Portland Public Schools in Maine is reviewing its policies regarding classroom animals following a teacher’s proposal to foster puppies, prompting a discussion about religious accommodations and traditional views on animals.
The policy review began after an educator at Ocean Avenue Elementary School requested permission to bring foster puppies into the classroom, allowing students to interact with the animals during reading sessions and playtime. That request led school officials to examine broader guidelines for maintaining animals in educational environments.
During an Oct. 14 policy committee meeting, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, the district’s assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships, raised concerns about the presence of dogs based on certain Islamic traditions. Ahmed, who consulted with local Muslim religious leaders, explained that some interpretations within Islamic jurisprudence consider dog saliva to be ritually impure.
“So, with that being said, there are some ritual kind of a purity or in that Islamic traditions… So, for example, the dog saliva is considered impure,” Ahmed told the committee, adding that individuals may also carry negative past experiences with dogs.
At the same time, Ahmed emphasized that the local Muslim community harbors no general animosity toward animals. He noted that “in Islamic tradition, there is always the love for animals and living things and compassion for animals,” while clarifying that the imams he consulted specifically objected to housing dogs as pets inside classrooms.
To bridge potential conflicts, Ahmed suggested that the district could establish accommodations, such as keeping animals in a separate room to respect the beliefs and comfort of affected students and families. Committee members debated whether any eventual policy revision should apply strictly to dogs or encompass other classroom animals, as well as whether opt-in or opt-out provisions would be necessary. The committee did not take a vote on the matter during the Oct. 14 session.
The district’s deliberations have drawn outside attention. Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, criticized the religious objections in a statement, asserting that dogs have long enriched the educational experiences of American children and describing the pushback as unwarranted.
Inquiries sent to Ahmed and Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon seeking further comment were not immediately answered.
