College Dorms That Allow Pets

Bringing a beloved pet to college is a good way to ward off homesickness.

There may be no better way to keep homesickness at bay for college students than letting the family pet live in their dorm. More and more colleges understand how hard it is to leave a precious pet behind, and are allowing animals on campus, with an application and the permission of the housing office. Although a pet may be allowed initially, if the animal infringes on the rights of other students, the pet will not be allowed to stay.

Amphibians, Reptiles and Fish

Bring your lizard to your dorm room at Humboldt State University.

The dorm rooms at Humboldt State University, in California, are approved for amphibians and reptiles. Turtles, lizards and snakes can be kept in an aquariums, as long as the tank is under 10 gallons. Kansas State University, with its well-known College of Veterinary Medicine, allows frogs, snakes, turtles, lizards and newts in a dorm room. Notre Dame University, in Indiana, allows dorm residents to keep fish in up to 30-gallon tanks, with the exception of piranhas.

Cats

MIT allows cats in four of their resident halls.

Four dorm halls at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology allow resident cats. Each dorm room can have only one cat, and the owner must receive permission from all other students on the floor. Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, allows one cat to live in each on-campus fraternity and sorority house. Washington and Jefferson College, a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, allows one cat per room, with roommate consent.

Caged Pets

Hamsters are wlecome at Harvey Mudd College.

Small caged pets, such as gerbils or hamsters, can be kept in the Pet Wing at State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton). Harvey Mudd College, in California, allows students to keep small pets on campus, as long as they are kept in cages and the owner has his roommate's approval. Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, allows caged animals, like guinea pigs and hamsters, with the exception of ferrets.

Dogs

At Stephens College, you can wake up with your dog in your dorm room.

Stephens College in Colombia, Missouri allows dogs in the dorm if they are registered with the city, current on vaccinations and at least a year old. They do not allow pit bulls, German Shepherds, Chows, Rottweilers or Akitas. Eckerd College in Florida was one of first colleges to allow pets in dorm rooms. Other colleges look to Eckerd's experience when writing their own policies for pets. Eckerd has three houses that allow animals, including dogs, as long as they are under 40 pounds.

References

• My College Guide: You Can Take Them With You: Pet Friendly Colleges and Universities
• "The Wichita Eagle"; K-State Dorms Let Kids Keep Critters; Suzanne Perez Tobias; September 2010
• Washington & Jefferson College: Frequently Asked Questions
• SUNY Canton: What are the Housing Options?
• Harvey Mudd College: Pet Registration

Resources

• Case Western Reserve University: 2002-2003 Student Services Guide Excerpts
• Stephens College: Pet Central
• Eckerd College: Pet Policy