Pets and Other Animals on Campus Property

Policy: Pets and other animals will generally not be brought to the campus. The presence of pets and other animals on campus will be determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined below.

Employees, students and visitors are all governed by this policy. Violation may result in capture of the animal by the Borough Animal Control Officer, and all penalties, fines, damages, and cleaning costs will be the financial responsibility of the animal owner and/or the person bringing the animal to campus. A second violation may result in disciplinary action for employees or students. Housing residents face the possible loss of campus housing privileges.

Animals found in unattended vehicles may be captured and turned over to the Borough Animal Control Officer. When animals are properly on campus, they are not to be exercised or walked for the purposes of relief on university property, unless on the trail designated for animal exercise.

Background: The presence of pets and other animals has been a source of disruption in the work place. In an effort to provide a productive and safe work environment and a safe place for visitors, this policy has been instituted.

Definition: Pets include, but are not limited to, all animals that are domesticated, have traditionally been considered as pets, and are lawful to own as pets in a private residence.

Service animals are animals that are trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability.

Exceptions: Animals used in research projects and farm animals on the experimental farms

Animals used by Safety Services in the performance of their duties

Service animals, however, they are not allowed in any food preparation area

Fish and other aquatic animals that are not dangerous to humans. Aquariums shall not exceed 10 gallons.

Pets are permitted on the walking trail designated on the campus trails map as Pooch Loop. Pets are not allowed on the trails posted as ski trails during the winter months. All pets must be leashed in accordance with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Leash Law.

The trail around the fields south of campus has been designated a skijor trail and dogs used for this activity are permitted, provided they are harnessed, used for skijoring, and stay in the area designated on the campus trails map as the Eric Lindskoog Skijor Loop.

Procedures: Requests for a special event on campus which includes animals, such as a variable-surface tracking match in conjunction with a kennel club, must be submitted to the special event committee: http://www.safetyservices.uaf.edu/codesweb/special event.htm

If a compelling reason exists for an animal to be brought on campus by an employee, student or visitor; then permission may be obtained in advance form the immediate supervisor and UAF's risk manager. The animal must be registered if required by the risk manager, with the UAF Police Department. UAF registration will require a copy of a health certificate no older than three months, from a veterinarian. In addition, the person bringing the animal to the campus will be required to assume all financial responsibility for injury or property damage caused by the animal. The animal must be on a leash or some other means of positive control (other than voice) at all times and never out of the immediate presence of the owner.

Appeals: If permission is denied to bring an animal on campus, the requester may appeal in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. The Vice Chancellor's decision will be final.