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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think school staff should make care provision for their dogs?

530 replies

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 12:02

Our headteacher and business manager have both got dogs in the last six months. Now they're bringing those dogs into school. They're saying that the dogs are 'school dogs' which seems to mean that they're dogs that mostly hang around in school. They've also scheduled a number of 'enrichment activities' for the kids so that they can 'learn how to interact with different species' ie their dogs. AIBU to think this is taking the piss and they should just make provision for their dogs same as any other working person rather than having the whole school have to go to these (non-accredited) 'courses' that clearly cost a fortune and are only being put on so that BM and HT can tick a box that says everything is ok with them bringing their pets to work?

OP posts:

Xenia · 07/10/2021 16:10

I hate dogs. I would want to kill it but would have to restrain myself.

Hardbackwriter · 07/10/2021 16:11

@Xenia

I hate dogs. I would want to kill it but would have to restrain myself.

I think it sounds like if anyone should be banned from school premises it's you...

Blossomtoes · 07/10/2021 16:14

@Xenia

I hate dogs. I would want to kill it but would have to restrain myself.

For God’s sake @Xenia, just when I think you couldn’t get any more ridiculous ….

BelleOfTheProvince · 07/10/2021 16:20

@Sloth66

This is really about senior school staff combining somewhat dishonestly , to present their money saving pet care choices as altruistic actions.

These aren’t therapy dogs, they are staff pets!

Yes, I don't know why people are falling over themselves to excuse it.

Original poster

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 16:26

^The school has a business manager???
What do they do? Why does a school need a BM?^

LOL it's a parent who is pally with the head, used to be a TA but now wants to earn more money as has a middle class background.

OP posts:

LST · 07/10/2021 16:31

@Xenia

I hate dogs. I would want to kill it but would have to restrain myself.

Fucking hell. New level of hysterical mumsnetter reached. Well done you 😂😂

JustLyra · 07/10/2021 16:33

@LoveTheirDogs

^The school has a business manager??? What do they do? Why does a school need a BM?^

LOL it's a parent who is pally with the head, used to be a TA but now wants to earn more money as has a middle class background.

Ah, so part of the issue is that you don’t like the BM.

It’s not remotely unusual for schools to have a Business Manager. It’s not a made up job for a mate.

JustLyra · 07/10/2021 16:34

@Xenia

I hate dogs. I would want to kill it but would have to restrain myself.

You become more of a parody by the month

LST · 07/10/2021 16:34

@BelleOfTheProvince rescue dogs can be therapy dogs.

AlternativePerspective · 07/10/2021 16:38

There is also a reading club where reluctant readers can read to the dog instead of an adult and at Christmas time the dog gets the most Christmas cards. my first dog was voted most desirable female at the work’s Christmas party 😂.

@maddening the allergies one is a tricky one,and there may need to be compromises on both sides. A taxi driver for instance is required by law to carry an allergy exemption certificate to not have to carry a guide dog. Taxi drivers regularly pull the “I have allergies” line when refusing, but if they have no exemption then they are legally obliged to carry the dog.

Interestingly some research was done recently and there are just 7 drivers in London who carry a certificat, vs the hundreds and hundreds of taxi refusals which happen every year.

I would imagine that you would need to show evidence of a severe allergy in order for this to be taken into account.

ExConstance · 07/10/2021 16:38

My secondary school had a school dog, an elderly spaniel who acted almost as a counsellor to most of us, very few girls didn't have a little weep into his curly fur. There were two labradors at my sons school, and the opportunity to play with the hounds when the hunt visited. In my view nothing but beneficial. Hating dogs is a very sad situation, maybe more school dogs might win people round.

AlternativePerspective · 07/10/2021 16:39

And if the school is an academy then it will have a business manager.

OP isn’t exactly coming across well here. I suspect even if the dogs were trained therapy dogs (and given she says money has been spent on this I suspect they are in fact trained) she would clearly object to them being in school.

BelleOfTheProvince · 07/10/2021 16:40

@LST and the evidence that these particular dogs have had the appropriate training and temperament is?

BelleOfTheProvince · 07/10/2021 16:43

Thread after thread that lockdown puppies are irresponsible. I'd bet the farm that is what these dogs are.

maddening · 07/10/2021 16:43

@AlternativePerspective

"I would imagine that you would need to show evidence of a severe allergy in order for this to be taken into account."

Absolutely where this relates to guide dogs but otherwise it shouldn't be something to worry about in a shared workspace including a school, any other dogs have no business there.

Knowivedonewrong · 07/10/2021 16:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

TheLazyToad · 07/10/2021 16:44

I would hate this. I was attacked by a teacher's "nice dog" (which he used to just bring into school and let us walk it) - which gave me quite a fear of dogs generally. One of my children also has a fear of dogs, which is probably my fault, but they are all allergic to pet fur, so can't be around cats and dogs without struggling.

I would be worried about just how safe any dog is around children, who may be excited, particularly those that haven't been "vetted".

bizboz · 07/10/2021 16:45

I would imagine that you would need to show evidence of a severe allergy in order for this to be taken into account.

Why would it have to be a severe allergy? Should people with mild allergies just put up with it?

Original poster

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 16:46

I don't like or dislike the business manager but it's blatantly a made up job for someone who is pally with the head. There's a few of those on the non teaching staff team including the mate who he now shares a flat with having been kicked out of his family home after his wife found out he was shagging another teacher.

OP posts:

Rosesareyellow · 07/10/2021 16:46

Most schools have business managers or finance officers. Who else do you think manages the all the the financial aspects?

doobidoobidoo · 07/10/2021 16:48

@LoveTheirDogs you're not coming across well here. Your last comment about the BM wanting a more middle class job than TA just makes you sound spiteful.
I think it's reasonable to ask to see the risk assessment. I would also expect the situation to be reviewed if issues with allergies arise. But overall I don't see how it could do anything but enhance the children's experience at school. They may not be "therapy dogs", but just their presence can be therapeutic. It's a lovely idea.

Original poster

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 16:48

(These facts are just examples of how he runs the school ie to suit his own fine self.)

OP posts:

BrilliantBetty · 07/10/2021 16:49

I don't like dogs v much but still think this is quite nice and beneficial for the kids tbh.

Rosesareyellow · 07/10/2021 16:49

There's a few of those on the non teaching staff team including the mate who he now shares a flat with having been kicked out of his family home after his wife found out he was shagging another teacher.

I initially thought you just don’t like dogs… clearly things run deeper. Are you the wife??

JustJustWhy · 07/10/2021 16:50

@Rosesareyellow

Most schools have business managers or finance officers. Who else do you think manages the all the the financial aspects?

Exactly. They usually have to give up to 6 months notice as well as their role is vital.

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