Dog in the nursery DS with asthma

[Hello239]

I'm not sure I've posted in the right place but I just wanted to know if this was a common thing in other people nurseries/schools! So hopefully it's ok to put it here.

As the title says really, DS who is 3 years old has asthma and after DH picked him up last week from nursery he has been coughing quite a bit which has continued over the weekend.
Nursery did not say anything upon collection and we didn't really think anything of it (maybe just affected from playing outside etc) until I dropped him off this morning. I mentioned DS had been struggling with his asthma since Friday night but it's settled ok, made sure they had pump etc. and the staff member who did handover made comment how she thought it was funny that DS didn't like the dog last Friday considering my line of work (I work with animals). I asked what she meant and she explained they had one of the staffs dog in which turns out to be a shedding breed. So now makes sense where the reaction has come from. I did mention there and then that I wasn't too happy considering they knew about DS asthma, and if that was the case could they have not taken the children who wanted to see the dog in another part so they had a choice as DS would not have wanted to go and probably continued whatever he was doing etc. I did ask to speak to the manager but she was in a nursery so asked for her to call me this morning just to prevent it from happening again.
I have spoken to another parent who has a child in the same class and she too didn't know and was a bit taken back as her child hates dogs and screams. She immediately went to the manager after the member of staff took her child this morning.

Now I have no problem at all with dogs (I love them, I work with them) but my issue is that they knew about DS asthma, we weren't even told that it would be coming in, DS is not keen on them and the hair aggravates his chest. I've had a chat with the nursery manager over the phone when I reached work and I'm still a bit annoyed, she did apologise but said she didn't think it an issue because of my line of work. I tried to explain just because I work with animals it does not mean DS does! I have things in place when I get home to make sure any animal hair I bring home on clothes is minimal.

Is this a new thing in nurseries because I don't remember them ever doing it with my eldest a few years ago?

And feel free to tell me I'm being a bit dramatic, I don't want my DS to feel like he can't join in but surely they could have used common sense a little bit more and done it in a more ventilated area so nobody is discluded. I don't know, I'm just a bit angry that my DS health was put at risk. If we had known we could have done something to ensure he didnt feel left out and the children that wanted to pet the dog etc could have just done that.

Anyway, is this a common thing now or is this an exception?
Dog is not a service animal, just a pet.

I'm with you. My youngest is at nursery and I saw an update on the app with photos of her next to one of the staff member's dogs they'd brought in for "pet week". We weren't told this would happen, it's fine for us as no allergies and we have our own dog at home so she apparently loved it but I was surprised in case of children who like your son, have asthma or allergies and also there may be children who would find a dog scary. Don't know why they wouldn't issue an email, a note via the app or mention in advance at pick up?

YANBU.

I've no idea of the rules/regulations, but at my DC's nursery, they had a local vet bring in her dog. Every parent had to sign a consent form that they were happy for DC to see the dog, and the dog was only permitted in one room.

Perhaps that's over cautious, but at the very least I think you should have been forewarned and given the choice to opt out.

There must have been a risk assessment for the dog to attend nursery.

Did you ever mention that his asthma / allergy is triggered by pet hair?
If so, then they are definitely in the wrong.

If not but a risk assessment was carried out its a gry area.

I am the biggest fan of dogs but a nursery is not ever, EVER, an appropriate place for any dog.

I agree with pp that a consent form should have been circulated ahead of time. I think it's completely unacceptable tbh. There could do easily have been an incident with someone being bitten or scratched.

The 'It's ok because of your job' thing is absolutely mental though! What if you worked with sex offenders? Or were a lion tamer? Would it be ok for them to bring one of those in?!

Ask to see the risk assessment?

Ex-nursery worker of 17 years. Parents should have been made aware and permission sought beforehand. As a PP said, a risk assessment should have been done.

Apart from some children, like your son, having allergies and some children being afraid of dogs, it's a very small risk, but dogs are animals and animals can bite. Some parents may not want their child around an unknown (to them) animal when they are not there with them.

Call me uptight, but there's lots of things nursery staff need to take into consideration before allowing an animal to come into contact with the children.

I'd be annoyed too OP.

When my children's school (not nursery) was having dog visits, a letter was sent home to all parents. It explained that the dog in question was used to being around children in similar environments and had suitable insurance to be in school. Parents had to sign a consent form to say they were happy or had the option for their child to be taken to a different part of the school away from the dog during the visit.

Ive found It's been a bigger thing since covid in several schools I've visited for ds they have had "school dogs" which are actually staff dogs bought during lockdown and now have anxiety

Ds has autism and surprisingly likes fairly large breeds but he can be sketchy around small dogs so I would be less than impressed by an unexpected dog at his school

Yes, ask to see the risk assessment. My DC would have been wheezing for days if there was a dog in their nursery. Hugely inappropriate.

OP, it's not so much the shedding of a dog that someone susceptible is allergic to; it is the protein in their saliva, which, of course is all over them, so might as well be the dander....
My son was, for instance, allergic to Labradors, Jack Russells, but not, funnily enough, to King Charles Cavaliers, for example. Desperately allergic to horses ponies and donkeys, hamsters..
But, on the basis that your DS is asthmatic/allergic/atopic, I think the nursey should have not brought a dog in.
Our Ds was hospitalised after we went to a rental property, rented out the previous week to people with dogs.
It's tricky, because, often, a situation ( like above, ) is unavoidable, or a potentially lovely experience is not acceptable because of an allergic few.
I really don't know the answer but I sympathise with you.

😅

Yanbu
And it's not really fair on the dog either . That's a very busy environment for a dog and could make their behaviour unpredictable.

Having Asthma doesn't necessarily indicate a dog allergy. Sounds like you could do with having some tests done so you know what exactly he reacts to. It does sound like he has Asthma that is triggered by allergens though and dogs being one of them. I think you are being unreasonable to assume everyone knows this is often linked to allergies to pet hair. Nursery need to have this explicitly laid out to them if you know what he reacts to. However as others have said you should have also known about it/they shld have done a RA. So lots of issues to sort out

This is really bad. I had really severe allergic asthma as a child..even the day after the dog was there I would have been wheezing, streaming swollen eyes, itchy all over.
It's so irresponsible!

That nursery clearly had a brainless idea, it's fucking insane to be g a dog in for small children, biting, scared issues, asthma, what if it had fleas, what if it barked and terrified a child - but the biting g thing is a real worry!
I also have a dog (hence the name) but wouldn't take her near small kids

my Nursery regularly hands out forms for us to update any changes to diet or allergies etc. they should do that too! But I also told them when my LO developed a new allergy, so maybe make sure they know it all from now on? You could put it an email so there is a trail?

Thank you everyone for your replies, helpful to know I'm not just over reacting.. I've asked if a risk assessment was involved, apparently there was. I've asked for a copy so will see.
Ds notes say he has asthma which is made worse by dust, animal hair and strong fragrances.
He's thankfully not allergic and can tolerate poodle/bichon type breeds. We narrowed it down that its the hair that causes the reaction when I was coming home from work with fur on my clothing. @Oneearringlost :)

@NuffSaidSam I was a little confused by their comment on that, think my shocked dumbfounded face said it all. 😂 You're comment made me chuckle.

I bet they are only writing that risk assessment now after you have asked for it. Probably not worth making an issue over as they will have just learnt a lesson but I'd be tempted to ask for the time/date stamp of the risk assessment if they use an app like tapestry. But they will just say they hand write risk assessment don't use the app. Part of any reasonable risk assessment would have been parental permission needed (unless you signed a vague permission when you signed child up?)

My DS is in an SEN school with a dedicated therapet. We had to sign a consent form before he could interact with the dog.

I would not be happy you weren't even told.

@PurpleBugz

I did think this. And I think you are right, I'm going to let it go as everything is ok now with DS but hoping that I future they learn to be a little more mindful and double check.
Think I was just annoyed I'd not been told or asked to sign anything prior because I would definitely of said something.

Thanks everyone for the replies