Portland, Maine School District Weighs Ban on Classroom Dogs After Religious Objections

Portland Public Schools is evaluating changes to its classroom pet policy following religious objections to dogs in learning spaces. The district is currently weighing whether to restrict or accommodate classroom animals after a recent dispute over a teacher’s request to foster puppies.

The review began after a staff member at Ocean Avenue Elementary School sought permission to bring puppies into her room. The plan allowed students to interact with the animals during reading and playtime sessions. The request triggered a formal review by the district’s policy committee.

Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, the assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships, raised specific concerns at an Oct. 14 meeting. Ahmed, who was born and raised in Somalia, said he consulted with local Muslim religious leaders. Those leaders opposed keeping dogs as classroom pets. They cited Islamic traditions that consider dog saliva impure.

Ahmed explained that the objection is not a dislike of animals in general. “In Islamic tradition, there is always the love for animals and living things and compassion for animals,” he said. He noted, however, that some traditions view dogs as unclean. “The dog saliva is considered impure,” Ahmed said. He added that some community members had negative past experiences with dogs.

The assistant superintendent suggested that the district could create accommodations to respect these beliefs. One option would be keeping dogs in a separate room. This would allow students with religious objections to participate in class without direct contact with the animals. The committee also discussed whether any new rules should apply only to dogs or extend to other classroom animals.

Committee members explored potential opt-in and opt-out processes for families. They debated how to balance the benefits of classroom pets with the needs of religious communities. No vote on policy changes took place during the Oct. 14 session. The committee will continue its review.

Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, commented on the debate in a statement to Fox News Digital. She described objections to classroom dogs as “silly.” Descovich noted that dogs have enriched the lives of American schoolchildren since the nation’s founding. Fox News Digital reached out to Ahmed and Superintendent Ryan Scallon for comment but did not immediately receive responses.