Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, Pets

OSU Housing and Residential Life (HRL) recognizes the important role pets play in our residents' lives, including their positive impact on our residents' physical, mental and social health. The following policy provides information regarding pet ownership on campus, which supports the safe communities that HRL provides. Submit forms by email to reslife@okstate.edu.

 

• Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals

  Service or emotional support animals (excluding snakes and rats) are welcome on Housing and Residential Life grounds. All necessary paperwork, evaluations, and authorization forms from OSU Student Accessibility Services must be completed and approved by Residential Life prior to the animal’s arrival in the residence halls.

   

  Residents who need accommodations for an emotional support/assistance animal will need to complete the Housing and Residential Life agreement form. 

• Pet Friendly Communities

  Kamm Hall and Prosser Neighborhood are Pet Friendly Communities, each apartment can have one preapproved pet. Pets that may be approved:

  • Domestic cat 
  • Dog 
  • Other types of animals (excluding snakes and rats) are considered on a case-by-case basis
    

  The maximum number of HRL-approved pets per unit is limited to one. Should multiple residents in the unit request a pet, the primary account holder or first resident to sign up for housing will be granted their pet. If the first resident declines, the second resident to be approved for housing will be next to bring their pet, and so forth.

• Pets allowed in all residence halls
  • Fish, small crustaceans, mollusks, water turtles, and small amphibians, all living underwater and in aquariums no larger than 10 gallons in size per housing unit.  Extra aquariums are permitted provided the total gallon per residential unit does not exceed 10 gallons. Pets must remain in their aquariums at all times.
• Additional Information
  • Animals/pets found to cause a community disturbance will require rectification or removal.
  • Unapproved animals/pets are not allowed in any Housing and Residential Life facility due to concerns for health, safety, sanitation, noise, and humane treatment. 
  • Unapproved animals/pets must be removed immediately, and the resident will face an immediate minimum fine of $500, with additional charges as needed to restore the unit to an occupiable state (as determined by Housing and Residential Life). Continued infractions will result in increased fines and possible removal from the department.
  • Owners are responsible for the removal of animal/pet waste. For the first offense of not removing the waste, the owner/handler will be charged $100 with the amount increasing for each offense.
  • Owners must keep their dogs properly crated while they are away from the room. Should the owner leave the residence, it is their responsibility to crate the dog, regardless of other roommates who may stay in the residence. Crates should be constructed of wire, wood or plastic. Finding the right size crate for your dog.
  • OSU is not responsible for what happens to any animal/pet when it is removed or while it is living on OSU property. OSU is also not responsible for any injuries or damages caused by any animal/pet on campus. 

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Watch an overview of animals in OSU housing