Jonathan Beck, Staff Writer

Despite appearances to the contrary, Appalachian State University has specific rules about dogs on campus, according to a University Police spokesman.

University Police Director Roy Tugman said that, under the rules, dogs are permitted on campus only when they are on a leash and when the leash is in the dog owner’s hand.

No dogs are to enter University buildings or be tied to railings, light posts, or trees and left unattended.  The only exception to the above listed conditions applies to aid dogs, said Tugman.

University Police officials receive a minimum of 2 to 3 calls a week concerning complaints about dogs, said Tugman.

Major concerns include that some dogs can be vicious, and that they bark and disturb classes, Tugman said.  “In general,  unattended dogs are creating a nuisance on campus,” he said.

“If a dog is found unattended, we (the University Police) call the Watauga County Animal Control to pick it up, and as of right now, we do not have a fine for the student.  However, we are also beginning to work on this as well,” said Tugman.

“I encourage all students with dogs who wish to bring them on campus to keep them on a leash and (to stay) with them.  (But) remember that the dogs cannot go into classes with you,” said Tugman.

Chief Officer Jon Townsend of Watagua County Animal Control said that the worst problem with dogs on campus is that most do not have their dog license, which provides rabies shot information, he said.

This can cause problems if someone is bitten by a strange dog, said Townsend.

“If we cannot quarantine the dog that bit someone, we have to leave it up to the person that got bit to get a rabies series of shots costing between $1000-$1100,” he said.

“If (he or she) chooses not to get the rabies series but has contracted rabies, then the fatality rate for the person that did not get the series is 100%,” Townsend said.

Students should be aware that when Watagua County Animal Shelter picks up an animal, a charge is assessed to retrieve an animal, Townsend said.

A first-time finders fee of $5 is assessed if there is proof that the animal has had a rabies shot.

Townsend’s advice to Appalachian students is to simply leave dogs at home, rather than bringing them to campus.

“When they are left at home, they will not be able to bite, chase, or disturb others,” he said.
 

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