No spiders allowed. This is ridiculous

[Lucille]

It's hard to understand their POV. If they're held liable should something happen, why do they allow Area Coordinators to keep cats as they live in the dorms with students?

Great question. Cats are considered domestic animals. Whether they actually are or not, that is how they are often categorized. In many states, critters like Ts are categorized as wild animals so owners are strictly liable for any harm, and the school by knowing you have a T and not having the critter removed, may have some liabiity also.

Here is an explanation. And again, I'm a T owner and sad for you, but the explanation is to show their POV. I know others can and will jump in to defend Ts and distinguish them from other wild critters and that is fine, I didn't write the following description of strict liability, but this is the way the school is probably looking at the whole issue:

Strict Liability Lawsuits Can Arise from Keeping Wild Animals as Pets


Keeping a wild animal may lead to a strict liability lawsuit. Wild animals are animals that are not recognized as capable of being domesticated, such as tigers, snakes and primates. Their behavior is unpredictable; they tend to be dangerous; and when they injure someone, the injuries can be devastating.

Therefore, having a wild animal as a pet may lead to strict liability if the animal injures someone. The test is not whether the particular animal has been tamed, but whether the animal belongs to a class of animals recognized as incapable of being tamed. Additionally, it is irrelevant how careful the owner was in trying to prevent the animal from injuring others. If the wild animal causes personal injury, the owner may be strictly liable.



Read more: http://law.suite101.com/article.cfm/strict_liability_law#ixzz0U2IOT3OK

 

[pouchedrat]

people should really put together how many times someone has been killed by a wild cat vs. a domestic dog or especially cows and bulls.

I think it's only been 10 people in the past 20 years in USDA licensed fascilities or something like that? Can't remember specifics.

Ah well. Mumbling since I prefer exotic creatures over domestic... But I know laws and such exist for reasons

/edit- sneak a cow into the dorm.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Great question. Cats are considered domestic animals. Whether they actually are or not, that is how they are often categorized. In many states, critters like Ts are categorized as wild animals so owners are strictly liable for any harm, and the school by knowing you have a T and not having the critter removed, may have some liabiity also.

Here is an explanation. And again, I'm a T owner and sad for you, but the explanation is to show their POV. I know others can and will jump in to defend Ts and distinguish them from other wild critters and that is fine, I didn't write all this, but this is the way the school is probably looking at the whole issue:

Strict Liability Lawsuits Can Arise from Keeping Wild Animals as Pets


Keeping a wild animal may lead to a strict liability lawsuit. Wild animals are animals that are not recognized as capable of being domesticated, such as tigers, snakes and primates. Their behavior is unpredictable; they tend to be dangerous; and when they injure someone, the injuries can be devastating.

Therefore, having a wild animal as a pet may lead to strict liability if the animal injures someone. The test is not whether the particular animal has been tamed, but whether the animal belongs to a class of animals recognized as incapable of being tamed. Additionally, it is irrelevant how careful the owner was in trying to prevent the animal from injuring others. If the wild animal causes personal injury, the owner may be strictly liable.



Read more: http://law.suite101.com/article.cfm/strict_liability_law#ixzz0U2IOT3OK

That makes plenty sense, but it is still a slap to the face that the staff can keep their kitties in the dorms, whereas students can only keep fish. Isn't the staff supposed to set a good example for the students?

And even if the cat may be tame, it still has fur, and people still have allergies and is a potential threat. They don't screen people for allergies before placing them in the dorm.

 

[Tarantula_man94]

this frustrates me, im goin 2 college in 3 years. with more than that.....

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

The best of luck petitioning this, though I highly doubt you'll be successful. You know how I solved this problem? I became an RA

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

The best of luck petitioning this, though I highly doubt you'll be successful. You know how I solved this problem? I became an RA

Yea RAs are supposed to set good examples, not abuse their power and rub it in their floor's face.

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

Yea RAs are supposed to set good examples...

Haha, well, if it's any consolation, I would have let you keep your T's

 

[MissChelly]

people should really put together how many times someone has been killed by a wild cat vs. a domestic dog or especially cows and bulls.

I think it's only been 10 people in the past 20 years in USDA licensed fascilities or something like that? Can't remember specifics.

Ah well. Mumbling since I prefer exotic creatures over domestic... But I know laws and such exist for reasons

/edit- sneak a cow into the dorm.

I can hear the Benny Hill music playing now... hahaha.


I get the wild animal thing and all... but the fact there's cats allowed bugs the heck out of me since there's a lot of people who actually are allergic to cats, me included! If my hand got a single cat hair on it and I rubbed my eye, I'd be getting SUPER red, puffy eyes, sneezing, wheezing... it's just quite a bad situation that's not even that uncommon either. I know a lot of people who are also allergic. o_o

 

[UrbanJungles]

Idk if the snitch was intentional or not since one of my roomies mentioned the caterpillar to him the night before. Whatever the case, I'm not focusing on that right now. The Area Coordinator was a complete creep about getting them out immediately, despite the facts that I don't have a car on ccampus and home is about 1.5 hrs away. He said I'd have to pay a fine for each day they stayed, even if I couldn't get home till Friday evening.

You posted in another thread that you had someone came into your room saw and complimented your collection. Your first mistake was letting anyone see them. If you intended to keep T's against dorm policy, you should have at least hidden them a bit better or just generally been more low key.

My undergrad had a strict no pet policy as well but it never stopped me from keeping everything I wanted. I was very low key about it and the select few people that saw my animals were made to understand how dear they were to me and how appreciated their (silent) cooperation was.

Of course I wanted to show my stuff off but I understood that if they remained out of sight (fire alarms are always reason for your RA or RD to look into your room) it would mean they'd remain safe with me.

 

[Paladin]

Hey Scotty,

I am an RA right now and may or may not be setting a good example hint hint nudge nudge :}

Anyway, when you moved into your hall you had to sign a terms of use packet going over allllllllll the things you can or cant have, whether they be candles, appliances whatever.

In that contract it should say something (like what we have here) you can only keep a fish in a container no bigger than 5 gallons. Soooooo thats where your spider issue lies.

As far as Hall coordinators go, its been MY biggest peeve of the job (Besides bulletin boards and a countless other things), they can have alcohol, pets, children, EVERYTHING.

EDIT: For what its worth 90% (not scientifically produced statistic) of RAs are FAR from normal people and have interesting social issues that helps create a persona of superiority. Doing this job long enough has showed me that there are a large amount of underclassmen that experience dorm life under some very unfortunate circumstances. Almost to the point where identifying yourself as an RA is just flat out embarrassing at times due to the stigma they create.

Get the know the RAs because they can save your butt sometimes even if your RA is a douche

Not every RA becomes one to be an enforcer. I do it because I cant afford an apartment. Anyway, you really have no recourse as I'm quite sure that its outlined in your contract what you can or can't have.

However, I was in a similar situation as you and had my biology teacher vouch that I was taking part in a behavioral research study and made my "pets" my academic responsibility.;P

 

[mxxtt]

I keep 6 Ts in my dorm, seems like everyone on the floor knows about it (except RA, of course), but nobody really says anything even though it's against the rules.

Also~ my RA is blind, so maybe I'm just getting off lucky

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

You posted in another thread that you had someone came into your room saw and complimented your collection. Your first mistake was letting anyone see them. If you intended to keep T's against dorm policy, you should have at least hidden them a bit better or just generally been more low key.

The person who came into my room is one of my roommates...

 

[ZergFront]

They allowed lizards but snakes of all sizes were a problem? Guess they don't know that some monitors can really slice up a man's arm and gilas are poisonous.

I understand more people are scared of spiders and snakes than dogs but that kind of sounds like a double-standard since dogs are just as unprodictable.

 

[xhexdx]

I have a solution for anyone who is going to a dorm and doesn't want to risk it:

Send me your spiders. :}

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I have a solution for anyone who is going to a dorm and doesn't want to risk it:

Send me your spiders. :}

Dude you have quite a bit already don't you?

I think you need someone to take them off your hands before it gets overwhelming :} .

Oh yea update, the RA came in a few days later(he understood I couldn't make it home immediately, as opposed to the AC) to see that they were gone. they were, and he said that should be the end of it. let's hope.

Anyway, I've been trying to gather information before actually making a petition, and have found out the staff with the cat has an actual apartment in that dorm building, very different from the student rooms, and even has an air filter so the cat hair doesn't cause a problem. So much for using that in the argument.

 

[ZergFront]

I have a solution for anyone who is going to a dorm and doesn't want to risk it:

Send me your spiders. :}

+1 Hahaha!!

OR avoid the dorms if you can! I'd rather pay my parents rent before I give away my hobby.

 

[micheldied]

riot my friend.

 

[Venari]

You know, the SPCA doesn't qualify the arachnids as "pets". Find a law student to make something of that, and you get your T's back!

 

[Paladin]

Anyway, I've been trying to gather information before actually making a petition, and have found out the staff with the cat has an actual apartment in that dorm building, very different from the student rooms, and even has an air filter so the cat hair doesn't cause a problem. So much for using that in the argument.[/QUOTE]

You need to look at your contract. Staff doesn't (necesarily) mean student. The contract you sign is different that what they sign. I would like to know what it says about pets. If not, what school do you go to im sure its online.

Example:

Pets. Animals of any kind, except fish in a bowl up to 2-gallon capacity, are not allowed in the residence hall rooms, in the hall common areas, or on the premises (except by faculty or full-time professional staff when approved by the Director of Housing Administration and Director of Residential Education). Residents may not feed/shelter stray animals. Residents are obligated to tell hall staff so appropriate action can be taken to remove and protect the animal.

If that is in your contract you're wasting your time dude.

 

[satanslilhelper]

This doesn't seem complicated at all. :?

1) Sneak them back in.
2) Hide them in your room.
3) Keep your mouth shut about it.
4) Make sure your roommate keeps his mouth shut too.
5) Stop whining about a petition that won't solve anything. :clap:

I hope this helps!!

I have never used so many smilies in my life!!