and never looked back.

“I was only a volunteer at first, helping in the store during adoption events,” she said. “Then I slowly started fostering kittens, and eventually puppies.”

Her dedication only grew over the years. As others came and went, Kelly remained rooted in the rescue’s mission. She’s now the lead for our Wesley Chapel location, where she helps bring in new volunteers and fosters—and shares everything she’s learned to raise awareness about the need for rescue work in the local community.

Bringing Bottle Babies Into the Classroom

During one summer break, Kelly began bottle-feeding for the rescue and ended up saving 5–6 sets of orphaned babies. The experience was so moving that she wanted to share it with her students—and help more litters in the process.

“I asked my principal if I could do this as an extension project with my accelerated 3rd-grade class,” Kelly explained. “I showed her my plan and how it would tie into our curriculum. It started as a trial, but the feedback was so great, we ended up doing two full projects that year—kittens in the fall, puppies in the spring.”

Learning Through Rescue

The lessons go far beyond cuddles and cuteness. Kelly uses the bottle babies to teach her students real-world applications of math, science, ELA, and—most importantly—empathy.

• Math & Science: Students measure formula, weigh animals daily, track data, and create graphs to monitor growth.

• ELA: They research the species they’re caring for, read books and articles, and present PowerPoints to their classmates.

• Life Skills: Kids learn compassion, responsibility, and the importance of caring for another living being.

“Some students have allergies or aren’t allowed pets at home, so this is their one chance to experience what it means to care for an animal,” Kelly said. “The feedback from families has been amazing.”

So… How Many Litters Are We Talking About?

Since starting the classroom bottle baby program, Kelly and her students have helped two litters of orphaned puppies and six litters of kittens. They've also incubated duck eggs last year and chick eggs this year—funded by a PTA grant Kelly applied for herself!

Advice for Teachers Wanting to Do the Same

Kelly’s advice for teachers: show how it ties into the curriculum, and make it easy for your administration to say yes.

She created a detailed permission form for parents that addressed allergies, participation, and the academic components tied to the program. “If teachers can clearly show how this applies to learning outcomes, most administrators will be open to the idea.”

The Great Incubator Challenge

As any bottle baby foster knows, temperature control is critical in those early days. Kelly originally transported a rescue-supplied incubator back and forth between home and school—a tough task. Eventually, she launched a small fundraiser (with help from her classroom families) to purchase a second incubator to keep at home. The difference was life-changing—for her and the animals.

Kelly’s story is a beautiful reminder that rescue doesn’t stop at the shelter or the farm gate—it’s a mindset, a community, and in her case, a classroom filled with future animal advocates. We’re so grateful for volunteers like her, who show us how far compassion can really go.