ABOVE “Panther,” a 5-week-old pit bull mix from the Carbon County Animal Shelter, snuggles in a blanket while visiting Panther Valley Elementary School on Wednesday.

Cayden Branch, from Kara Krajnak’s first grade class at Panther Valley Elementary, bends in for a closer look at “Panther” a 5-week-old pit bull mix that was brought to the school by Tom Connors of the Carbon County Animal Shelter.

BELOW: Evelyn Puppo, from Kara Krajnak’s first-grade class at Panther Valley Elementary, smiles as she meets Panther. BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS

RIGHT: Tom Connors, director of the animal shelter, talks to students at Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning in front of a pile of donations collected for the shelter.

Tom Connors, director of the Carbon County Animal Shelter, reads a book names “Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog” to students at Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning Wednesday morning.