Pets may find a less-than-warm welcome on campus in the near future.
Employees from the facilities department recently were asked to stop bringing pets into the facilities building.
Until now, employees have brought dogs into the office and encouraged students to stop by and visit the animals.
“I really miss having the dogs around,” said Debra Smith, assistant director of facilities. “The students also really enjoyed having the dogs to play with and pet.”
The only animals allowed in the dorms are fish or pets that can be kept in a fish bowl, though there is no official rule barring pets from campus, reads the Student Handbook.
In 2008, Petree College of Arts and Sciences banned employees from bringing dogs into the building, citing dog bites, allergies and asthma as the reason.
The human resources department is creating a university wide policy regarding pets on campus.
Joey Croslin, chief human resources officer, said a policy on pets is a goal that the human resources department is working toward.
“While we don’t have a policy in place right now, we are working toward getting a policy made,” Croslin said.
The therapy dogs brought to campus by Student Health Services are popular among students.
This is done to provide stress relief for students during exam times.
Their visits are posted on the campus calendar during exam periods.
Audrey Morehouse, biochemistry senior, brings her dogs onto campus regularly.
“This is the only exercise they can get during the day,” Morehouse said. “I think people just want to play with dogs when they’re stressed.”
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