With Labor Day here, I know many will be heading off to college in the next week or so, some may have already. I thought it would be nice for all you that are college bound or parents of kids that are college bound to see the top 10 pet friendly colleges. Not all are okay with dogs and cats, but I was really surprised to see how many were. I remember when I was in college and I found the perfect puppy, unfortunately my dorm was not as excited as I was about my find! How different it would've been to be able to keep him in the dorm and even have a dog run right outside. Instead, my parents got a new puppy for a few months until I secured a place off campus.
I hope you enjoy this list, it is fun.
10. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York - Your winged friends are welcome at the college of Vassar in Poughkeepsie, New York, as are any other animals in aquariums and terrariums.
9. Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California - If you've got yourself a cute little furry or scaly friend that you'd like to bring along, feel free to bring him to Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. As long as he can stay in a cage or tank and you get prior agreement from roommates and suitemates, the door is open.
8. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - The saying welcome to the Greek life takes on a whole new meaning at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with real live mascots in the form of dogs and cats that are permitted in campus housing.
Any student wishing to have a cat or dog in a campus house must submit a request. Pending acceptance, a maximum of one cat or dog is permitted in a fraternity or sorority at Lehigh. Dogs must be housebroken and cats must be domesticated for indoor living in order to live in a campus house. But don't bother explaining that to your new pet - it's all Greek to them.
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts - It seems the furry, four-legged friend that takes the smaller, sometimes easier-to-handle form of a cat, seems to make friends more easily with dorm room officials than say the larger, more labor intensive dogs, which school officials fear will bark, or ruin dorm furniture. At least it seems dorms are more likely to jump on the cat bandwagon and allow them to accompany to their 2-legged friends to school than they are to jump on the dog one. And MIT in Boston is one of those schools. Currently MIT students enjoy four cat-friendly dorms on campus. All cats must be registered with the Pet Chair before taking up residence in a dorm room.
6. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena California - Are you a friend to all things feline? Then CALTECH might just be the best place for you and your meowing buddy. You can bring up to two cats with you to live in any of seven approved housing dorms on campus, as long as they are registered with the CALTECH Housing Office.
5. Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia - We at Petside know that you, the horse lover, have been waiting patiently for us to stop talking about dogs and cats and hamsters and gerbils and mention a place where you might be able to bring your horse away with you to school. Well here it is - Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia. Granted, you must be part of the Sweet Briar Riding Program to bring your stallion along with you, but if it sounds just like you to take up riding, personal horses may be boarded here, so you'll never be too far away from your stud.
4. Stetson University, Deland, Florida - Dogs and cats and hamsters and gerbils and guinea pigs and mice and rats, oh my!
All of the above are quite welcome at Stetson University's pet-friendly residence hall--Nemec Hall. Thirty-six of the hall's rooms are pet friendly, with dogs limited to less than 30 pounds. The administration wasn't just thinking of the college kid by making this move though, they truly want the animals to feel comfortable in their new environment as well. That's why a dog park outside of the hall makes it even easier for you and your pooch to enjoy some down time away from the books.
3. Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania - You don't have to just bring your fish to Washington and Jefferson College (although fish are permitted in all residence halls). Dogs, cats and creatures of all kinds are permitted in the "Pet House" here, or Monroe Hall, which is the dorm's real name.
As if that wasn't enough incentive - students who have been living in the Pet House for at least one year may be given the option to live with their pet in a double-as-a-single room, instead. All pets are to be registered with the Office of Residence Life prior to bringing the pet to campus.
As if that wasn't enough incentive - students who have been living in the Pet House for at least one year may be given the option to live with their pet in a double-as-a-single room, instead. All pets are to be registered with the Office of Residence Life prior to bringing the pet to campus.
2. Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri - Around Stephens College, Searcy Hall is known as Pet Central. The college has been welcoming the animal kingdom to its hallowed grounds since fall of 2004. In fact, Searcy is home to dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, sugar gliders, guinea pigs, lizards and birds. If that's not pet friendly, we don't know what is.
Again, certain breeds of dogs are not permitted (although there is no weight limit for those that are allowed, as long as all are up to date on vaccinations), and snakes and spiders must stay home.
Don't have your own pet to bring? No problem. Stephens will set you up with one to foster through the Columbia Second Chance. They will even petsit during school breaks, providing food and medical care.
1. Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida - There's simply no topping Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. when it comes to pet friendliness. Want to bring your snake to school? Sure, no problem. As long as your wriggly pal is less than six feet long and non venomous, he's just as welcome at Eckerd as you are.
Other domestic animals are permitted in all the awesome designated pet houses - including three student complexes and staff housing.
The only catch: The types of dogs are limited to medium sizes - not to exceed forty pounds when fully grown - and standard Pit Bull, Rotweiler and wolf breeds are prohibited. All pets must be registered with the Pet Council, as well.
