--- title: "Take This Class! A Treat for Students and Pets" date: 2025-03-06T05:30:00-05:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/take-this-class-a-treat-for-students-and-pets" section: Articles --- # Take This Class! A Treat for Students and Pets *March 6, 2025* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10) > Terps Get Hands-On With Common Companion Animal Species *ANSC250 Companian Animal Care SC 02262025 SC 3476 1920x1080 — Mary Barsoum '27 guides Australian shepherd Boh through weave poles as part of a demonstration in the class "Companion Animal Care and Management." The course, taught by Kristina Mayo of the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, features weekly visits from dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and more.* The distinguished guest in Lecturer Kristina Mayo’s class last week shot through a plastic tunnel, bobbed between poles and jumped a hurdle. Then he barked and begged for a snack. Boh, a 40-pound Australian shepherd who’s competed in dog agility competitions throughout the country, was showing off his obedience and athletic skills for an adoring crowd in the Animal Sciences Building courtyard. He was visiting “Companion Animal Care and Management,” one of the most popular classes offered in UMD’s Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. *student looks over bag of items for show dog care — Aliyah Bempong ’27 looks over items used for show dog care.* *student pets dog — Teaching Assistant Peter Brown '27 says hello to Boh after class.* **Sidebar note:** Take This Class! Is an occasional series that profiles unique and engaging courses available to any undergraduate student at the University of Maryland. Got a class you’d recommend? Email . **“Companion Animal Care and Management” (ANSC 250)** - Satisfies: General education requirement in Distributive Studies-Scholarship in Practice - Next time you can take it: Spring 2026 - A fun fact you’ll learn: Barn hunt is a competitive event in which dogs use their senses to search for rats safely hidden in aerated tubes inside bales of hay. - Summary: The course teaches students about the physiology, husbandry and care of the most popular breeds of companion animals, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, rodents, reptiles and amphibians. **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Animal and Avian Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/animal-and-avian-sciences), [Take This Class](https://today.umd.edu/topic/take-this-class), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience) **Units:** [College of Agriculture and Natural Resources](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-agriculture-and-natural-resources)