A Maine public school administrator cited Islamic religious practices while seeking restrictions on a teacher’s proposed classroom puppy program. Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed said imams he consulted opposed keeping dogs as classroom pets. He proposed placing dogs in a separate room that students could choose to visit, changing where children would participate in activities involving the animals.
The discussion took place during the Portland Public Schools policy committee’s October 14th, 2026, meeting as members considered rules governing animals in schools. An Ocean Avenue Elementary School teacher wanted to foster puppies in her classroom, where children could read to them and play with them. The proposal brought questions about Islamic religious objections into the district’s consideration of classroom activities.
Ahmed, the assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships, argued that students and employees shouldn’t have to interact with animals or remain near them. He said accommodations should avoid separating Muslim students or teachers from others because of their beliefs. Under his preferred arrangement, students interested in spending time with a dog would go to another room.
As The National News Desk reported, Ahmed described Islamic ritual purity concerns during the discussion. “So for example, the dog saliva is considered impure,” he said. He also discussed previous negative experiences with dogs. Fox News reported that Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich called the objections “silly.” The committee took no policy vote at that meeting.
The Maine Wire reported that Ahmed sought an opt-in arrangement for activities involving dogs, including therapy animal events. Parents would otherwise have to opt children out of an activity they opposed. Ahmed argued that requiring families to withdraw their children would be exclusionary. Committee members then explored whether a physical barrier could allow the proposed puppy program to operate inside the classroom.
Committee member Maya Lena discussed a plexiglass enclosure that would allow children to interact with puppies “without touching the dogs or getting their fluids on them.” She also questioned whether an opt-in classroom arrangement could prompt Muslim families to request different placements. Her concern was that a classroom housing a dog could consequently end up with no Muslim students.
Watch the Portland Public Schools policy committee’s discussion here:
"*" indicates required fields
The New England Signal reported that teacher Megan Taylor had also consulted imams during her research, with those religious leaders finding a plexiglass-paneled pen acceptable. Ahmed agreed that the enclosure addressed the theological concern, although individual families might still object. Sarah Warren, the district’s chief of strategy and operations, questioned how the arrangement would feel for children prohibited from touching puppies sitting in their classroom.
Warren also said she had learned that employees were already bringing animals, particularly dogs, into school buildings and offices without clear rules governing the practice. The draft policy included a provision preventing an animal from being housed in a classroom if a student’s parent objected, according to the Signal. It also required written permission from a principal, vaccination documentation where applicable, and prohibited animals on school buses. Lena questioned a separate provision allowing students to bring pets to school and requested that district lawyers review removing it.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.