Policy Concerning Pets On Campus
Oklahoma City University prohibits all persons, including faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers, from having pets on campus. This policy applies to all buildings and facilities on campus unless a specific exception is noted below. The University is responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment where employees can work and students can study and live. Pets can pose a threat to the health and safety of the campus community as well as to a healthy educational environment through issues such as allergies, excessive noise, animal bites, and disease transmission (e.g., fleas, ticks, viruses, and parasites). This policy applies not only to dogs but also to other common animals including, but not limited to, birds, cats, mice, gerbils, amphibians, reptiles, and ferrets.
All members of the campus community are required to comply with all provisions 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 University 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 University appreciates that many staff, faculty, and students love and care for their pets as "members of their families." This policy, however, requires that, in order to create a healthy, safe, and respectful environment, pets should not be a part of the campus community.
The following are exceptions to this Policy Concerning Pets on Campus:
- Service and assistance animals
- Approved therapy dog programs (if any)
- Pets belonging to permanent campus residents (e.g., Resident Hall Directors, President)
- Pets belonging to residents of University Manor Apartment Complex
A. Service And Assistance Animals
The University is committed to allowing people with disabilities the use of a service or assistance animal on campus to accommodate their full-participation and equal access to the University’s programs and activities. The University policy on “Service and Assistance Animals” sets forth the specific requirements and guidelines concerning the appropriate use of and protocols associated with service animals and assistance animals. To view the policy concerning service and assistance animals visit the University’s Policy website.
B. Approved Therapy Dog Programs
The University may, at its discretion, choose to adopt a policy to recognize and utilize the psychological and physiological benefits of animal assisted therapy on campus. If such a policy is adopted, it may be viewed on the University’s Policy website.
In the absence of the University’s adoption of such a policy, “therapy dogs” shall be considered pets and will not be permitted on campus.
C. Permanent Campus Residents
Permanent campus residents, such as Head Residents and the President, are permitted to have pets in their residences. All pets are required to have current inoculations in accordance with Oklahoma County regulations, with the burden of proof placed on the pet owner. The pet owner is financially responsible for the actions of the pet, including actions resulting in bodily injury or property damage. The pet owner’s responsibility includes, but is not limited to, replacement of furniture, carpet, windows, and wall coverings. The pet owner is required to bear these costs at the time of repair and/or upon vacating the residence. The pet owner is responsible for any expenses incurred for cleaning above and beyond a standard cleaning or for repairs to University premises that are assessed after the pet owner and animal vacate the residence. The University shall have the right to bill the owner for unmet obligations.
D. University Manor Apartment Complex
Residents of the University Manor Apartment Complex are permitted to keep common household pets in their residences in accordance with the Pet Policy Contract Amendment to the Oklahoma City University Housing Contract: Terms, Conditions, and Policies, Section XIX.
The University may, at its discretion, require any person who enters the campus with a pet to remove the animal from campus grounds. In the event that a visitor who is not a regular member of the campus community brings a pet to the campus, that animal is prohibited from all University buildings.
If a person enters the University grounds with a pet, he or she must ensure that the pet under his or her 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 Oklahoma 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. If any member of the campus community observes a visitor who is not following these requirements with respect to a pet, that campus community member should contact the Oklahoma City University Police Department at (405) 208-5001.
Feral or Wild Animals are animals that are non-domesticated, have been found in the wild, or are in the wild state. Feral or Wild Animals that are not a risk to the campus community, that do not represent a hazard, cause property damage, or create a public nuisance, and that do not require human intervention, may inhabit the campus grounds.
Human intervention includes, but is not limited to, attracting animals, feeding, watering, building of shelters for animals, and injection of medication.
Feral or Wild Animals that are a potential risk to the campus community or that represent a hazard, cause property damage, create a nuisance, or otherwise pose a potential threat to the health or safety of humans, will be regulated, controlled, and humanely relocated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
No member of the campus community shall be permitted to do anything to attract animals to campus, nor shall any person be permitted to feed or set out food or water for animals on campus or engage in any other human intervention as described above.
