Lizards, Hamsters and Cats Enjoying Collegiate Experience in Bucks County

What do a gecko, hamster and rabbit have in common aside from the obvious designation of being animals?

They are all welcomed residents at one Bucks County college’s campus dormitory.

This fall, Delaware Valley College in Doylestown launched a pilot program to allow students to bring small pets to live on the second floor of Samuel Hall. It joins a handful of colleges and universities nationwide to allow pets in dorms.

So far, about 18 students have opted to bring their pets to college. Students say having their furry (or scaly) friends around helps them manage stress and serves as a good source of company.

“It’s a nice stress reliever when you get to come home to your pet like you would at home,” said Nate Borger, a wildlife conservation and management major. Borger brought his cat, Posh, with him to college.

The move to establish a pet-friendly campus environment was a team effort, according to information from the college.

Students worked with faculty and staff to create the new pet-friendly policy. “They looked at what other schools were doing, consulted animal welfare groups and worked with faculty and staff for a semester to prepare to launch the program,” according to the college.

So far it’s working well, the college says.

The biggest hiccup so far was a minor pet medical issue when a guinea pig contracted pink eye. A trip to the vet solved that issue.

But if you’re applying for colleges and think this pet-friendly arrangement will work out great for you and your 200-pound Mastiff, think again. Small pets are currently the only type that are permitted to enjoy the collegiate experience at DelVal.

Animals permitted to bunk up at DelVal include: hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, certain snakes and amphibians, rats, mice and rabbits. Cats are also being allowed as a test group, the college said.

There is no additional cost to the students for having a pet, but they are responsible for any damage the pet causes to the hall, the college said. DelVal is reviewing the policy and may expand the list of approved pets, school officials said.

DelVal is also planning to slowly expand the number of rooms that allow pets since the policy has been very popular with students.

“I can’t even explain the feeling,” said student Kiara Martinez, who brought her cat Buckwheat to college. “If you’re having a bad day your pet is here to welcome you. It’s beneficial to mental health. From an RA standpoint, it also creates a sense of community. People jump at the opportunity to show off their pets.”

Delaware Valley College isn’t alone in its fondness for animals; a handful of colleges nationwide permit pets in dorms, including Lehigh University, MIT, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and CalTech, according to collegestats.org

(Photo courtesy of DelVal)

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