University in Pennsylvania to Have a Pet-Friendly Residence Hall

Lock Haven University (LHU) in Pennsylvania will soon allow students to keep pets in one of the school’s dormitories. The LHU is introducing a pet-friendly program by the spring of 2019. For the program’s launch, pets will be allowed to live only in the university’s North Hall dormitory. This pet-friendly program is expected to benefit the students. According to a study, having animals on campus can help students cope with stress and depression. Pets may also make students more receptive to counseling services. With these findings in mind, the LHU’s North Hall director hopes that the program will lead to students’ social and academic success. To ensure the program’s success, the LHU will implement strict rules for students who will bring pets. Only animals that have been with their owner for at least three months will be allowed on campus. The pets must also be at least six months old and must no longer be able to reproduce. Moreover, owners should submit their pets’ medical records. Some of the permitted pets are fish, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, and certain breeds of dogs below 40 pounds. The pets will not be allowed inside other campus buildings. Additionally, all dogs and cats must wear certain IDs and should be kept on leashes while on school grounds. Even before the launch of the program, many students have already expressed their support for it. One student commented that being able to bring a pet to school will help make students feel at home. Another student pointed out that having a pet to play with will be a good pastime for most students.