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Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Pets
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Pets is about responsible animal ownership and the daily commitment pets require. Requirement 1 cannot be rushed: you must provide primary daily care, feeding, and grooming for a household pet for four consecutive months. You will keep a health and vaccination record, calculate annual ownership expenses, and learn training fundamentals.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Pet Selection & Daily Care Responsibilities
- Pet Nutrition, Grooming & Exercise
- Preventive Veterinary Care & Vaccinations
- Local Pet Ordinances & Animal Welfare
3Printable Pages
5Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Pets Requirements
Every requirement for the Pets merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Four Months of Pet Care
Present evidence that you have cared for a pet for four months. Get approval before you start.Note: Work done for other merit badges cannot be used for this requirement.
2Write About Care, Feeding, and Housing
Write in 200 words or more about the care, feeding, and housing of your pet. Tell some interesting facts about it. Tell why you have this kind of pet. Give local laws, if any, relating to the pet you keep.
3Read and Discuss a Book on Your Pet
Show that you have read a book or pamphlet, approved by your counselor, about your kind of pet. Discuss with your counselor what you have learned from what you read.
4Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a Show your pet in a pet show.
- b Train a pet in three or more tricks or special abilities.
5Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a Explore careers related to this merit badge. Research one career to learn about the training and education needed, costs, job prospects, salary, job duties, and career advancement. Your research methods may include—with your parent or guardian's permission—an internet or library search, an interview with a professional in the field, or a visit to a location where people in this career work. Discuss with your counselor both your findings and what about this profession might make it an interesting career.
- b Explore how you could use knowledge and skills from this merit badge to pursue a hobby or healthy lifestyle. Research any training needed, expenses, and organizations that promote or support it. Discuss with your counselor what short-term and long-term goals you might have if you pursued this.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Pets requirements in 2026. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/pets/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Nearby badges
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Key Requirements Covered:
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Key Requirements Covered:
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Key Requirements Covered:
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Key Requirements Covered:
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