Animals used in Teaching or Research.  The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees all research and teaching activities involving animals on Carleton’s campus grounds, whether inside campus buildings or in outdoor areas. For more details, see the IACUC website.  

This policy covers animals on campus when they are not used for teaching or research purposes.

Applicable Public Law. Any person bringing an animal(s) onto the property of Carleton College should be aware that the City Code of Northfield applies to their visit. Please refer to Part II, Chapter 10, Article II, 10-31 through 10-98.

Animals in Buildings. No animals are allowed in any Carleton College buildings including academic, administrative, and residential buildings owned or operated by the College. As noted above, this policy excludes animals used for approved teaching and research activities conducted under the auspices of relevant College departments and in compliance with all applicable regulations and ethical guidelines governing animal care and use. Other exceptions include approved service and emotional support animals (see below), and support animal visits scheduled by the Office of Health Promotion during their specific work times at the designated location. Faculty, staff, and students may not pet-sit or invite an animal into College housing. There are a few college houses that are exceptions to this policy because of their required long-term residential nature, including: Nutting House; Headley House; Headley Cottage; Residential Life area director apartments; and any other designated pet-friendly employee rental housing. Permission must be granted in advance by the residents of these spaces before welcoming any visiting animals.

Animals on the Grounds. Animals must be leashed and under the direct control of their owner. Animals running freely, or that are tied up and unattended, are not under the direct control of their owner and will be reported to the City of Northfield Animal Control Officer for pickup, as provided for in the City Code.

Animals that are left in their owner’s vehicle will be reported to the City of Northfield Animal Control Officer for pickup, as provided for in the City Code, if they appear to be in distress from heat, inadequate ventilation, or severe cold.

All animal wastes must be picked up and properly disposed of by the associated pet owner.

Public Safety Violations of this policy may be reported by calling Carleton College Security at x4444.

Service or Emotional Support Animals While the college does not permit pets in Carleton facilities on campus, it does comply with federal law, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act, in the regards to the presence of Service or Emotional Support Animal for individuals with appropriately documented disabilities. Individuals bringing an animal to campus need to complete the necessary steps and paperwork before the animal is brought to campus. Contact the Director of Accessibility Resources (students) or Human Resources (employees) for guidelines and regulations for the accommodation of Service or Support animals in campus housing or in campus buildings. 

• Service animals: As defined by the ADA, service animals–typically dogs–are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. A service animal must be under the control of its handler. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. Service animals are generally allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. 
• Emotional support animals (ESAs):  This term is used to describe animals that provide comfort by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. ESAs that are approved for residential living spaces are only permitted in the assigned room, and are not permitted in common areas or other unapproved spaces. Animals must be leashed and under the direct control of their owner when they are going between the approved space and outside.

Unapproved animals in campus buildings: Unauthorized animals in campus buildings can present serious health threats to people with allergies. If an animal is brought to campus before completing all steps in the approval process and before the request is officially approved, the animal will need to be removed from campus, and the individual in violation of the policy will face consequences. Students who violate this policy will go through the Student Conduct Process. The Office of the Provost addresses faculty who violate this policy, and Human Resources addresses staff who violate this policy.