Dorms are for people, not pets

The Castleton State College handbook states that “pets are not allowed in the residence halls with the exception of fish.” Despite this rule, this year, the area coordinators have already found a cat and a dog in one building, said Maria Marinucci, the Haskell and Morrill area coordinator.When a pet is found in a resident’s room, there is a specific protocol the AC follows.

“They need to find a way to get it home. If they can’t, the Humane Society is one way to deal with it,” Marinucci said.

Along with finding the pets a good home, the residents can face disciplinary action. The severity, however, varies.

“There’s no black and white. It’s case by case, and our biggest concern is getting rid of it [the pet],” said Christie Wilkerson, the AC for Babcock and the Houses.

Aside from students having pets live with them in their dorm room, having visitors with pets is also an issue.

“If you take pets to campus, don’t bring them into the residence hall. They’re always welcome at athletic events,” Wilkerson said.

Courtney Ianni, a sophomore and CA in Haskell, had a snake living in her suite last year.

“I was just concerned about the whole suite getting in trouble,” Ianni said.

While some students choose to keep pets on campus, the area coordinators say the policy to keep them out is a good one.

“I think it’s fine because I don’t want things to smell! I don’t like things that smell,” Ianni said.

Marinucci agreed.

“I’d like them [the students] to understand why it is in place. We don’t want to deprive them,” Marinucci said.

Erin Garrity, a sophomore at Castleton, thinks the pet policy should be changed.

“I think that they should make it so small animals, like rodents and reptiles, should be allowed because they can be kept in cages,” Garrity said as she sat next to her fish, a beta named “Fishy.” Beside her fish bowl was her roommate’s fish bowl, which also held a fish named “Lucy.”

Marinucci and Wilkerson both have cats in their on-campus apartments. Because they are area coordinators, they are allowed to own cats. “BJ” and “Target” were both rescued from the Humane Society, they said.

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