Top Student Dog

In fact, in recent years the “Top Student Dog” has appeared many times. Whether at Northwest A&F University or now Anhui Normal University, the Top Student Dog has once become popular online and turned into a celebrity dog. These dogs attend classes with students, and this Anhui Normal University Top Student Dog has been auditing classes at the school for as long as five years. Besides auditing classes, it also eats in the cafeteria with students, plays with them, and so on. However, such a phenomenon also implies some issues.

But if we think carefully, these so-called “Top Student Dogs” are actually stray dogs on campus. It is only because no one adopts or manages them that classrooms, cafeterias, dormitories, and playgrounds become their activity spaces, allowing them to survive year after year. The reason these dogs became popular is simply that we anthropomorphized them: we call them “freeloading meals” when they scavenge for food and “auditing classes” when they intrude into classrooms. When we glance at reports, it is easy to be moved by words and pictures depicting harmonious coexistence between people and dogs, cheering for a “humane” school and admiring it.

However, we must note that these dogs are ultimately strays. They forage in every corner of the campus and also defecate anywhere. Moreover, most of these stray dogs are unvaccinated, making them more prone to infectious diseases than other dogs. Once one dog is infected, others may also catch it, creating a vicious cycle. In addition, dogs are somewhat wary of strangers. Some mischievous students might provoke dogs, which could easily result in bites, becoming a safety hazard on campus. This also reflects a security vulnerability within the school.

Northwest A&F University once used violent means to handle stray dogs on campus. Though such methods are somewhat inappropriate, prior to dealing with the strays, multiple biting incidents had occurred on the campus, and an elderly professor was even severely bitten. Ensuring normal teaching order and the personal safety of teachers and students is the school's responsibility, but care should be taken in how this is done. After all, if a stray dog bites someone, no one can be held accountable. Managing stray dogs concerns the safety of teachers and students and cannot ignore their potential dangers because they appear temporarily docile or popular with students.

Dogs exist in classrooms, which in most cases distracts people

Furthermore, stray dogs also affect normal teaching order. Reports say, “During class, the little black dog is very quiet and attentive, never disturbing class discipline, so most teachers do not chase it away.” But if a dog really shares the classroom with us, it is believed many students would be distracted. A quiet dog does not mean good classroom discipline; students’ curiosity makes them want to take photos, feed the dog, pay attention to its movements, and even regard it as a “model student.” The presence of dogs in the classroom mostly distracts both teachers and students.

According to students’ descriptions, we see obedient and cute “Top Student Dogs,” but each “Top Student Dog” is actually a safety hazard and a source of instability on campus. While students cheer for these dogs’ popularity, school authorities should pay more attention to potential problems. Indeed, stray dogs can pose certain safety risks to students, but they must be dealt with properly. Violent eviction is unreasonable; the best approach is to manage them without harming the dogs.