Sunshine Heights Primary School
DOG POLICY

PURPOSE

 To explain to our school community the rules and procedures we have in place in relation to dogs attending our school grounds.

 

POLICY

ASSISTANCE DOGS

Sunshine Heights Primary School understands its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and will make reasonable adjustments for members of our school community with a disability who require an ‘assistance animal’ to help alleviate the effects of their disability.  Assistance animals are permitted to attend our school with their handler. Our school principal can lawfully ask a person to produce evidence that an animal:

• is trained specifically to assist a person alleviate the effects of a disability (eg seeing eye dogs)
• meets standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a school environment.

We understand that in some circumstances, students may require an assistance animal to attend school to help them to participate in their educational program. Sunshine Heights Primary School will consider a request by a student with a disability to allow an assistance animal to attend school with them on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the principal.

 

PET DOGS

Sunshine Heights Primary School is not a public place, and our principal has the authority to permit or decline entry to school grounds and impose conditions of entry.

Whilst Sunshine Heights Primary School understands that many families in our school community keep dogs as pets, to ensure that our school remains a safe and inclusive place for everyone, pet dogs are not permitted on school grounds under any circumstances.

Our school community is diverse, and may include people that are allergic or uncomfortable around dogs. We are also conscious of the health hazards that may be posed by dogs. We ask that families please leave their pet dogs at home or safely tether them (at a safe distance) outside school grounds when attending our school or school events. 

 

STRAY DOGS

Unaccompanied or stray dogs sighted at our school should be reported immediately to the school office. School staff will contact municipal authorities and/or Victoria police for assistance in managing and removing a stray dog from school grounds, and ensure staff and students remain safe at school.

 

 

RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES

[Insert links to your school’s Duty of Care and Visitors policies].