The Emergence of Pet-Friendly Colleges
It is no secret that pets can become an integral part of the family. Whether they are of the furry, feathered, or aquatic variety, pets can become the best friends of those living in the household and bring their owners comfort, joy, and companionship. With this in mind, it is not too far-fetched to understand why many new college students are reluctant to leave their animal friends at home while the students themselves embark on an educational career on a campus far away. Oftentimes, students would have to leave their furry companions for many years while they earn their degrees. Luckily, some colleges are now opening up their minds and their doors to student pets, allowing their scholars to bring along their most cherished creatures to live with them on campus.
Allowing pets to live in student residences is a big step for schools to take, as many campuses have been animal-free since opening day due to the difficulties involved in accommodating students as well as animals. In fact, college pet-owners have usually opted to live in off-campus apartments as those places usually allow pets in return for a hefty pet deposit payment. The reason why pets have long been banned from residence halls is that too often, students neglect to prevent property damage caused by their beloved animals. Carpeting, walls, and dorm furniture are all common victims of shredding, biting, tearing, and soiling inflicted by pets. Also, some students are allergic to some animals, particularly those with fur like cats and dogs or those with feathers, such as songbirds and parrots. Ensuring that the health of these students is not negatively affected by other students’ pets is crucial, as the importance of student health trumps the desire for pets on campus.
Yet, some schools have come up with novel ways to circumvent these issues so that those who want to bring their animals to campus may still do so. For example, some schools will only allow certain animals onto campus, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) policy to only allow cats in designated cat-friendly residence halls as cats are generally calmer and require less space than animals like dogs. Other schools, like Stephens College, allow their students to bring in dogs under 40 pounds as well as cats and other small mammals as long as pet owners live on a designated "pet floor" of the residence hall. This reduces the amount of contact non-pet owners have with animals as well as ensures that the animals allowed to live on campus are small enough to live comfortably in tiny dorm rooms.
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