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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Comedycook · 07/10/2021 22:24

[quote Lonecatwithkitten]@LoveTheirDogs please check that their risk assessments includes the dog from Romania having been tested for Brucella Canis this disease is endemic in Romanian dogs and is a zoonosis in humans it is a life altering disease in particular it can cause infertility. They should also consider tongue worm and eye worm both zoonoses and endemic in Romanian dogs.
I am very pro-dogs in schools my autistic nephew would find school unbearable without the school dogs. But there are very, very specific risks with Romanian dogs that some of the charities gloss over.[/quote]
Oh my gosh! That sounds horrendous. Do any of the "awww, cute dogs" brigade have anything to say to this?

Powertothepetal · 07/10/2021 23:15

There’s a huge difference between a properly trained and registered therapy dog (which I have no issue with) and a family pet.
I would not be happy with a family pet being the designated school dog.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/10/2021 23:51

Oh my gosh! That sounds horrendous. Do any of the "awww, cute dogs" brigade have anything to say to this?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960013/20210210_Brucella_canis_statement.pdf

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3322762/ No infertility. Just a bit unwell after literally putting cultures of it in his mouth.

As of early February 2021, no cases of B. canis human infection following contact with an infected dog in the UK have been confirmed.

The bit about infertility? That's specifically referring to the dogs, not people.

madisonbridges · 07/10/2021 23:59

@Comedycook
Oh my gosh! That sounds horrendous. Do any of the "awww, cute dogs" brigade have anything to say to this?

Why would a dog be less cute because it's poorly? Would you say your child was less loveable if they got eczema? 🤔

NeedTesla · 07/10/2021 23:59

@ExConstance

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.
Yep my dd’s school dog suffered many a sobbing child hanging off his neck. Priceless emotional support and I will always be grateful to that elderly spaniel.
NeedTesla · 08/10/2021 00:00

This thread certainly brings out those with ‘issues’

NeedTesla · 08/10/2021 00:03

Damn I missed that this was an anti rescue dog thread too. All these experts…

Peoniesandpeaches · 08/10/2021 00:09

@NeedTesla

This thread certainly brings out those with ‘issues’
See here I was thinking this thread certainly brings out the asses who lack compassion. I have visible facial scarring due to a dog attack and in the past 5 years have found it increasingly difficult to go anywhere or do anything as dogs are increasingly allowed everywhere (not talking about service dogs as I have worked hard to get to the point of being ok with them though the badly behaved fake ones are eroding that tbh). I really have tried everything to manage this phobia but people are really dismissive and oddly defensive about it. Is it any wonder that I would want to post or feel upset knowing now I might have to contend with dogs at my kids school.
madisonbridges · 08/10/2021 00:17

@Peoniesandpeaches. What you went through must have been traumatic and still must be. And I can understand that it has given you a phobia. I'm sympathetic to that.
Saying all that, I'm sure you wouldn't have to face a dog at your child's school if you didn't want to. Because you have a phobia about dogs, doesn't mean that other people shouldn't benefit from dogs. I'm not sure schools should tailor their activities based on experiences of people that don't even attend the institution.

Greenmarmalade · 08/10/2021 00:29

Love this

lawofdistraction · 08/10/2021 00:32

@Blossomtoes @Rosesareyellow @LST

My DD is on the autism pathway so I suspect her extreme phobia is tied up with that (phobias are more prevalent in people with autism). We have tried our best to help her overcome her fears but it's not easy with a child who has very black and white thinking and sees every dog as putting her in danger. We have enquired about professional help, we don't want her to feel this terrible anxiety.

Yes dogs are everywhere and aren't going away, however it's rather nice to have somewhere, ie school, where she doesn't have to worry about them. It wouldn't help with her phobia, it would make her feel uncomfortable going to school and would impact upon her learning as she would spend the day feeling anxious. The dog wouldn't be there to specifically help DD with her phobia and whereas she doesn't need any specialist provision in school at the moment, I can imagine that she would if there were a dog.

So quite frankly, fuck that. Her education and emotional wellbeing at school comes first. I would be involving the governors, my MP, her healthcare team, a solicitor, the press...anybody and everybody to stop it happening.

safclass · 08/10/2021 00:45

Several schools I know of now have school dogs and for the majority of children it will be a positive experience. They are often NOT bought as a personal pet but are used around the school in a therapeutic way.
BTW my husband is a primary HT, we have a dog but no way will it be in school cos its a blooming nutcase!

TheChiefJo · 08/10/2021 01:00

@damnthisvirusandmarriage

Qualified dog trainer here. Unless the dog is registered therapy dog, I can’t imagine them being insured. It’s not something id be happy with without seeing relevant documentation. Unfair on owners, kids and most of all the dogs.
Agree with this. 6 months isn't long enough to really know an adult rescue dog and it seems unlikely that the school would have cover for such a pet.

To the PP talking about pet insurance covering injury in work places: Yes, for the dog! It won't cover damage to school or injury to a pupil by the dog.

I'm a dog lover but I respect that not everyone else is. A dog making occasional visits to a school for the pupils who want to see it is one thing. Dogs being there all the time is quite another.

mycatisannoying · 08/10/2021 01:25

Dogs are the best! Who in their right mind would object?

And I don't understand why people whose children are afraid of dogs wouldn't deal with it. They are everywhere! And unless the child has had a bad experience, it's a bit odd anyway.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 08/10/2021 06:58

DD1 is afraid of dogs. It is not a fear that is going away, regardless of contact with them.

I am also allergic to furry animals, to the extent that the kids have to keep away from them if possible so as not to get covered in dander.

This would be a nightmare.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 08/10/2021 07:00

i don't understand why people whose children are afraid of dogs wouldn't deal with it.

We do try to alleviate their fears, but you know what? It doesn’t generally work. Also, Those fears are often entirely rational.

Just because you like dogs doesn’t mean others have to.

Skyla2005 · 08/10/2021 07:05

What a fantastic idea

MaryBoBary · 08/10/2021 07:14

It is shocking how many people think decisions like this are made off the cuff in a school. Of course this will have been agreed on by governors etc, and oak assessments will have been done etc. Stop being difficult and trying to come up with barriers just because YOU don't like animals.

Also do you know what head teachers earn? Do you really think they can't afford a dog Walker? As someone who works in a school it is very sad when you get those parents who complain about and have a problem with everything. Despite the fact it is only your children missing out or benefiting (if you let them).

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/10/2021 07:24

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Oh my gosh! That sounds horrendous. Do any of the "awww, cute dogs" brigade have anything to say to this?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960013/20210210_Brucella_canis_statement.pdf

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3322762/ No infertility. Just a bit unwell after literally putting cultures of it in his mouth.

As of early February 2021, no cases of B. canis human infection following contact with an infected dog in the UK have been confirmed.

The bit about infertility? That's specifically referring to the dogs, not people.

Not quite true the risk is higher in women and advice has been given to the veterinary profession regarding the risk of femal infertility. Brucella without infertility is still a lifelong condition that flares up when you are stressed and entire generation of vets had their health destroyed by Brucella bovis in the 1950s and 60s. I am employed by the biggest UK veterinary group our health and safety advisors say full PPE with Romanian dogs till they test negative.
VestaTilley · 08/10/2021 07:27

Email the governors to complain. This isn’t appropriate.

lobsteroll · 08/10/2021 07:29

Our school have a dog. I've got no problem with it. He came as a puppy and was gradually integrated into school life.

The only thing that stands out for me from this story is that fact that your school dog is a rescue with an unknown history. I know there are plenty of success stories with rescues but these are typically in private homes. Not a busy school environment and for me there are too many ways in which this could go wrong and too many possible triggers for the dog.

LST · 08/10/2021 07:29

@KleineDracheKokosnuss

DD1 is afraid of dogs. It is not a fear that is going away, regardless of contact with them.

I am also allergic to furry animals, to the extent that the kids have to keep away from them if possible so as not to get covered in dander.

This would be a nightmare.

Nah it wouldn't. Your dd wouldn't be forced into contact with the dog
Comedycook · 08/10/2021 07:40

@NeedTesla

Damn I missed that this was an anti rescue dog thread too. All these experts…
I don't think anyone is necessary anti them...just mentioning that the best place for them might not be a school Confused
Ericaequites · 08/10/2021 07:44

@Xenia
Why do you hate dogs?

Vaselike · 08/10/2021 07:44

Our school also has a dog. The conversation started before he was bought, baking it was a school thing, there is a birthday party every year. It is possible to never go close to the dog, but equally possible to see the dog every week depending on how a child is.