High Point University Pet Policy

Transcription

1 High Point University Pet Policy The High Point University Office of Student Life believes that pets can provide both companionship and a sense of community for students living on campus, and as such allows for pets to be kept and maintained in specific residential areas of campus. The Office of Student Life acknowledges both the benefits and responsibilities that accompany housing a pet and have outlined the following policies and procedures to ensure a positive living experience for pet owners, their neighbors, and their pets. Failure to provide accurate and truthful information regarding a pet or failure to follow this policy may result in sanctioning including, but not limited to, removal of the pet from campus and the forfeiture of the privilege to keep any future pet on campus. Decisions made under this policy may be appealed through the Office of Student Conduct. Definitions Pet. A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered an Emotional Support Animal or a Service Animal. Individuals are not permitted to keep or bring pets on University property or in University housing without properly registering the animal. Approved Pet. High Point University defines an acceptable pet as a domesticated cat, dog, or fish. No animal shall have a breed weight of more than thirty pounds, and fish must be housed in a tank of no more than five gallons. All registered pets must reside in the North College Townhomes residence community along with their owners/caretakers. Each townhome may be home to a limit of one approved pet. This number does not include fish, but is limited to one approved cat or dog. Emotional Support Animal (ESA). An animal providing emotional or other support to ameliorate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a disability. This Policy does not apply to Emotional Support Animals. For information on ESAs and to request to bring an ESA to campus, please see the High Point University Emotional Support Animal Policy and Request for Emotional Support Animal Form available at Owner. The owner is the resident University student who has an approved pet. University Housing. Any facility owned or operated by the University for the purpose of housing residential students, whether leased or owned. Acceptable Pets All dogs and cats permitted to reside on campus as pets must not be considered to be an aggressive/wild breed. Cats are to be from fully domesticated litters and cannot contain any percentage of a feral or wild line. Dogs must have no identifiable mix or partial genetic makeup with any aggressive or wild dog breed. A partial list of unacceptable dog breeds can be found below. Partial List of unacceptable breeds. Any Pit Bull-related breed German Shepherd

2 Dogo Argentino Doberman Pinscher Chow Chow Gull Dong Bullmastiff Cane Corso Rottweiler Tosa Inu American Bandogge Boxer Wolf breeds Requirements of Pet Owners Prior to Bringing Pet to Campus: All pets/owners must complete the following requirements before bringing a pet to campus. 1. Registration of Pet. In order to have a pet on campus, the owner must reside in North College Townhomes. Pets are not allowed in any other residence halls or campus housing. After the student owner has secured a room in North College Townhomes, the student owner must complete the Pet Registration Form found on the Office of Student Life website After this form is competed and submitted to online, the Resident Director of North College Townhomes will review the completed form to ensure the pet meets the guidelines. The Resident Director will then seek roommate consent and request the pet s medical paperwork from the owner to be provided to the Office of Student Life. 2. Roommate Approval. After the student owner completes the pet registration, each roommate must complete and submit to the North College Townhomes Resident Director the Residential Pet Consent Form found on the Office of Student Life website All roommates must provide written consent to the pet residing in their apartment/suite/room by completing this form. In the event of one or more roommates does not grant consent, the owner may request to move placement to a different unit within North College Townhomes in order to obtain roommate approval for the pet. If no such location can be found, the pet may not reside on campus. 3. Inspection and Evaluation of Pet. In addition to receiving roommate consent, the student owner must schedule a pet inspection and evaluation with the Resident Director of North College. During the inspection and evaluation, the Resident Director will physically inspect and photograph the pet. After this initial inspection and approval, pets are subject to further inspection and proof of weight upon request by the University. If an animal appears to be over the maximum limit of 30 pounds or appears to violate any other provision of University policy, the Office of Student Life reserves the right to enforce its policies and to request owner of to provide verification that the pet does not violate the University Pet Policy. Failure to promptly produce satisfactory documentation might result in the forfeiting of on-campus privileges for the animal. 4. Health and Vaccinations. The student owner must provide documentation that the pet is current on all applicable vaccinations, is spayed or neutered (as appropriate), and is in good health to the Office of Student Life prior to bringing the pet to campus. All pets must have an annual well care visit with a licensed veterinarian. They must have had a general maintenance vaccination series appropriate to the

3 species. All vaccinations must be current, and applicable pets must wear a current rabies vaccination tag. All pets are to be either spayed or neutered, or proof of a timeline may be provided for animals younger than the age to be either spayed or neutered. Exceptions to the spay/neuter requirement may be made on a case by case basis. 5. Identification Tag. Registered pets will be provided a University sanctioned identification tag, which the pet must wear at all times. This identification tag is connected to the pet s records and serves as verification of the University s approval of the pet s presence in North College Townhomes. Failure for an animal to wear the identification tag may result in sanctioning including removal of the pet from campus. Animals that cannot be identified and are found roaming on the campus will be detained by the Office of Student Life for a period not to exceed forty-eight (48) hours. After that period, the animal will be taken to a local animal shelter. Pets must also wear appropriate rabies vaccination tags. Requirements and Responsibilities Once Pet has been Approved: 1. The pet must wear the University identification tag at all times. If the pet is a fish, the tag must be visibly displayed on or near the fish s tank in the student owner s room. 2. The pet will remain in the pet owner s University assigned room in North College Townhomes and is not permitted in other student s rooms or the common areas of the residential facilities, and other inside areas of the University such as classrooms, academic buildings, administrative buildings, libraries, dining services areas, fitness center, pool etc. Pets are also limited to the North College property. 3. Pets brought on campus must be under the control of the pet owner at all times. The pet owner must be in full control of the animal at all times (i.e. leash, harness, crate). The pet owner is solely responsible for the animal s well-being, care and cleaning, including but not limited to regular feeding, bathing, grooming, daily care and veterinary services. 4. The pet owner must comply with all applicable laws regarding the keeping of an animal and is responsible for making sure the pet does not disrupt the residential community. 5. The pet may not be left unattended overnight in the North College Townhomes to be cared for by another student. Pets must be taken with the owner if the owner leaves campus for a prolonged period of more than 24 hours. 6. When pets are left unattended in a student s room, they are required to be stored in a crate, carrier or kennel. This containment will allow High Point University officials to routinely access to the residential facilities for maintenance and other routine tasks without posing risk to the animal or employees. 7. Dogs must be house broken and cats must be litter box trained.

4 8. Pets must be taken out of the building by way of the shortest and most direct path, and must be maintained under standard restraints such as a carrier and/or collar when outdoors, in public areas, or in transit and must be confined to the residence when not in transit. 9. Fecal matter deposited on University grounds or within the facilities need to be removed immediately and disposed of properly. The owner is to arrange for immediate removal of fecal matter if unable to perform the task personally. 10. The pet owner s residence may be inspected for fleas, ticks, pests, and/or damage to the residential facilities once a semester or as needed. The Office of Residence Life will schedule the inspection and notify the resident in advance of the scheduled inspection. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are detected through inspection, the apartment will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a Universityapproved pest control service. The pet owner will be billed for the expense of any pest control treatment. 11. The University may remove or require the removal of a pet that poses a threat to the health or safety to others on campus, disrupts the educational environment of the University and/or residential community, or if the owner does not comply with these policies. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to ensure the pet does not interfere with the quality of life of other residents on campus. This includes noise violations (e.g. barking or other disruptive noise). 12. The owner will be financially responsible for expenses incurred above a standard cleaning or for repairs to the residential premises, including losses, liability, claims, and harm to others caused by the pet. 13. The owner will hold the University blameless (and harmless) in the event the pet goes missing. University staff is not responsible for the retrieval of the pet in the event the animal escapes or becomes lost. As a condition to the privilege of having a pet on campus, the owner holds the University blameless (and harmless) of any and all claims, legal actions, damages, costs and fees should the University remove the pet from campus or take the pet to a local animal shelter. Standards of the Pet Approval, Denial, and Removal Process Standards for Removal Unregistered/unapproved animals are subject to immediate removal by the University and the student may be fined or sanctioned. Any student found with an unregistered/unapproved animal will have 24 hours to remove the unregistered/unapproved animal in the best manner ensuring the welfare of the animal involved. The student will be provided additional options if they cannot safely and responsibly remove the unregistered/unapproved animal from campus on their own or during the initial 24 hour period. For each time the unregistered/unapproved animal is found to be on campus, including the initial finding, the student who brought the unregistered/unapproved animal to campus will be sanctioned a $25 fine every day until that unregistered/unapproved animal is removed from campus. If this same unregistered/unapproved animal is found to be in the possession of another student on campus, the current student possessing the animal, as well as the initial student accused of having the

5 unregistered/unapproved animal will both be fined the $25 daily sanctioned fine until the animal has officially been removed campus. Cost of removal, any damages, and cleaning will be billed to the student s University account. Appeal Process Appeals to denied applications, other decisions made under this policy including sanctions will be heard by the Senior Director of Student Life or by the Office of Student Conduct, depending on the severity of the case.

6 Agreement between the Student and High Point University The owner of a pet may be asked to remove the pet from University facilities if the owner or pet fails to comply with the Requirements and Responsibilities set forth in this Policy. I have read and understand my responsibilities as a pet owner as outlined above. Should I fail in my responsibilities, I understand my approved pet status may be suspended or revoked and/or I may be charged with a violation of student policies. Student Name Printed: Student ID: Student Signature: Date: North College Resident Director: Date: [ ] Received Identification Tag [ ] Window Cling Placed in Apartment Identification Number: Date / /