Campus Policies Related to Animals

General

It is the Policy of Saint Mary’s College of California (“College”) that Pets are not allowed in campus facilities. Notwithstanding the Pet Policy, there are situations and circumstances where animals are allowed in some campus facilities. The following rules are applicable to all individuals who have been granted permission to bring an animal into campus facilities, unless the application of a particular rule is prohibited by law. These rules do not apply to College provided animals which have been provided as part of academic laboratory activities, research, or study.

Definitions

For purposes of these rules, the following definitions are applicable:

• Animals: The use of this term is inclusive of, but not limited to, dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, rodents, fish, snakes, reptiles, and birds. When using the term “Animals,” there is no distinction being made between Service Animals, Emotional Support (Assistance) Animals, and Pets.

• Pets: All Animals except Service Animals, Emotional Support (Assistance) Animals and laboratory Animals.

Service Animal and Assistance (Emotional Support) Animal Policy

SMC is committed to accommodating individuals with disabilities. Consistent with its legal obligations, SMC will accommodate students and other individuals with disabilities by permitting the use of Service Animals on campus and in all areas of campus (with limited exception) to facilitate their full-participation and equal access to the College’s programs and activities. 

SMC is committed to accommodating individuals with a disability to maintain Emotional Support Animals in residential facilities under the Fair Housing Act as a Housing Accommodation. Accommodations for Service Animals are addressed differently than accommodation requests for Emotional Support Animals as the legal requirements are different.

The current policy and procedures can be found on the SDS Service and Emotional Support Animals Policy page.

Policies regarding Animals on campus

1.  Pets that have been permitted to be brought into a campus housing facility must:

a.  If a dog, be licensed.

b.  Be vaccinated in compliance with local vaccine requirements.

c.  Be spayed or neutered.

d.  If a cat, be declawed.

e.  Be securely controlled, restrained or maintained (e.g., leash for dogs, appropriate confinement for cats, secure cage or terrarium for rodents or reptiles, etc.)  

2.  If an Animal is maintained or housed in a campus housing facility (e.g., residential unit) the individual maintaining the Animal must complete an initial residential unit condition inventory. Owners must have applied for and received express written permission to house an Animal on campus from the Campus Housing and Residential Experience Offices in conjunction with Student Disability Services in the case of ESA’s.

3.  No Pet in excess of 40 pounds, or a Pet that is a breed that typically reaches a mature adult weight in excess of 40 pounds, is ever permitted in a campus facility.

4.  The number of Pets permitted in one residential unit is subject to approval by the Director of Campus Housing but may not exceed two (2). If there is a conflict between a Pet and a Service Animal or an Emotional Support Animal in a residential unit, the non-Service or non-Emotional Support Animal shall be disallowed. For purposes of this rule, a single aquarium with fish, sea mollusk, invertebrate, or live rock shall be counted as a single Pet, but a terrarium with arachnids, reptiles, or snakes shall be counted based on the individual Animals contained therein.

5.  Where an individual has approval to house a Pet on campus, the Pet shall only be allowed in an individual’s particular residential unit, in the building common areas for the sole purpose of ingress and egress to the individual’s unit and in the common outdoor areas of the campus under the direct control and supervision of the individual or a person authorized by the Pet Owner. Pets are not permitted in other resident rooms, halls, or any other campus facility. When not within the permitted residential unit, Pets shall be restrained on a leash at all times.

6.  Service Animals must be maintained in control of their owner, but need not be physically restrained. Emotional Support Animals, when outside the approved residential unit, shall be maintained consistent with the rules applicable to Pets.

7.  Individuals maintaining Animals on campus must take all appropriate actions to remove, temporarily relocate, or otherwise contain their Animal(s) off campus when there is a campus need for the facility to be animal free (e.g., fire inspections, health and wellness inspections, facility maintenance activities, including pesticide spraying and janitorial services, etc.). Individuals maintaining Animals must cooperate with Saint Mary’s College and coordinate the handling of the Animal(s). Pet Owners shall properly crate, kennel, or temporarily remove Animal(s) from the campus facility during such times.

8.  In the event of emergency or other exigent circumstance, Saint Mary’s College may attempt to remove an unattended Animal in order to protect the health and safety of it, its owner, or others.

9. Animals must be housetrained and individuals must pick up after their Animals and dispose of their waste properly and immediately. Waste is to be sealed in bags or other individual containers and disposed of in dumpsters. All waste must be removed from campus facilities promptly to avoid the creation of offensive odors or other health hazards in campus facilities.

10. Animals must be maintained in a manner such that the academic environment of the residential unit, the residence hall, or other campus facility is not disturbed.

11. Individuals maintaining Animals will take all reasonable precautions to protect College property and other individuals from harm, injury, or damage caused by the Animal.

12. Upon vacating a residential unit, the unit must be returned in good condition. Damage caused by Animals shall be addressed by the College at the sole expense of the individual maintaining the Animal.