Jayli Plautz
Reporter
For more than a decade, Mississippi University for Women has offered the ability to register Emotional Support Animals to live on campus alongside the students to offer companionship and stability.
The Director of Housing and Residence Life, Andrew Moneymaker, says that as long as The W’s required applications are filled out and the pet is medically up to date, then there is no discrimination against those who need an on-campus pet.
Moneymaker also has a role in The W’s Behavioral Intervention Team, which helps students who may need care during tough times. Moneymaker’s experiences with students help him see how beneficial pets are for students.
“The amount of student support and comfort that the animals provide for students who need them are unmatched, and there aren’t really any cons besides the ability to confirm that these animals are being cared for properly,” Moneymaker said. “We rarely ever have any problems.”
The benefits of owning an emotional support animal are easily apparent after meeting some of the students who live with their best furry friends. Pets may help students with stress levels and responsibility and offer a sense of home or comfort.
Zander Hall, an Elementary Education major, lives with his well-tempered cat, King Eduardo (Eddie), who has lived on campus since last semester.
Zander Hall and his cat, King Eduardo
Photo by Jayli Plautz
“I have someone to come back to,” Hall said. “When I reach my floor through the elevator, I can hear him meowing for me, and we talk to each other about our day.”
The species that live on campus vary, and there is no limit to the species allowed. Some students may own cats, dogs, fish, chameleons, hamsters or reptiles. Whichever pet works best for the student and their on-campus life is open to being approved.
Eden Cartwright, a Music Therapy major, lives with her sugar glider Siren, who she registered as an emotional support animal this semester. Cartwright says that Siren helps her disconnect and work through her interactions with others, which she hopes other students can experience.
“I hope that more students who need an emotional support animal are able to get one. They are very impactful,” Cartwright said.
Pets on campus may be big or small, low maintenance or high maintenance, high energy or low energy — as long as the student and pet are happy and healthy, it is allowed.
Caden Brothers, an Elementary Education major, has a Koi fish and a goldfish named Pookie and CoCo. While the fish offer comfort, Brothers also likes that they are easy to take care of and fun to watch.
“My fish are calming. They offer a buffer between myself and everyone else,” Brothers said. “The upside is that I did not have to register my fish as emotional support animals. The aquarium they are held in is more than five gallons, but fish are low maintenance animals who offer a great deal of entertainment.”
The W’s Student Success Center offers an online request for owning an emotional support animal on campus. The request form can be found at muw.edu/ssc/accessibility/esa/. If you have any questions or concerns about your application, you can email the Student Success Center at ssc@muw.edu.