Animals/Pets on Campus Policy

Introduction

Beginning June 1st, Ithaca College will prohibit animals/pets on campus. The
communication of this policy provides consistency for all buildings and facilities on
campus with the current rules in all of our residence halls that do not allow
animals/pets. The College needs to provide a safe and healthful environment for all
to work and live. Animals/pets can pose a threat to the health and safety of the
campus community as well as to a healthful educational environment through
allergy, excessive noise, animal bites, and disease transmission (fleas, ticks, viruses,
parasites, etc.). All members of the campus community are required to comply with
all aspects of this policy. Employees and students who fail to comply or who
interfere with the implementation of this policy, including relocation of animals, will
be subject to corrective or disciplinary action. The College may require any person
with a pet to remove the animal from campus grounds. The campus community is
required to abide by this policy and by the relevant local government laws and
ordinances regarding dog and cat management.

The College appreciates that many staff, faculty, and students love and care for their
pets as "members of their family". This policy identifies that, to create a healthy,
safe, and respectful environment, animals/pets should not be a part of the campus
community. There are two exceptions to the policy in the form of service animals
and for Residence Hall Directors who live on campus and have made arrangements
for a pet through their employment agreement.

If there are any questions regarding this policy, please contact Mark Coldren in the
Office of Human Resources at 274-3853 or at mcoldren@ithaca.edu. The policy
follows this message and will become part of the Ithaca College Administrative Policy
Manual. Thank you.
Animals/Pets on Campus Policy

The College prohibits staff, faculty, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers
from taking pets into any College building or facility.

Animals are restricted on the Ithaca College campus to provide a safe and a healthful
environment for members of the campus community to study, work and live, to
preserve the flora, fauna, and natural beauty of the campus, to protect research
projects being carried out on campus lands, to comply with local animal ordinances,
and to ensure public safety. Pets can pose a threat to the health and safety of the
campus community as well as to a healthful educational environment through
allergy, excessive noise, animal bites, and disease transmission (fleas, ticks, viruses,
parasites, etc.). Individuals with disabilities are at particular risk. In addition to the
potential for pets to cause health hazards, animals can be unpredictable, have
uncontrollable behavior and can contribute to accidents in the workplace.

All members of the campus community are required to comply with all aspects of
this policy. Employees and students who fail to comply or who interfere with the
implementation of this policy, including relocation of animals, will be subject to
corrective or disciplinary action.

This Ithaca College pet policy is applicable to all staff, faculty, students, contractors,
visitors, and volunteers who access campus buildings, facilities, grounds, campuses,
and property. This policy applies not only to dogs but also to other common animals
including birds, cats, mice, gerbils, amphibians, reptiles, and ferrets.

The College may require any person with a pet to remove the animal from campus
grounds. The campus community is required to abide by this policy and by the
relevant local government laws and ordinances regarding dog and cat management.

In the event of a visitor who is not a regular member of the campus community
brings a pet to the campus, these animals are prohibited from all College buildings.
If a person enters College grounds with a pet, they shall ensure that the pet under
their control remains restrained on a leash 6 feet or less at all times, will not be left
fastened to stationery objects, and will be under effective control while on campus
grounds. Any dog, cat, or other animal brought to campus must be licensed and fully
inoculated in accordance with Tompkins County regulations, with the burden of
proof on the owner. Fecal matter deposited by any dog, cat, or other animal brought
to campus must be removed immediately and disposed of properly by the owner.
The burden is on the animal user to arrange for removal of fecal matter if he or she is
personally unable to perform the task. Animal owners are financially responsible for
any damage caused by their pets.

Exemptions
• Animals used for approved research and teaching purposes.

• Service animals***, performing their duties, such as guide dogs for the blind.

• Service animals-in-training participating in Ithaca College’s approved

programs.

• Residence Hall Directors in their personal apartment in accordance with their

employment agreement within Student Affairs and Campus Life.

• On-duty police dogs.

• Fish in containers of less than 10 gallons.

***
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animal means any dog
that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or
other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained
or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. In addition,
animals that serve solely to provide emotional support, comfort or companionship
are also not included in this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service
animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.

Responsibilities

Service Animal Owners/Handlers:

• Any Ithaca College employee who seeks permission for a service animal as a
reasonable accommodation for a disability should contact the Office of Human
Resources. The College will determine on a case-by-case basis, and in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations, whether such animal is a
reasonable accommodation on campus.
 • Service animals may not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others
and will be removed if its continued presence is disruptive or would result in
substantial damage to the property of others.

• Where a person enters College grounds with a service animal, they shall
ensure that the animal under their control remains restrained on a leash 6
feet or less at all times, must not be left fastened to stationery objects, and
under effective control while on campus grounds. Any dog, cat, or other
animal brought to campus must be licensed and fully inoculated in accordance
with Tompkins County regulations, with the burden of proof on the owner.
Fecal matter deposited by any dog, cat, or other animal brought to campus
must be removed immediately and disposed of properly by the owner. The
burden is on the animal user to arrange for removal of fecal matter if he or
she is personally unable to perform the task.

• Service animal owners are financially responsible for any damage caused by
their pets.

Residence Hall Directors:

• Must have an approved employment agreement with Student Affairs and
Campus Life.

• Animals may not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others and will
be removed if its continued presence is disruptive or would result in
substantial damage to the property of others.

• They shall ensure that the animal under their control remains restrained on a
leash 6 feet or less at all times, must not be left fastened to stationery objects,
and under effective control while on campus grounds. Any dog, cat, or other
animal brought to campus must be licensed and fully inoculated in accordance
with Tompkins County regulations, with the burden of proof on the owner.
Fecal matter deposited by any dog, cat, or other animal brought to campus
must be removed immediately and disposed of properly by the owner. The
burden is on the animal user to arrange for removal of fecal matter if he or
she is personally unable to perform the task.

• Animal owners are financially responsible for any damage caused by their
pets.