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Dog Floor Housing Policy

Introduction

In 1997, SUNY Canton took themed housing a step further by offering a “pet wing” inside of Mohawk Hall. From that point on, students residing within the pet wing had the opportunity to bring a pet along to live on campus. The pet wing has become one of the most popular housing options available at SUNY Canton. As a result of student interest, we have expanded our pet friendly housing to include a dog floor.

Dog-Friendly Housing Guide

Introduction

Students wishing to bring their canine companion to college with them can apply to live on the Dog Floor/Wing(s) located in Rushton Hall. The purpose of this guide is to provide students with a comprehensive list of resources, guidelines and policies necessary to sustain a dog-friendly community. SUNY Canton has offered pet-friendly housing options in Mohawk Hall since 1997. Rushton Hall now has dog-friendly housing options for interested students.

Dog ownership is a significant responsibility. The Residence Life Department at SUNY Canton encourages any student wishing to apply to live on the dog floor to genuinely consider the responsibilities associated with dog ownership and care. Dogs require significant time and financial commitments from their owners. It is the sole responsibility of the perspective owner to determine if they have the time, money, and responsibility needed.

Dog Floor Application

All students must apply and gain approval prior to bringing any dog into the residence halls. Starting the application process does not guarantee approval for a pet. No other animals are allowed in dog floor areas, apart from approved medical/service/comfort animals. No animal should be brought to campus without prior approval from the Residence Life Department. All proper vaccination and veterinary documentation must be included with the dog floor application at the time of submission.

The dog owner is responsible for finding a roommate(s) who is willing to share the room. If you were placed in dog-friendly housing, it is with the expectation that you are not opposed to living near dogs. Approval from your roommates must be submitted prior to a dog application being considered.

Upon moving into the residence halls, students must read and complete the dog-floor contract.

Dog Weight and Restrictions

Dogs may not exceed eighty pounds in weight when fully grown to be eligible for the dog floor.

Any dogs that display aggressive behavior will not be approved and not allowed on campus at any time. If an approved dog starts to display aggressive behavior of any kind, the student will be required to remove the dog from campus immediately. SUNY Canton, at its sole discretion, except as required by law, retains the right to deny any pet or dog to reside on campus to ensure the safety of the campus community.

Dogs must be at least one year old by the time of planned residence. Dogs must be spayed/neutered to be considered.

Dogs must be registered and licensed with the town of Canton prior to arriving on campus. Licensing can be completed at the Town Clerk’s office located at: 60 Main St. Canton, NY 13617. You can find more information about registering and licensing your dog on the Town of Canton website.

Veterinary & Immunization Records

A core element to the dog floor application is the proper vaccination records for a dog. The chart below indicates the required vaccinations and treatments that are necessary for a dog to be considered. Recommended treatments are also listed. Proper documentation is required at the time of application to be considered.

Rabies	Distemper	Bordetella	Tick Prevention
Required	Required	Required	Required
Flea Prevention	Spayed/Neutered	Heartworm Prevention
Required	Required	Recommended

Dogs must always be under complete control of their owners. When outside of the owner’s assigned room, dogs must be leashed. Owners should be respectful of all community members and their possible attitudes toward dogs. Owners should remember that fondness of dogs is not a universal trait. Owners should not let their dogs approach others without that person’s explicit permission. While SUNY Canton offers numerous walking trails that are perfectly suited for dog walking, community members and students frequent these trails throughout the year. Dog owners should keep this in mind.

Dogs are not permitted to walk “off leash” anywhere on campus. The only buildings where student owned dogs are permitted on campus are on the designated dog floor as well as the main and game lounges. Dogs are not allowed in any other residence hall or building on campus. Dogs are also restricted from the second and third floor of the South wing. Dogs are not allowed to be left tethered to objects anywhere on campus.

Crates

All dog owners must possess an appropriate-size crate in their assigned room for their dog. Dogs must be crated while not under their owner’s direct supervision. This includes times where the student would be in class or around campus. This is to maintain the owner's responsibility for the animal and prevent damage to property while the owner is away. Students are not allowed to give another student access to their room, particularly with the intent to dog sit.

Dog owners are expected to maintain a schedule that allows the flexibility necessary for dog ownership. If a student needs to be away from their room for an extended period, the student must make the necessary arrangements to travel with the animal, or board it off campus.

Fire Alarms

Student safety is at the forefront of the College’s priorities. While the College takes continual preventative measures towards fire prevention, the chance of fire in a residence hall is always present. All traditional evacuation procedures and policies apply to dog owners. In the likely event of a fire alarm activation, dog owners located within the residence hall at the time of the activation should remove their dog from the building via the fire exit doors located in the stairwells (if it can be done so safely). As with any emergency, fire department and police personnel have authority at the scene of a fire alarm activation. All dog owners should not enter any situation that would jeopardize the safety of themselves or others. Under no circumstance should a resident enter or re-enter a building during a fire alarm activation.

Dog owners should consider how a fire alarm activation would affect their dog before applying. Residence hall fire alarms are significantly louder than household alarms. Owners of dogs that are sensitive to loud and sudden noises should be aware of this.

Rooms and Room Changes

All room changes must be approved by the Residence Hall Director prior to the room change taking place. Should a student wish to leave the dog floor, the dog floor related privileges will be revoked, and all contracts deemed void. Unless the dog is an approved comfort/medical/service animal, no dog will be permitted to reside anywhere outside of the approved dog floor.

All dog floor rooms will have a maximum dog occupancy of one dog.

All college breaks and vacations that are applicable to residential students must be followed by dog owners. Unless special permission is obtained, all residents must vacate the residence halls by the time indicated on the academic calendar.

All residents living in Rushton Hall South 1^st floor should maintain certain expectations regarding a dog-friendly environment. These include reasonable amounts of barking, odors, and hair.

Barking

An understandable concern associated with dog-friendly housing is noise. By their nature, dogs bark. However, SUNY Canton upholds its commitment to student academic success within the residence halls. Dogs and their owners are expected to follow the same noise policy that is set for all campus residence halls.

Prospective applicants should consider the habits of their dog before applying. If a dog is known for barking at strangers, other dogs, or “just because,” it should not be placed into a residence hall. If a specific dog is deemed too noisy for campus living, it will be required to leave residential housing.

Responsible Pet Ownership

It is the sole responsibility of the animal owner to clean up any pet waste appropriately. Dog owners are responsible for always carrying pet waste bags. Pet waste should be disposed of in the appropriately posted garbage bins. Pet waste or pet related materials that may cause odor are not to be disposed of in garbage bins located within the residence halls. Dog owners should utilize garbage receptacles located outside of campus buildings for such waste. All dogs living on the dog floor must be house trained. Any dog deemed incapable of holding waste will be required to be removed from campus housing.

For convenience, Residence Life may supply dog waste bag stations for dog owners. These stations are a privilege and convenience. It is the dog owner’s responsibility to always have dog waste collection bags.

Proper maintenance of an animal is crucial to the animal’s health and community happiness. Dog owners should take into consideration the routine maintenance required to live on the dog floor. Dog rooms will likely need to be cleaned more often than standard rooms. Dog owners are highly encouraged to invest in a proper vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies for their rooms. Any mess left at the end of the year may result in additional room cleaning charges to the student’s account. This may include the removal of pet hair, waste, odor, or supplies.

Animals developing excess odors may be deemed inappropriate for campus living.

Resident Assistants play a vital role in the operations of any residence hall. The dog floor resident assistant maintains proper knowledge of the responsibilities associated with dog ownership. The dog floor resident assistant will maintain continual contact with dog owners to provide guidance and resources. The residence life department encourages a healthy, active, clean, and appropriate living environment for any pet on campus. If any environment is reported that indicates an unhealthy or unsafe living condition for residents or pets, the resident director may remove the pet and/or pet owner from on-campus housing. Any significant issues found by the resident assistant will be taken directly to the residence hall director and may result in the removal of the pet from campus housing.

Dog owners should maintain a plan of action in the event of removal from housing. Campus emergencies, natural disasters, animal related diseases, and so on may require residents to vacate the residence halls for a temporary amount of time. Due to this, dog owners should maintain a list of dog-friendly housing options available to them (other than their place of permanent residence). Transportation to/from these locations should also be planned. In an emergency, Bows and Bandannas may be able to look after your pet at a reduced rate for SUNY Canton students. You will need to make sure you bring your pet’s own food and show your SUNY Canton ID to get the reduced price.

Below is a list of some area pet-friendly hotels:

Northern Family Motel	The Inn at Gran View	Bows and Bandannas
(315) 265-4640	(315) 393-4550	(315) 265-3647
6775 NY-56 Potsdam, NY 13676	6765 State Highway 37 Ogdensburg, NY 13669	7019 NY-56 Potsdam, NY 13676

Liability Insurance Policy

It is highly encouraged that dog owners have proper insurance covering property damage and liability associated with their dog. SUNY Canton does not assume any responsibility for damage caused by any animal approved for on campus living. The dog owner maintains full responsibility for any damage caused by his/her animal. This includes any/all damage inflicted on college property or fellow residents’ property.All policies associated with risk and liability are listed in the Risk Acknowledgement and Liability Waiver that all residents of the dog friendly floor must sign.

Resources

SUNY Canton does not endorse the following businesses in any way. The following businesses are simply a convenient list of area resources for pet owners. The lists are not comprehensive, and dog owners are encouraged to do their research before seeking services.

Veterinary services

If your dog is exhibiting symptoms of an illness, take the dog to an area veterinarian immediately. Communicable diseases are always a concern. The earlier we know about them, the easier preventing their spread will be.

Area Veterinarians

• Canton Animal Clinic
• Town & Country Vet Clinic

Supplies

• Walmart
• Tractor Supply
• Rex Hardware