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All animals residing in College housing must be registered with the Office of Housing and Residential Life, including Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), service animals, and permitted small animals (such as hamsters, fish, rabbits, etc.). The student owner or handler of the animal is responsible for completing the ResLife registration process. Per the Student Handbook, cats and dogs are not permitted in the residence halls unless otherwise permitted under the College's Assistance Animal Policy.

Small Caged Animals

Residents may keep small, caged pets such as fish or hamsters with the approval of their roommate and/or suitemates. Damages to residence hall rooms or furnishings that result from pets will be billed to the resident responsible for the pet. All pets must be kept clean, healthy and in well-maintained living spaces in student rooms only. Pets may not be brought to lounges, common spaces, the dining hall or other campus buildings.

-- To register a small caged animal such as a hamster, fish, or hedgehog, with the Office of Housing and ResLife, please visit this page. --

Email ResLife if you have any questions specific to a small caged animal.

Support Animals

To ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and California's expanded state civil rights protections, HMC permits "Assistance Animals" in College housing. The term "Assistance Animals" serves as an overarching category under housing laws that includes:

1. Trained Service Animals:Animals individually trained to perform specific tasks or work for an individual with a disability, recognized under the ADA and federal housing laws. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as a dog, or in some cases a miniature horse, that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. False representation of a service animal is a violation of California Penal Code 365.7. A student found to have falsely represented a service animal will be in violation of the HMC Honor Code and will face disciplinary action through the student conduct process and possible removal of the animal from campus. This category also includes psychiatric service dogs that are individually trained to help a person with a mental disability with specific requirements. An individual that uses such a dog is entitled to the same rights under the law as someone with a physical disability that uses a Service Animal.

2. Support Animals (commonly referred to as Emotional Support Animals or ESAs): Housebroken animals that are not trained to perform specific tasks or services for a disability, but provide emotional, cognitive, or other support that directly alleviates one or more symptoms of a student's diagnosed disability, protected under California state housing law (FEHA) and campus accommodation frameworks. ESAs are not pets and are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); rather, they are animals that have been prescribed to provide necessary support or companionship to a person with a qualifying disability.

Students must schedule an intake appointment with the Dean of Accessible Education. An ESA must be approved by the Office of Accessible Education prior to the animal's arrival on campus. For more information, visit the Assistance Animal Policy.

-- To register an Assitance Animal such as an ESA or Service Animal with the Office of Housing and ResLife, please visit this page. --

Any complaints about the presence, care, or impact of a registered animal on the physical space or community should be reported to ResLife via reslife@g.hmc.edu, who will make a determination of next steps.