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

[LoveTheirDogs]

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?

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill. Their faeces has the potential to cause blindness.

I had a pre interview visit for a job in a school with a school dog. He jumped up on me as I went in room. I was not overly impressed and did not apply to school after that.

I think reading to dogs and certain activities could be beneficial. However there always seem to be the same type of dog owners who expect everyone to love their dog and not understand people not wanting to be around them.

@LeaveYourHatOn

I love the way basically everyone on the thread whose kids have a school dog or who had one as a child thinks it's a brilliant idea and explains exactly why it's good, and how it's dealt with re. allergies and fear of dogs. And then you have all the ones who have no experience in this going "OMG NO risk assessment alleriges fear attacks unpredictable distracting blah blah blah"

From what I gather, this is oranges and apples. Presumably the posters who have a school dog have a trained dog, in suitable environment which means that the level of risk is low.

A head bringing their own rescue jobs brings up several issues. Firstly, that the animal is not trained and suitable to be in that environment, secondly because unless they'd allow all staff to bring their dogs in they are abusing their position of power. Thirdly, because presumably well planned school dogs have an environment that doesn't impact allergy sufferers. I'm hideously allergic to cats, if children even went out to cuddle it and I then had to work with them I'd not be able to teach due to eyes streaming and swollen face.

This particular case is a very clear example of it being done badly, and dog lovers shouldn't be championing it. The more of these lax school pets there are, the more likely something terrible will happen triggering a ban for everyone, even schools that do it responsibily.

Our school has a dog too, with the difference that the initial purchase price (must have been eye watering, it is one of designer breeds) and the ongoing expense is on the school budget but yes, lives as a pet in a senior staff member's household. Ours actually has been barely seen at school, with covid and all.

Our HT brings her dog in, I think it’s lovely and so do the kids.

@BelleOfTheProvince

Can the teachers, dinner ladies and tas bring their dogs?

I'd be cross if I was getting paid minimum wage for a classroom based job and senior leadership decided appropriate dog care was too expensive on them at tenfold my wage.

This is what would annoy me, along with the lack of evidence that these dogs are trained therapy dogs. If the head thinks a therapy dog is a good idea then there should be a consultation with SLT and governors and a best practice process followed that should seek to be fair and to minimise risk. Unless this has happened then the head and BM are behaving feudally and it would annoy me. They are on top pay scales and abusing their power here.

In many schools and colleges behaviours and standards for teachers are incredibly rigid and draconian, this erodes goodwill when it’s the SLT that suddenly thinks something a bit self-indulgent creative they THEY want to do is cool and everyone should just chill.

MANY years ago at my primary and secondary schools there were dogs. In my primary there was a "spare" teacher who also trained and bred guidedogs. She had a retired guidedog who came to school with her. Obviously it was insanely well trained, placid and obedient. It was a school treat to go and do work or reading in her classroom and spend time with her dog. Also every so often a select three students from the top year would get to go in her car to her house (it sounds unbelievable to modern sensibilities) to see the puppies to be fair they tried to get the whole of the top year to go over a week as there were only 15 of us I guess that makes sense.
At secondary school one of the "old girl" teachers who was probably past retirement age had her small dog under her desk. There was a group of favoured students allowed to walk her at breaks and lunches she was a pastoral head apart from her method of choosing the honoured few I think it did actually help some students make friends and unwind in a school environment.
Clearly neither would be accepted in any local school now. A shame.. but schools aren't about communities anymore. They're about results. So all the nice bits are being stripped away by austerity. I'd hang onto little things that kids can enjoy really hard. B
There's a lot that can go wrong. But therapy animals exist for a reason.

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill.

So did I but they let me go to school.

@madisonbridges

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill.

So did I but they let me go to school.

Children need to be educated. Dogs don't need to be in schools.

Hth

But therapy animals exist for a reason

Did you even read the thread...these dogs so not sound like proper therapy dogs

*do

But if as parent you trust the schools little that you feel that you need check risk assessments when you have no qualifications or experience so then maybe you should be looking for a school where you feel your children will be safe.
Exactly what qualifications or experience do you think is needed to write a risk assessment exactly?

I think it’s a nice thing to do

Our school is thinking of getting a school dog

I voted yes

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

(misses the point of the thread)

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill. Their faeces has the potential to cause blindness.
So you’re ok with banning assistance dogs too then since you’re so black and white about dogs?
So much whataboutary

@BakingOfTheFoodCats

I wonder if its my kids school, they just recently got a “school dog” as well, wasn’t too impressed as I hate dogs

Why would you want to pass this social problem on to your kids though? How selfish. Let them learn to like dogs if they want to.

@sillysmiles

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

(misses the point of the thread)

Haha I think it's a bit of a glorified title for the top senior administrator. They will organise locum cover, timetables etc.

There’s a huge difference between a dog going into a school to work with children... and someone who works in a school just taking their dog to work with them.

Though I did have a primary school teacher who took his dog to work, he was in the cupboard in his bed during lessons... we weren’t allowed to disturb him.

@SpiceRat

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill. Their faeces has the potential to cause blindness. So you’re ok with banning assistance dogs too then since you’re so black and white about dogs? So much whataboutary

No...I don't think assistance dogs should be banned. They are necessary for some disabled people and are also highly trained.

Two rescue dogs from Romania who just happen to be the pets of two members of staff are quite a different proposition

@Comedycook

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill. Their faeces has the potential to cause blindness.

So do human beings. And who rubs dog shit in their eyes?

@Comedycook they aren't allowing the dogs to just roam around the school and shit everywhere. Christ

And also some bog standard pet dogs are necessary for some owners.

So do human beings

And adults who work in schools are DBS checked to mitigate risk.

And who rubs dog shit in their eyes?

Children who unbeknownst to them have some on their hands or who tread in it.

Hence why the risk assessment is so important

[quote LST]@Comedycook they aren't allowing the dogs to just roam around the school and shit everywhere. Christ

And also some bog standard pet dogs are necessary for some owners.[/quote]
They can have whatever pet they want...when they bring it into school, it's a totally different situation.

Youngest child's school has a dog.
It's a specially trained therapy dog and has his own 'room' off the headteachers room. However there are very clear rules around the dog, children are not allowed to approach him unless they ask first, he isn't allowed to roam freely and DC who are scared or have allergies are kept well away.

Youngest can sometimes find coming into school a bit tricky. On one particularly memorable occasion when they were clinging to the fence refusing to move, the head just happened to walk past with the dog. My child happily trotted into school when they were given the ultimate treat of taking the dog for a walk around the playground.

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.

Rescue dogs though, nope and nope again.

And dogs have the potential to bite, permanently disfigure and even kill. Their faeces has the potential to cause blindness.

They aren’t serving up dog faeces in the canteen. The dogs are not roaming around the school baring their teeth and ready to eat a small child.