Conserve School Pet Policy

Draft

Conserve School Procedures:

Pet Ownership by Live-In Staff

Approved Pets

Conserve School is a "pet-friendly" employer and allows live-in staff to become pet owners under the guidelines detailed in this document. The restrictions on pet ownership are designed to ensure the safety of school community members, guard against damage to buildings and grounds, and ensure the health and well-being of animals kept on the premises.

1) · Approved pets are:

- Fish kept in an aquarium

- Cats and dogs, with certain restrictions [see #3-4 below]

No other pets--including horses, rodents, rabbits, birds, snakes, lizards, or exotic animals--are allowed.

2) · A maximum of 2 four-legged approved pets [which means: 2 dogs, 2 cats, or 1 cat and 1 dog] is allowed per apartment.

3) · All cats and dogs must be suited to living in an apartment AND suited to living in a school community. Nervous or aggressive pets; pets that bark or meow loudly and frequently; and pets that need frequent care and attention at times that could interfere with work duties are not considered suitable.

4) · All cats and dogs must be either spayed or neutered prior to being moved into the apartment.

Pet Registration

All cats and dogs must be registered with the Dean of Students Office within 48 hours of being moved into the apartment. Two copies of the Pet Registration form are in the Move-In Guide. The Move-In Guide also includes information on local veterinarians and kennels.

1) · The pet owner must provide veterinarian-signed proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered and all necessary vaccinations and shots are current.

2) · The pet owner is encouraged to attach a photo of the animal to the registration form for purposes of easy identification.

Pet Deposit

Pet owners assume all responsibility for damage to Conserve School buildings and grounds caused by their pet[s]. A pet deposit has been established to facilitate payment should damage occur.

1) · A $200 damage deposit PER PET [fish excluded] is required at the time the pet is registered. The deposit will be collected and, unless all or a portion of the pet deposit is used to defray damage costs, be refunded in full by the Business Office within 8 weeks of the pet owner's termination of employment or the pet's permanent removal from Conserve School premises.

2) · Unless otherwise specified, the pet owner is financially responsible for all pet-related damage, which means any repairs and cleaning in Conserve School buildings and grounds that the VET determines was caused by the pet and not due to normal wear and tear. The pet owner is required to pay all such costs, even if the amount exceeds the amount of the damage deposit.

3) · An inventory and condition inspection of the apartment will be conducted by a designee of the Head of Maintenance prior to the pet prior to being moved into the apartment.

Pet Care

Pet owners assume all responsibility for the well-being of their animals and for their animals' actions on campus.

1) Pet owners are expected to provide adequate care to meet the animal's needs with regard to food, hygiene, health care, obedience training, and exercise/attention as needed. Remember that impressionable students will see you as a role model for how to interact with domestic animals.

2) Dogs must be under the control of the pet owner [on a leash or under effective voice command] at all times when outside the pet owner's apartment.

3) Dogs are welcome visitors in office areas provided such visits are occasional rather than freqnt, are short-lived, and the dog is not disruptive to others in the workplace.

4) Dogs are not allowed in classrooms, labs, gyms, or other indoor facilities.

5) Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up any pet-related accidents in their apartments and for ensuring that dog waste is moved off trails and roadways.

Enforcement of Procedures

The committee charged with enforcing compliance with these procedures shall be the Verification & Enforcement Team [the VET].

The VET for a particular animal shall be comprised of the following members, each of whom shall have specific duties as listed:

1) · The Dean of Students or a designee:

- Maintain pet-related records

- Investigate reports of problems caused by pets

2) · The Business Manager or a designee

- Collect pet deposit, manage the money, and return it to the pet owner [provided no damage claim is assessed] upon termination of pet owner's employment or pet's permanent removal from school premises

3) · The Head of Maintenance or a designee

- Evaluate pet damage, if any, to buildings & grounds

The VET shall meet only as needed to respond to complaints or reports regarding pet-related noise, odor, threat to humans, damage to buildings or grounds OR complaints or reports regarding the pet owner's care for the health and well-being of the animal. The VET shall have the authority to issue any of the following sanctions:

1) · Requiring reasonable action on the part of the pet owner to rectify the problem

2) · Revocation of the privilege of pet ownership while employed as a live-in Conserve School staff member, thus requiring the pet owner to find an alternate home for the pet

Decisions made by the VET may be appealed to the School Director with 24 hours of the pet owner's receipt of the VET's decision.