CU policy: No pets in campus buildings; no unleashed dogs

Cornellians have a well-deserved reputation as animal lovers, and examples of their dedication to the well-being of animals abound.

But since people don't always use common sense when it comes to their own pets, the university has adopted a policy governing the presence of pets on campus.

Pets on Campus, Policy 2.8, prohibits pets from all university-controlled buildings, including offices, academic buildings and residence halls, except for animals specifically exempted from the policy. Animals that may be brought on campus include: service animals performing their duties, such as guide dogs for the blind; animals-in-training participating in Cornell's approved programs; on-duty police dogs; fish in containers of less than 10 gallons (at the discretion of the building coordinator); and pets in residence hall director and faculty-in-residence apartments, though some restrictions apply.

The policy also applies to outdoor spaces on campus and on Cornell-owned off-campus locations such as areas in the Plantations or on farmland. Any animal brought on campus or Cornell property must be attended and restrained on a leash 6 feet or less at all times. Dogs should not be left fastened to stationery objects, especially trees and shrubs, outside buildings. Not only is it cruel for owners to leave pets for extended periods without water, especially in hot weather, but unattended pets and their leashes and chains tied to the base of plants have destroyed bark and foliage on valuable campus trees and shrubs, resulting in the loss of those plants.

"There are a number of people on campus who routinely bring their dogs to work, which can be harmful for the dogs, as well as for people who might encounter them," said Rob Osborn, director of the Department of Building Care in Facilities Management.

The building care staff are the people who most often deal with the negative side of pets in campus buildings; they've had to clean up urine, feces and vomit ignored by irresponsible owners. They've had to deal with flea infestations. Two custodians were bitten by dogs in Cornell buildings last year when the animals were left unattended in offices.

Everyone on campus, as well as grounds and maintenance workers, are also at risk when dogs are allowed to run free. Unleashed dogs can be especially aggressive when they form packs. In recent years, a grounds maintenance employee was bitten by an unleashed dog while doing landscape maintenance work on the Arts Quad.

"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 via fleas, ticks, parasites, viruses, bacteria, etc.)," the policy reads. "Individuals with disabilities are at particular risk. For instance, dogs running freely pose a particular hazard to individuals using service animals."

The policy applies not only to dogs but to other common animals as well, including birds, cats, mice, gerbils, amphibians, reptiles and ferrets.

Violators of the pet policy may be referred to the judicial administrator. People who let their dogs run loose can be ticketed by Cornell Police. Owners are financially responsible for any damage their pets do. Chronic violators should be reported to building coordinators.

"We work and study together here in our community, and I ask everyone on campus to respect and abide by this policy," said Andy Garcia-Rivera, director of environmental health and safety. "It is a policy that is in the best interest of the health and safety of everyone in our community."

The policy can be viewed at http://www.univco.cornell.edu/policy/PETS.for.html.