ACU Residence Life Pet Policy

    PET APPLICATION 
    OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE 
    ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

    Abilene Christian University seeks to cultivate a safe environment that promotes a sense of belonging for all students. The Office of Residence Life desires to advance that goal by providing students with opportunities to grow in a safe, inclusive, and relational home. As such, approved pets, which we consider to be a good and necessary part of our community, will be allowed at Smith/Adams Hall and University Park Apartments. 

    OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
    Having a pet in university housing is a privilege. As the resident, you are responsible for the policies and information contained within this and any corresponding documents. Failure to abide by ACU policy as a result of ignorance is not a legitimate excuse. 

    • All pets residing in our residential facilities must be approved through the Office of Residence Life by completing the Pet Application and Agreement.  
    • Pet owners must submit a new Pet Application for each pet (limit two per residence) kept in their residence for each academic year the pet resides on-campus. 
    • Pet owners are required to provide veterinary documentation to the Office of Residence Life each academic year. All veterinary documentation must be dated within the past six months.
    • Residents who keep unapproved pets in their on-campus residence will be fined $500, with the expectation that the resident either: a) immediately submit a Pet Application and all corresponding documentation for the pet in question or, b) immediately remove the pet from the residence.   
    • Residents who misrepresent information pertaining to their pet will be fined $100 per incident.  
    • Pet owners are responsible for providing the Office of Residence Life with written notice (by emailing reslife@acu.edu) if they remove the pet from their residence.     
    • If a resident removes an approved pet from their residence and subsequently bring the same pet back to live in the residence within the same academic year, they are responsible for providing the Office of Residence Life with written notice (by emailing reslife@acu.edu) of its return and of any changes that might affect its approval status.

    PET APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
    To be considered for approval, all pets must meet the following criteria:

    • Current on all vaccinations
    • Spayed/neutered
    • Potty trained 
    • Healthy and hygienic 
    • Weigh 60 lbs. or less  

    No animal will be permitted to live in an on-campus residential facility that:  

    • Is not approved through the Office of Residence Life 
    • Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others 
    • Would cause substantial physical damage to the property of the University and/or other residents 
    • Would pose an undue financial and administrative burden to the University 
    • Would fundamentally alter the nature of the University’s housing operations 
    • Does not meet the criteria for approval, outlined in this document, when the application and corresponding documentation are submitted. 

    Relational and temperament guidelines:  

    • Animals must have an established non-violent and/or non-threatening temperament. A specific animal can be restricted from the premises by the Director or a designee based on any confirmed threatening or territorial behavior. 
    • Animals that are classified as “Dangerous” (Texas Health and Safety Code Title 10., Chapter 833, Subchapter A, Sec. 822.041) will not be permitted.   

    Required Documentation

    • Current vaccination records 
    • Spay/neuter certificate or documentation 
    • Certificate of health/wellness
    • Records that verify pet’s species, breed, gender, weight, and age,

    STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR FOR RESIDENTS AND ANIMALS
    Care and Wellbeing

    • Animals require food, attention, and an assessment of their general health, behavior, and overall welfare daily.
    • The owner is required to ensure the animal is well cared for at all times. Any evidence of mistreatment or abuse may result in immediate removal of the pet and/or discipline for the responsible individual. 
    • ACU personnel shall not be required to provide care or food for any pet including, but not limited to, removing the animal during emergency evacuation for events such as a fire alarm. Emergency personnel will determine whether to remove the animal and may not be held responsible for the care, damage to, or loss of the animal.  
    Sanitation
    • Dogs must be taken outside to relieve themselves. Pet owners should dispose of pet waste outdoors immediately. Pet owners who leave pet waste in the grass will be fined $100 per incident after an initial warning.
    • All animal waste that occurred accidentally, inside the residential facility must be cleaned immediately, bagged, sealed, and disposed of in a trash receptacle. Pet owners are responsible for any damage caused by animal waste odors.
    • Cat owners must properly maintain litter boxes. In consideration of the health of the cat and roommates, cat litter box contents must be disposed of properly and regularly. The litter box must be changed with new cat litter regularly as outlined by the manufacturer.
    • Animal feces or urine (excluding the contents of litter boxes) within the residence must be promptly cleaned using the appropriate cleaning products, bagged, sealed, and disposed of in a trash receptacle. Pet owners who leave pet waste in the residence longer than four (4) hours will be fined $100 per incident after an initial warning.
    • Pet owners must regularly clean floors, kennels, cages, and litter boxes.The odor of an animal emanating from the residence is not acceptable.

    Dominion and Control

    • Collars and tags must be worn by all animals at all times when they are not in their residence.
    • The pet must be properly housed and restrained or otherwise under the dominion and control of the owner at all times. 
    • The owner is responsible for ensuring that the pet is contained, as appropriate, when the owner is not present during the day while attending classes or other activities. 
    • No owner shall permit the animal to go loose or run at large. If an animal is found running at large, the animal is subject to capture and confinement and immediate removal from University housing.
    • When a pet is outside the private individual living accommodations, it must be in an animal carrier or controlled by a leash or harness.
    • Animals cannot be left unattended overnight at any time. If the owner must be away, the animal must either a) be taken with the pet owner or b) arrangements must be made for the animal’s care in the residence by a roommate or c) arrangements must be made for the animal’s care outside of the residence.
    Community Living
    • Animals must not be allowed to disrupt others (e.g., barking, growling, yowling, howling, etc.).
    • An animal must not be involved in an incident in which an individual experiences either the threat of injury or actual injury as a result of the animal's behavior. The pet owner will take all reasonable precautions to protect university staff and residents, as well as the property of the University and of other residents.
    • Animals which constitute a threat to staff, residents or property, as determined by Residence Life staff, must be removed within seven (7) days of notification.
    • If ACUPD determines an animal poses an immediate threat, the City of Abilene Animal Control Services may be summoned to remove the animal immediately.
    • All liability for injuries sustained by others and damage done to property as a result of the animal’s behavior is the responsibility of the owner.
    • Any flea infestation must be attended to promptly by a contracted professional extermination arranged by ACU Physical Resources at owner's expense. Owners are expected to promptly notify Residence Life via email and ACU Physical Resources by submitting a work order to arrange for extermination when a flea problem is noted. Animal owners may take some precautionary measures such as: flea medications prescribed by veterinarians, flea and tick collars, or taking your animal to the veterinarian for flea and tick baths. Because not all of the precautions listed above can prevent flea and tick infestations, the owner is responsible for extermination costs after vacating the residence hall room.

    ROOMMATES
    The Office of Residence Life requires a completed and signed Pet Roommate Agreement on file for each roommate before you can bring your pet into your residence.

    • Residence Life will provide the Pet Roommate Agreement to your roommate(s) when you are notified of your pet’s provisional approval.
      • If provisionally approved, your roommate(s), if any, will need to complete and sign the corresponding Pet Roommate Agreement, which a) documents each roommate’s consent to live with an approved pet in their residence and b) informs each roommate of your responsibilities as the pet owner. 
    • Residents who bring their pet into their residence before the Office of Residence Life receives the corresponding Pet Roommate Agreement(s) and issues final approval will be fined $100. 
    • If an owner would like to apply for a pet after the term’s application deadline, the owner is responsible for getting a Pet Roommate Agreement(s) signed by each applicable roommate before the pet application will be considered by Residence Life. 
    • If any roommate changes occur after a final approval has been issued for a pet, the pet owner will not be asked to remove the pet to accommodate new roommates. 
    • Upon receipt of the completed Pet Agreement and Roommate Agreement(s), the Housing Coordinator will notify you of your pet’s final approval within five (5) business days, at which point the non-refundable pet fee will be added to your student bill. 

    FEES & FINES
    Pet Fees

    • The term-by-term non-refundable pet fee rates are listed below:
      • Fall Term Pet Fee - $175
      • Spring Term Pet Fee - $175 
      • Summer Term Pet Fee - $75  
    • This fee will be reassessed each term that the pet remains in your on-campus residence.
    • The pet fee is non-refundable, regardless of when the pet is removed from the residence. 

    Fines

    • Residents who keep unapproved pets in their on-campus residence will be fined $500.
    • Residents who bring their pet into their residence before the Office of Residence Life receives the corresponding Pet Roommate Agreement(s) and issues final approval will be fined $100.  
    • Residents who leave pet waste in the grass will be fined $100 per incident. 
    • Residents who leave pet waste in the residence longer than four (4) hours will be fined $100 per incident.

    Cleaning and Damages:

    • All responsibility for cleaning and damages lies with the pet owner, as detailed below:
      • When the pet owner vacates the residence or no longer keeps the animal in the residence, the residence will be assessed to determine if damage to property can be attributed to the animal.
      • The Office of Residence Life maintains the right to conduct inspections of the residence at any time for the purpose of assessing damage caused by the animal or to determine the pet owner’s compliance with this agreement.
      • The pet owner has an obligation to make sure that the residence is as clean as the original standard. If the residence is carpeted, the pet owner is expected to vacuum and spot clean regularly. Extraordinary cleaning necessitated by the animal is the financial responsibility of the pet owner. Replacement or repair of damaged items are the financial responsibility of the pet owner as assessed by members of Residence Life staff. 

    APPLICATION PROCESS

    • Any resident who is interested in bringing their pet to live with them on-campus must submit a Pet Application and Agreement.
    • Pet applications are reviewed on a weekly basis. The Housing Coordinator will review your application and corresponding materials and will notify you regarding the status of your application within ten (10) business days from the date of submission. 
    • Your application will either be: a) provisionally approved, or b) denied.
      • If provisionally approved, you will also need to complete and sign the corresponding Pet RoommateAgreement, which outlines your responsibilities regarding your pet, before you can bring your pet into your residence. 
      • Residence Life will provide the Pet Roommate Agreement to your roommate(s) when you are notified of your pet’s provisional approval. 
    • If an owner would like to apply for a pet after the term’s application deadline, the owner is responsible for getting a Pet Roommate Agreement(s) signed by each applicable roommate before the pet application will be considered by Residence Life. 
    • If a pet owner or their animal is determined to be in violation of the terms of this policy, final approval will be revoked, the pet owner will be notified in writing, and the owner must remove the animal within seven (7) days of notification.

    Application Deadlines

    • Fall Term: All Pet Application materials must be received no later than August 1st.
    • Spring Term: All Pet Application materials must be received no later than December 1st. 
    • Summer Term:  All Pet Application materials must be received no later than April 1st.