Maine school district debates classroom pets amid religious concerns

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed brought up the issue, explaining that some Islamic traditions consider dog saliva to be impure. He stated he consulted with local Muslim religious leaders who expressed opposition to keeping dogs as classroom pets. Ahmed emphasized that while Islamic tradition generally promotes compassion for animals, certain practices involve considerations of ritual purity.

“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 explained. He also acknowledged that some individuals may have had negative past experiences with dogs.

Ahmed, who is fluent in Somali, Arabic, English, and Urdu, noted that the imams he consulted were against dogs being kept as classroom pets. The committee considered options such as designating separate spaces for animals or offering opt-in/opt-out accommodations for families with religious objections. No vote was taken during the meeting.

Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich criticized the concerns as “silly,” stating, “Dogs have been enriching the lives of school children across America since its founding.”

Fox News Digital attempted to contact Ahmed and Superintendent Ryan Scallon for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.