USI Housing and Residence Life is changing pet policies for all students living on campus starting in the 2024-2025 academic year by allowing any student to keep a pet in any of the residence halls and apartments. 

According to USI’s Housing and Residence Life webpage, USI is expanding their Animal Friendly Policy to all residence halls. USI is currently operating a pilot program that allows students to keep pets in the Branch and Orr Buildings. 

Students who have completed their housing contract form are eligible for a pet application.

The policy is separate from USI’s Emotional Support Animal and Service Animal policies.

Morgan Wade, junior psychology major, owns an orange cat named Comet. Comet is a registered Emotional Support Animal for Wade. 

Wade said allowing students to have pets on campus is a good thing, especially regarding student mental health. 

“Having a pet has helped my mental health tremendously, and I think it will help a lot of other people too,” Wade said. “I brought my pet because I was struggling being here. I grew up on a farm with hundreds of animals. I went from having a whole bunch of animals to having none and being in a place three hours away. It was really hard for me, and I thought having a pet would help.”  

Payton Henn, sophomore art education major, said allowing pets could be good for students but she feels apprehensive for students who may not be fond of pets. 

“I fear that in the random roommate selection process, I may be put with someone who has a dog that could be annoying, and I’m allergic to cats,” Henn said. “That would be something me and my suitemate would have to work out. I’ve heard horror stories of dogs tearing things up, and I just don’t want that to happen to me.” 

Delaney Smith, sophomore art education major, said there are concerns regarding possible pet problems. 

“You don’t know how well-trained dogs or cats will be,” Smith said. “I don’t want to be charged for anything that’ll be destroyed in the middle room or any of my personal stuff that could get messed up if I don’t close my door.”

If they choose, students will be allowed to keep non-predatory fish in a tank smaller than twenty gallons, cats, dogs under 50 lbs. and caged animals such as a rabbit, hamster, gerbil, chinchilla, guinea pig, rat, mouse and hedgehog.

Students will not be allowed to have amphibians, reptiles, ferrets, birds, dogs over 50 lbs., wildlife, poisonous or endangered species, snakes, farm, lab or production animals, animals that have to be fed a live animal for survival and pregnant animals. 

Smith said she does not feel great about the restrictions on certain animals as she has a bearded dragon of her own.

“I would benefit from having my lizard here,” Smith said. “Bearded dragons are great companions. They latch on to their owners. He’s in a tank all hours of the day. I think that reptiles would be a lot less of a risk than cats or dogs that have free rein of wherever they want to be.”

For more information regarding regulations and applications, visit USI’s Housing and Residence Life webpage.