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Nicholas Fritts
Professor Jizi
UWRT1102
13 April 2016
Should Students Be Allowed to Keep Pets in College Dorms?
Growing up my family always had a dog until my last semester of high school. My dog
was a black lab named Licorice. Every day when I got home from school I would go out and
throw a tennis ball around for my dog. It was a great way to knock out stress before starting on
homework. It also caused me to be more active. That last semester of high school after my dog
passed away I knocked out stress by playing video games. The main thing that made me curious
about whether or not students should be able to have pets in college dorms was that I wanted a
dog and the UNCC housing policy says that fish are the only pets allowed in the dorms. Its been
weird not having a dog around for the first time in my life. I began reading about other colleges
that allow pets and also scientific reports and journals that discuss the benefits that pets can have
on human health. This intrigued me and got me started on my research.
The issue of whether or not college students should be allowed to keep pets in dorms
affects college students, their universities, and pets. Universities have to analyze what is best for
the student body as a whole. They must think about potential allergies, uncared for pets, and
potential violence from or towards the pets. Allowing students to keep pets in on campus dorms
will create both positive and negative differences in peoples lives. Positive difference include
decreased stress, increased health, increased physical activity, and increased human interaction.
Negative differences include pet allergies, hostile pets, animal abuse, and potential neglect. This

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question is significant because it has the potential to greatly improve students lives. With the
proper policies and rules the negatives mentioned above can be minimized, creating an oasis for
students and pets. Other universities are already finding ways and writing policies that allow pets
in dorms while keeping students safe. Why isnt the University of North Carolina at Charlotte?
Wouldnt you like to have a pet? I would have a pet right now if the policy allowed.
Veterinarians, psychologists, sociologist, medical professionals, and many others have
made significant contribution to my question. I have been researching how pets can affect us
mentally, physically, and socially. The majority of research shows that pets, specifically dogs and
cats, decrease stress and increase happiness. Pets can also improve human health in other ways.
In the book Companion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets,
Podberscek, Paul, and Serpell state the findings of epidemiological studies. They say that pet
ownership helps patients of coronary events live longer and protects people from obtaining heart
disease. They say that cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure were significantly
lower for male pet owners compared to non-owners. Dog and cat adopters were found to have
fewer minor health problems than non-adopters for one month and dog adopters sustained this
for ten months (125). These findings show that pets do have health benefits for humans. It can be
concluded that allowing students to have pets in dorms at arguable the most stressful time of
their lives can help reduce heart problems and create health habits to reduce heart disease at older
ages. How else can pets improve human health and college life? The same book indicates that
people display lower states of anxiety when in the presence of an animal. The book states that
one study found participants focused on the pet more when in a high stress situation (129).
College students are in high stress situations on a weekly basis with classes, social interactions,
activities, studies, etc. If pets can help with stress, shouldnt they be allowed in dorms? ABC

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News, in their video Dogs Have Health Benefits for Human, says looking at animals can calm
nerves. They also say that dust in dog owners homes can help reduce the effects of asthma and
influence there owner to go to the park more (ABC News). What does this mean for college
students? It means that dogs could improve the quality of life for students with asthma. They will
also encourage their owners to get out, get some fresh air, exercise, and interact with people.
Similarly to ABC News, CBS News has a video, Dogs can be good for your health. They say
that dogs not only have health benefits, but also psychological benefits. This comes from the
chemicals pets can cause our bodies to release says a Harvard researcher in the video (CBS
News). When looking for reason why students should or should not be allowed to have pets in
college dorm health and psychological benefits make great arguments for pets. If pets can make
students healthier and happier, it seems like it would be in the best interest of the universities to
make this an option to students using policies to limit any adverse effects such as allergies. We
already see this every semester here a UNCC when Paws for Exam Therapy come to Atkins
Library during Finals week. This is when the university allows dogs into the library to help
students cope with the stress of finals. By going to this event you can feel the effect that pets can
have on humans.
The most persuasive voices I found in my research were not the people advocating for or
against pet ownership in college dorms but the alternatives. These were the voices that stood out
most to me because they are things I can do now even though UNCC has a no pet (other than
fish) policy in dorms. They are clever ways to get the benefits of pets without the financial and
other drawbacks. These are things that I am seriously considering since pets, other than fish, are
not allowed in UNCC dorms. One way is to work at or volunteer at an animal shelter. You get to
work with animals without paying their bills. You might even get paid to do this. Some things

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that I could add to this conversation were to take advantage of when puppies are brought into the
library during finals week. Mark the times on your calendar and make the most of it before
getting back to studying. I plan to do take be at Atkins Library every day I can for the puppies.
Become a dog walker or a pet sitter. Again, you can get paid to be around animals. Lastly, watch
pet videos. One of my personal favorites is the Vet Ranch YouTube channel where veterinarians
rescue animals from shelters, fix whatever problems they have, and find them new homes. I want
say that pets should be allowed in dorms at UNCC. I think it should start on a trial basis. Use one
of the three unused dorms on campus; Cedar, Hickory, and Sycamore Halls. These three dorms
are used as overflow and hold students like the ones who will be moving into Levine Hall late in
the fall 2016 semester. The University could make one of those a pet friendly dorm and see how
it goes. If this was approved the university could partner with local animal shelters to have
students look after pets and keep the animal shelter from overcrowding. This would give the
animal a temporary home while the shelter seeks its forever home.
When I began researching, I did not fully appreciate all of the negative effects that pet
ownership in college can bring. I can understand now why pet ownership is not for all college
students. They do carry a large financial burden and some individuals simply do not possess the
time required to properly care for an animal. Students would have to plan their schedules around
taking the pet for walks and letting it out to go to the bathroom. I think my discoveries will
eventually lead me to get a dog while in college. It has also given me some points to try to
convince my mom to get a dog, that way I can play with it when I visit home and over the
summer. Hopefully my final research will make my readers consider getting a pet. I am still
curious about whether the University would try my plan or a similar one to allow pets on
campus, even if only in one dorm. It would allow graduate students and professors to preform

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research on pets influence on college students. They would be able to evaluate students stress,
health, and other factors with and without pets. I would still like to know if college students
perform better in their courses if they have a pet.

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Podberscek, Anthony L, Elizabeth S. Paul, and James Serpell. Companion Animals and Us:
Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press, 2000. Print.
ABCNews. "Dogs Have Health Benefits for Humans." YouTube. YouTube, 19 June 2012. Web.
03 Apr. 2016.
CBSNewsOnline. "Dogs Can Be Good for Your Health." YouTube. YouTube, 11 May 2015. Web.
03 Apr. 2016.
Dana Casciotti PhD, and Diana Zuckerman PhD. "The Benefits of Pets for Human
Health." National Center for Health Research. National Center for Health Research, 14
Jan. 2014. Updated Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Thompson, Kristie. "The Pros and Cons of Students with Pets."Ghiaciuc GWRTC 103. JMU, 18
Nov. 2013. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.