Top Pet Friendly Colleges | Dog & Cat Health, Wellness, Products and Breed Information

Top Pet Friendly Colleges
| Print | By Afrika Brown | May 12, 2009 1:09 PM

Once an absolute no-no, some colleges are now relaxing their policies about pets living in campus dormitories. If you are a pet owner that simply must have your companion with you as you spend your fall and spring away from home, you may want to consider applying to colleges that are pet friendly.

Here are the top colleges and universities that have pet friendly housing policies.

State University of New York at Canton instituted its pet friendly policy in 1996. Mohawk Hall, aka the "pet wing," allows a maximum of 48 pets. Pets are permitted to travel freely in the wing while their owner is present.

CALTECH is also a leading technical university and is the academic home of NASA's jet propulsion laboratory. Students of CALTEC can bring their cats with them on campus as they prepare to become the next Gordon E. Moore. Students must also adhere to policy guidelines to be able to keep their pets.

The picturesque Hudson Valley provides the scenery for this one hundred forty-seven-year-old institution. Vassar is highly selective and is consistently ranked one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Vassar College's pet friendly policy was introduced in 1971. The dorms use a voting system. At least 75% of the residents must vote in favor of allowing pets into the residence before it turns into a "pet dorm."

Located on the gulf coast of Florida, Eckerd College offers seven air-conditioned dorm "clusters." Two of the clusters are designated as "pet dorms" in which students are allowed to have cats and dogs. Students must comply with requirements such as that the pet must weigh less than 40 pounds, they must have owned the animal for one year and vaccinations have to be up to date.

Stephens College, founded in 1833, is one of the best women's colleges in the nation. All students are required to live on campus, with eight residence halls to choose from. Prunty and Searcy Hall are the "pet dorms." Students must apply to live on a pet floor and follow policy guidelines. A refundable pet deposit is also required.

MIT is one the world's premiere technical institutions. There are 11 undergraduate houses provided for on campus living. As with UCLA, MIT also provides feline friendly housing as long as the dorm residents give their consent. The cats must have all their shots, be registered with the campus housing office and neutered as well.

The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, one of America's most vibrant and culturally rich cities. Eleven undergraduate houses fill the UPenn campus, and it is practically a small animal menagerie. Owners of hamsters, birds, and rabbits are welcomed to bring their caged companion along with them as they attend this university.

UCLA is one of America's most popular universities. There are 15 housing units on campus and cats are allowed in the dorms if each of the residents on the floor approve of the feline. The kitties must be neutered, registered with the campus housing office, and up to date with all their inoculations.