Students love when Student Government Association provides therapy dogs, but lately dogs are appearing on campus outside Stress Relief Week.
Permanent resident staff members and graduate students living in University Manor are permitted to own a domestic pet, like a dog, according to the university pet policy. Since these owners are not undergraduate students, their animals are not under OCU supervision, as long as they do not cause a problem for the university.
“I got Pepper, my 8-month-old Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix, in March, when my friend told me about the rescue dogs up for adoption in Moore,” said Kevin Culbertson, coordinator of housing operations and head resident of Banning Hall. “I went over to check it out, and I fell in love.”
Undergraduate students are only allowed to own animals with special approval from the university. They must provide official documentation from a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist, prescribe the ownership of an animal. A committee consisting of representatives from disability services, the dean of students’ office and university housing then must approve the student’s request.
“No one has used an emotional support animal on this campus until this year,” said Jenny Minsberg, coordinator of disability services. “Now we have six dogs living with students. However, these dogs are not pets.”
OCU updated the campus animal policy three years ago, separating the permitted animals into two categories.
The first type, service dogs, include seeing-eye dogs for blind students, as well as dogs that indicate seizures and those that help with balance, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Animals in this category can be taken anywhere on campus, including inside buildings. On some campuses, students are allowed to own service miniature horses, but because of OCU’s location, the campus only allows service dogs.
The second type, emotional support animals, can be any type of animal, as long as it stays within the confines of its owner’s living space while on campus. Dogs are the only animal in this category at OCU, but the list of possible animals includes ferrets, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and boa constrictors.
“My dog, a 6-month-old Maltipoo named “Maci,” is a pint-sized ball of energy,” said Abigail McKee, theater performance junior. “She helps me with anxiety and stress, and comforts the people around me as well!”
Campus policy requires students to submit the required forms two months prior to bringing their animal to their housing. Exceptions have been made in certain situations, but the formal paperwork deadline for January pets is Nov. 1.
The policy states “the University may, at its discretion, require any person who enters the campus with a pet to remove the animal from the campus grounds.”
The policy also states that the pet is not allowed in any buildings on campus, and the owner must keep the animal on a six foot or less leash, not be tied to any to stationary objects, and under control while on campus.
Any member of the campus community can contact Oklahoma City University Police Department if they see a visitor who is not following the requirements at 405-208-5001.
The police department has not received any complaints about pets on campus this semester.
More information about campus animal-related policies can be found here.
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