Keene State College Pet Policy
Pets, with the exception of fish kept in an aquarium or fish bowl, are not permitted in Keene State College facilities. Pets are also prohibited from the campus grounds unless they are attended to and under the full control of their owner. Pets may not be left alone tied, chained, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, fences, bulletin boards, or other stationary objects. Pet owners will be responsible for all costs involved in removing unattended pets. Pet owners are required to clean up after their pets.
This policy differentiates “service animals” and “assistance animals” from “pets.”
- A service animal, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.”
- An assistance animal as defined by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “is not a pet. It is an animal that works, provides assistance, performs a task…or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more” disability-related symptoms.
Service dogs are permitted in facilities, and assistance animals are permitted in residence halls only upon approval. Both service dogs and assistance animals must be under the full control of their handlers, be in good health, and not be unruly, disruptive, or threatening. The care and supervision of these animals is solely the responsibility of its handler. Students requesting the allowance of a service dog or emotional support animal in the residence halls should first be in contact with the Office of Disability Services to provide documentation and receive approval.
