1. Policies and Procedures
  2. Animals on Campus

Animals on Campus

Established: June, 2014
Date Last Revised: August, 2025
Approved by: Senior Team
Responsible Office: Dean of Students Office
Responsible Senior Staff Member: Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students or designee

Statement

The College has established the following policy to provide for the health and safety of 91短视频app破解版 students, faculty, staff and visitors; for the protection and enjoyment of the College's property; and for the responsible management and operation of the College.

A reasonable animals on campus policy, focused on owner responsibility, supports the quality of campus life inside and outside of buildings while minimizing the use of resources on avoidable cleanup and repairs. Beyond the obvious concerns for property maintenance and personal welfare, it is hoped that these regulations will foster an atmosphere where all can enjoy the College's facilities in a comfortable and relaxed setting.

The College's properties are private. The animal policy is consistent with Massachusetts law, which holds that a dog's owner is responsible for the behavior of the dog.

Scope

This policy applies to all persons on the College campus or on College programs and all animals, subject to policy exceptions.

Policy

Inside buildings

Animals are not allowed inside the College buildings. 

This prohibition does not apply to:

  • Service animals accompanied by their owner or handler, subject to the college鈥檚 Service Animal Policy
  • Service Animals in Training
  • Emotional support animals (ESAs) permitted in student housing as an accommodation for a disability
  • Trained Therapy animals that are providing therapy services for students in approved offices
  • Animals brought to campus for approved, college sponsored events e.g., 鈥淧et-a-Pet鈥
  • Rental housing in which animals are permitted by the terms of the lease or rental agreement
  • Students residing in campus housing are allowed to have fish if they can humanely and safely live in one (1) 5-gallon tank or smaller. Each resident is allowed one (1) 5-gallon tank and are responsible for the well-being of their animals throughout the academic year and break periods.
  • Research animals
  • Working animals owned by the College
  • Horses stabled or in other equestrian facilities owned by the College.

Outside of buildings

The following rules apply to the College property outside of buildings.

  • Animals must be leashed and under control at all times. Exceptions to this guideline are instances where a leash or other tether would interfere with a service animal鈥檚 performance of work or tasks, subject to the College鈥檚 Service Animal Policy. Animals may not be tied up and left alone outside buildings or elsewhere on college grounds.
  • Animals are not allowed on the athletic fields or in gardens at any time, even if leashed.
  • Persons with animals must have the means to remove any pet waste (fecal matter) and must pick up and properly dispose of any animal waste left by the animal on 91短视频app破解版 property.
  • Persons with animals must immediately clean up or repair any incidental damage caused by the animal (including digging damage). Cleanup or repairs should be thorough enough so that no work is created for College staff or inconvenience is caused for members of the College community or visitors. If the damage cannot be cleaned up or repaired by the person in control of the animal at the time the damage is caused, the damage should be reported immediately to Public Safety and Service.
  • Animals are not permitted in any college-owned vehicle. This prohibition does not apply to service animals accompanied by their owner or handler, subject to the College鈥檚 Service Animal Policy.

Financial responsibility

A person who has an animal on campus (including in College Housing) is financially responsible for property damage caused by their animal such as the cost of repairs, replacement or cleaning of facilities or furnishings and for any injury caused to other persons by the animal.

Policy Violations

Supervisors will handle violations of this policy using a system of progressive corrective measures for employees. Public Safety and Service will inform visitors of the policy and refer cases to the town animal control. Students will be referred to the College鈥檚 community standards process. 

College employees who observe policy violations are encouraged to inform individuals of the policy and inform Public Safety and Service if necessary.

In the case of visitors, Public Safety and Service will give a verbal warning and notification of the policy. The animal and owner may be excluded from campus.

Incident Reporting

Incidents of animal bites should be reported to Public Safety and Service immediately. They will work with the town鈥檚 animal control. 

This policy does not apply to other animals on campus, service animals, emotional support animals, horses brought onto campus as part of the College鈥檚 equestrian program or research animals. See Related Policies for references to these policies.

Related Policies