Alexandra Lozano
Staff Writer

The Human Resources department sent a memo to all ULV employees last week informing them that the policy of having no animals on campus will be enforced.

“It is to protect the environment from feces and people from stepping in it,” said Frank Montalvo, chief human resources officer. “And dogs who might get in fights or turn on people.”

John Lentz, Campus Safety and Transportation interim director, requested to send the memo to the ULV community when he noticed unattended dogs wandering on campus.

“I wanted to accommodate his request,” Montalvo said.

Lentz said he is concerned about the safety of students.

“Sometimes people think [the University] is a public school and think it’s a good idea to exercise and do their business,” Lentz said.

“Recently, we have had several incidents of people bringing unauthorized animals on campus,” the memo stated. “Campus safety is instructed to enforce this policy. This policy applies to students, faculty and staff, as well as the public and is necessary for the health and safety to our community.”

Some are not bothered that the memo will be enforced.

“I don’t really care,” said junior psychology major Carina Gonzalez. “I didn’t know there were animals on campus.”

The policy states that “only animals…that are trained to assist individuals by performing specific tasks that cannot be performed alone, and animals under control of an academic department for academic purposes.”

The policy was originally created Nov. 8, 2001, to attend to issues with pets on campus.

Alexandra Lozano can be reached at himelozano@juno.com.