The purpose of this petition is to encourage the adoption of homeless pets by creating a space for adopted dogs and cats to live on campus with their owners.

According to the ASPCA, “approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).”

By allowing adopted pets to live on campus, the Wake Forest community will be joining a movement to save the lives of innocent dogs and cats who would otherwise have no home.  Wake Forest’s mission of Pro Humanitate is to educate students on how to use their “knowledge, talents, and compassion to better the lives of others,” as stated on the undergraduate admissions website. As a Wake Forest student, we feel it is our duty to bring this petition to the attention of Residence Life & Housing. Our compassion for the lives of animals has led us to take a stand against the cruelty unwanted pets must face on a daily basis. We ask that you – those with the power to finalize this change – through your compassion, help us end this cruelty. Every life we save is victory for humanity – the difference between injustice and justice for the life of an innocent.

President Hatch stated, “From the inception of this University, a vision was one of graduates capable of applying the lessons learned here for the good of humanity.” We are now showing the initiative to apply the lessons this very institution has taught us for the good of humanity. Now all we ask is that you, as our mentors, as our role models, show us that our efforts have not been in vain. As a well-respected, well-endowed institution, we have the resources; we have the power. Now all we need is the moral drive to do what is right, what is necessary – for the sake of humanity – instead of simply doing what has always been done – instead of just doing what has always been easy.

This petition proposes that Residence Life & Housing change its policy to allow a certain residence hall or area of on-campus housing, such as theme housing, to house adopted dogs and cats.  We understand that the safety and wellbeing of the animals and residents come first, and we have addressed and proposed solutions to troubleshoot potential issues of safety and wellbeing below:

1.      Dogs and cats will only be permitted to live in housing with enough room for them to move about freely, such as in apartment style housing or dorms with living rooms, such as Dogwood/Magnolia, Polo, North Campus Apartments, and theme housing.

2.      Any student wishing to live in pet-friendly housing must complete an extensive application process in which they prove their passion for animal rights through a short formal essay, provide evidence of pet’s medical care, submit a financial statement covering all of pet’s expenses, verify pet’s mode of transportation/care over holidays and other school breaks, commit to covering all damages made to living space as a result of pet, and provide documentation of pet’s adoption.

3.      Students wishing to be Resident Advisors for pet-friendly dorms must undergo training that outlines the additional protocols of overseeing a pet-friendly dorm. Such protocols include monthly check ups on pet and owner as well as special room inspections to check for any physical damages made to living space.

4.      Students wishing to live in pet-friendly housing must undergo training that would ensure their knowledge of how to properly care for a dog or cat on a college campus.

In addition to saving the lives of homeless pets, pet-friendly housing would allow students to experience the therapeutic effects that come with owning a dog or cat. Pets make excellent companions, and studies have shown that owning a dog increases one’s mood while relieving stress and encouraging owners to stay active and be more social.

As Wake Forest students and community members committed to the university’s mission of Pro Humanitate, we hope you believe as we do – that it is time to take action and use the resources we have as an institution to better the lives of others. It is time we make a difference. It is time that we save lives. In light of all we have learned from our Mother-So-Dear, we ask that you let your compassion for humanity lead you to do what is right.