This is a question with a number of potential answers, and the response may vary depending on the college you attend. There are some factors associated with this question.
If you are an animal lover, you might be worried that not being able to spend time with your pet while you are in college will affect your ability to focus and be happy because pets may have a major positive impact on your mental health while you are there.
Some dorms allow pets, while others grant exceptions for assistance animals—which aren’t strictly regarded as being the same as home pets—in some cases. If having a pet in your dorm room is crucial to your happiness while you’re at school, you might want to think about applying to universities that allow their students to live in pet-friendly accommodation.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, however on the majority of campuses, dogs aren’t allowed unless they are service animals. A few universities do, however, make an exemption for service animals.
If you want to learn more about keeping pets in your dorm room, keep reading.
What is a Service Animal?
If you’ve been unsure about whether your pet might be considered a service animal, you should know that the law clearly defines what this type of animal is and what it is required to do. You should be aware of this if you’ve been considering whether your pet could count as a service animal.
Service animals are canines that have been specially trained to work or carry out tasks for the benefit of people with impairments. These animals must be trained and certified in order to be considered service animals.
All residential sections of colleges and universities are open to animals that have been trained to aid those with impairments. This does not, however, imply that you can have your own animal recognized as a service animal.
You will not be successful in getting your pet certified as a service animal if they are not already working as a service support animal.
Are Pets Allowed in Dorm Rooms?
The solution to this problem was discussed in the part before this one, but there are still a few points that need to be covered in relation to some campuses’ approval of dogs.
Dogs and cats are frequently the first animals that come to mind when people think of pets. However, when dorms allow tenants to keep dogs in their specific rooms, this is not often the case.
Especially if you’re unsure whether or not pets are allowed in dorm rooms, it’s probable that you’ve thought about bringing your dog or cat to school with you. The majority of dorm bylaws that permit pets refer to small, cage-required animals that aren’t rodents.
Most pet policies forbid any other types of pets, while some do allow small fish tanks or lizards in tanks up to a particular size to be brought into the dorm room.
You’ll see that there are some very excellent reasons for this restriction if you give it some attention. Cats need litter boxes, which need to be cleaned frequently and provide a possible hygiene issue for other students.
Dogs need regular exercise, and if they are left unattended for a long time, they are likely to become rather noisy and destructive. Additionally, because of how small and uncomfortable dorm rooms are, it’s not always possible to maintain a pet like a dog or cat there.
The health of the students might be compromised if there were a lot of fluffy animals roaming around the school dorms because some people have allergies to cats and dogs. Dormitory administrators need to take this into account.
Because college students are so busy all day with classes and activities, it would be difficult to take care of pets that needed to be walked or taken outside to use the restroom.
If you do bring a pet into the dorm with you, it must be registered there, and you’ll usually have to sign some paperwork declaring that you don’t expect the institution to take responsibility for your pet.
There are undoubtedly exceptions to the rules on most campuses, but you must make sure you fill out all the required papers in order to be allowed the opportunity. Make sure you take into account the amount of space you have available before purchasing a large cage or fish tank that won’t fit in your dorm room.
Last but not least, in almost all cases you will need to get your roommate’s written consent before keeping a small pet in a cage in your dorm room if you are attending a school that permits this.
You shouldn’t be allowed to force your roommate to accept the presence of an animal in their room if you want to put in a fish tank but they don’t enjoy fish or don’t want to occasionally assist care for them. There is nothing more logical to do than this.
What if I Have a Single Room?
If you are living in a single dorm room, you will not need to ask your roommate for permission to bring a pet into the dorm; however, this does not mean that you will not need to submit all necessary documentation.
The mere fact that you live alone does not provide you permission to introduce a dog or cat into your home. There are relatively few exceptions to the rules governing this matter, and if a pet is brought into a dorm that is not allowed to do so, it may be subject to punishment, including expulsion from the school or removal from the dorm.
If you Want to Bring a Pet Into Your Dorm You Must Follow the Rules
In the debate over whether or not dogs are allowed in the dorms, the most crucial thing to keep in mind is that you are expected to act appropriately in order to maintain this privilege. If you are allowed to have a pet in your dorm room, make sure you follow all the rules and ask your roommate’s permission before doing so.
You are still accountable for adhering to all rules associated with this accommodation even if you have a service animal that is allowed in the dorms.
Never attempt to bring a dog in under false pretenses just so you can have one if you intend to attend a college that forbids pets in the residence halls.
If you are allowed to, it is a privilege to be able to bring a pet into the dorm, but there are many good reasons why this is not allowed.
READ ALSO: Do You Have to Be In Your Dorm Room at a Certain Time?
