Pet Policy Proposal

Proposed Contract & Policy

Due to the unique nature of live-in professional positions, stipulations must sometimes be placed upon the personal lives of those who occupy these positions. Examples include policies on cohabitation, alcohol, candles, and pets. In recognizing that the full-time professional live-in staff of the residence halls are mature, responsible adults who have committed their lives to being positive, healthy role models for students and colleagues, we respectfully request that full-time, professional, live-in Residence Life staff be allowed to own a pet other than underwater species.

In the last few years, the Office of Residence Life at Colorado State University made the decision to add Coordinator positions as part of the professional Residence Life Team. As the position evolved, so was the typical candidate for the position. The Coordinator position attracts a national pool of candidates who possess Masters degrees, significant Residence Life experience, and range greatly in age and backgrounds. Due to the requirement of a Masters degree, the typical age of Coordinators will frequently fall within the range of twenty-four to twenty-eight. Candidates are sometimes older, but rarely younger. Given the ages of these incoming professionals, many will have had significant periods in which to develop their independent, personal lives. Included in developing this life is often the acquisition of a pet.

Our Housing & Food Service Resource Manual states in the section regarding the group and individual nature of Residence Life work that "it is necessary to remember that we have obligations as staff members? and, more important, as individuals. We need to realize that it is important to be conscientious and committed to our jobs but not to the point that we forget who we are in the process. If we do not allow ourselves the space that we need as individuals, our attitude toward the job will begin to appear in a negative manner. Our job performance will not be as effective as it will be if we take time for ourselves" (C-3).

The 2000 Live-In Professional Report (Appendix A) is a report generated from professionals self-reporting various statistics regarding live-in benefits. It allows current staff members and departments to compare themselves with national norms and allows staff members searching for positions to know institution's policies upfront. Based on the 2000 Live-In Professional Report, 73 institutions allow live-in professionals to have cats and 45 institutions allow live-in professionals to have dogs. There is a changing norm to allow live-in professionals the opportunity to become pet owners.

It is generally agreed that the Coordinator position can be intense and stressful. Being fully immersed within the world of the students requires significant sacrifices in lifestyle. An example of one potential sacrifice is the ability to live with one's significant other and/or child(ren). Fortunately, Colorado State University has taken a pro-family and pro-partner position with regard to this potential sacrifice. This proposal asserts that a pet can be a significant family member, and should receive similar consideration. As much as a child is fully reliant upon the caring and attention of one individual or couple, so is the pet. Perhaps more importantly, minimizing the lifestyle sacrifices of live-in professionals, in an area as precious to people as their pets, will benefit not only the live-in professionals and their family units, but the University community as well.

This proposal will examine the benefits for staff and institutions which allow full-time professional staff to own pets, the health benefits of pet ownership, the issue of retaining full-time professional staff members living in the residence halls, address concerns that may arise from various constituents, provide pet policies from other institutions of higher education, and outline the proposed policy and contract.

"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rest against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog." -- Gene Hill Source: Dog Hause Visitor Richard Jenkins (http://www.doghause.com/quotes1.html)

Recruitment and Retention of Full-Time Professional Staff

The job-market for full-time live-in professional staff is becoming increasingly more competitive. In order to remain competitive in recruiting professional staff for the Coordinator positions, benefits and salary must be comparable with other institutions. Allowing the opportunity to own a pet while living in the residence halls, will not only increase the pool of candidates applying for Coordinator positions, but also retain them for a longer period of time.

One reason that many professional staff members choose to move out of residence life into live-off positions is the restrictions that colleges and universities place upon the professional's living situation and lifestyle. There is little to no choice with regard to the apartment that a professional (and his/her family) has to live in. It is a reality that as a live-in professional your life will be critically examined by the staff and residents of the building in which you live, and seldom do professionals have the opportunity to live in a location which allows them the freedom to own a pet other than fish.

"If I could have a pet, I would choose to live-in for a longer period of time," is a common statement made by professionals moving out of the field into positions in which they can have greater control over their living situation.

For a live-in professional without a partner or family, security is a common concern. The ability to own a pet could provide a further measure to allow that staff member to feel safe and secure in their environment. When that staff member chooses to exercise in the outdoors, in order to increase their physical health, safety is often at the forefront of their attention. Bringing along a pet, more specifically a dog, would allow a greater sense of security and protection.

Another common issue facing live-in professionals is dealing with burnout and finding balance with their multiple demands. Long days, often working well into the evening and weekends with staff meetings and programs, contributes greatly to burnout of professionals. Owning a pet could provide some sense of stress relief for live-in professionals and thus a better sense of well being which would be carried over into the job setting.

Pet Policies at Other Institutions

We recognize that reinventing the wheel is not an efficient use of our time and energies. Thus, we have contacted several institutions to find out if they have pet policies and which issues are addressed. For the institutions with guidelines and policies, there are strict guidelines for pet owners and pets. The guidelines include proper vaccinations, licenses, restrictions on where pets may be present, disposal of pet feces, and regulations and financial restitution for damage caused by the pet. Some institutions have strict requirements regarding the type of pet that is allowed, while others are more flexible. See Appendix B for a variety of policies at other institutions of higher education.

Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

It has been well documented the health benefits of pet ownership. With regard to physical health, pet ownership has resulted in decreased stress levels, cholesterol levels, and risk for heart attacks for some people. See Appendix C for articles that describe the health benefits of pet ownership.

Pets also have been known to provide unconditional support, love, and companionship for people, thus improving the emotional well-being of some individuals. See Appendix D for stories from Chicken Soup for Pet Lover's Soul.

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." -- Milan Kundera

Addressing Concerns

We recognize that many concerns arise with this proposal for Coordinators to have the opportunity to own a pet: a "double standard" for Coordinators and residents, damage to University property, cleaning, allergies, and obligations of pet owners. We have addressed each of these issues with further information below, as well as the clearly written Policy Agreement.

a) Residents: A common concern among administrators in allowing full-time, live-in professionals to possess pets, or more broadly, to enjoy privileges or perquisites not available to students, is that of setting "double standards." This proposal asserts that the different standards which students and live-in professionals experience are not only merited, but necessary.

At its most basic level, the title of the "live-in professional," or a "professional position" connotes a certain degree of maturity, competence, and responsibility. Indeed, Coordinators have often been professionals outside of the live-in experience, and have worked to obtain a Masters degree. Coordinators differ from students in the following respects:

- We have received more years of education.

- We are significantly older and possess more life and work experience.

- We are employed full-time by the University, and are required to live within the residence hall as a stipulation of their employment.

Distinctions and variations in privileges among students and Coordinators have already been made due to these differences. For example, Coordinators have larger living areas and private bathrooms, as opposed to the smaller, shared living areas and bathrooms of students. Also, children and partners are permitted to reside within the private quarters of the Coordinator. Different standards are necessary in dealing with two distinctly different populations within the residence hall. This proposal encourages the Department of Housing and Food Service to continue to acknowledge the difference between live-in professionals and students, and extend it to the ability to possess certain pets.

This proposal will still maintain that pets will not be allowed in residence hall rooms or in Hall Director apartments.

The Coordinator apartments are considered permanent homes, while Hall Directors and residents are more transitory and do not occupy their space on a year-round basis. Furthermore, the Coordinator apartments are considerably larger than a residence hall room and most Hall Director apartments, thus allowing greater space for a pet to roam around. Finally, most Coordinator apartments have an exterior entrance which prevents the pet from occupying or moving through indoor, public space.

In many ways, Coordinators serve as role models to students and staff members. Thus, Coordinators must limit their lifestyle to maintain that role. In fact, role modeling appropriate pet care and responsibility is another method by which Coordinators can serve as role models for future citizens.

b) Damage: A concern for maintenance staff, which immediately arises, is that of damage to the apartment caused by the pet. Whether it is cat scratches to furniture or carpet that is destroyed by pet "accidents," this proposal would place all financial responsibility in the hands of the Coordinator for restitution of damages. This will be accomplished by requiring a damage deposit upon the acquisition of a pet (much like off-campus rentals may collect), annual inspections of the Coordinator apartments, and financial responsibility for damage caused by the pet.

Following this proposal will be the creation of an Apartment Inventory form for Coordinator and Hall Director apartments which will provide evidence of the current status of an apartment, as well as inventory University furniture. Through the Apartment Inventory checklist, a Coordinator could be held responsible for excess cleaning and damage caused to the apartment.

c) Cleaning: Apartment cleanliness both during occupancy and post occupancy may be a concern for custodial staff members. We propose that continued standards of cleanliness, as it relates to health issues, be in place. Further, pet owning Coordinators have a further obligation to make sure that the apartment they leave be as clean as it was when they arrived on campus. This also includes thorough vacuuming and cleaning of carpets and University furniture.

d) Allergies: In consideration of the next Coordinator to occupy an apartment, pet owning professionals would have an obligation to thoroughly clean their apartments, including HEPA-vacuuming their carpets, which picks up pet dander.

e) Obligations of Pet Owners: Pet owners would have an obligation to clean up after their pets. This would include properly disposing of all pet feces in their own personal trash cans or in the dumpsters located outside each hall. Disposing of feces in public trash cans would not be acceptable.

"There is the little matter of disposal of droppings in which the cat is far ahead of it's rivals. The dog is somehow thrilled by what he or any of this friends have produced, hates to leave it, adores smelling it, and sometimes eats it . . . The cat covers it up if he can. . ." -- Paul Gallico