stonecutter Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I took my 5.5 month old pup along to my work today - a university campus. I've been showing our admin staff pictures each week and they asked me to bring her along to an afternoon tea we were planning (where everyone just brought something along to share). Pup is pretty good at toileting on command, so I had her eliminate on a grassy area before we went onto campus. Her behaviour was excellent - no barking, politely meeting people. Security patrols roam the staff office areas and a security guard came up and told me that dogs weren't allowed on campus. I actually checked all the signage outside the campus before we went in (and earlier during the week) and there is nothing that says "no dogs" (unlike at shopping centres etc where "no dogs" is clearly marked). The guy was ordering me to leave - our admin mgr told asked him under what law or university rule - he said that he didn't need one! His argument was that there were no signs telling people not to urinate in the corridors, so why would he need one that said no dogs. In the end our dept head told the guy to speak to his superior and if he had a problem he could take it up with the boss I've gone back through the University's official rules, regulations and legislation but can't find anything related on animals on campus. Does anyone know if there are overriding laws? (Ziva was really well received - a whole lot of my students who are studying for final exams saw us and came for a chat and a cuddle. They said it was a great break and provided some stress relief! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I have wondered about this. There was a dog on campus yesterday. I haven't been able to find a rule against it, and our uni doesn't have animal courses. Unis that do have animal courses would have to alllow animals on campus. Good on your for telling the security guard to go back and check the rules. Giving you a hard time is not part of their job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dxenion Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 (edited) This may help. NSW COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 14 Dogs prohibited in some public places (1) Dogs are prohibited in the following places (whether or not they are leashed or otherwise controlled): (e) (meaning any property occupied or used for a purpose connected with the conduct of a government school or non- government school under the Education Act 1990 , other than any property used for a residence or the curtilage of a residence). (5) A dog is not prohibited under this section in a school ground or child care centre if it is there with the permission of the person controlling the school ground or child care centre. If the uni doesn't have any specific rules about dogs and you had permission from the controlling body, you should be okay. Note, this Act only applies to NSW. It may be different for other states/ territories. Edited June 10, 2011 by Dxenion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 It'd depend on the individual university I guess. My university has a vet faculty & vet hospital on site, so it was a common sight to see students walking a bunch of dogs around the campus. I used to take our pets to work....& take them over to the vet hospital for appointments. Naturally, there were no signs saying 'No dogs'. But when I was going over to another Brisbane university to do some guest work, I'd pass a sign at the entrance which explicitly said, 'No dogs allowed'. It was just such a sign that you looked for, before taking your pup in. And didn't find one. Interesting to see if the security bloke takes it up with his superior & if anything comes of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Which uni? I had my guide dog puppy at sydney uni all last year and no one ever questioned me. But then again, I was at the vet campus so surrounded by animal lovers. Also, I was trying to get her used to busy environments that she would be required to work in and she was not at the time, technically a pet dog. Techincally no pets are allowed on campus- Paul McGreevy sends an email around each year reminding us of this, however, his two dogs have exemptions for this rule, teaching purposes etc as do any animals used for demonstrations, assistance animals etc. I guess so long as nobody minds its ok- Ziva is such a cutie, who wouldn't want a cuddle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks Dxenion! I followed the link onwards to the Education Act - which only covers primary and secondary educational institutions - not tertiary. So still a grey area it seems. I also didn't realise we weren't allowed within 10m of children's parks. We go to our local playground every Friday because the neighbourhood kids want to see Ziva! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 (edited) My dad worked at a university in admin and both dogs went out to visit. Kenz went out as a pup to meet his staff but only for an hour or so. I would also occasionally drive to pick him up and walk them around the campus. No problems here. I have also taken them into my office at a different uni when I have had to go in for a short period of time to print or photocopy stuff for my PhD. Edited June 10, 2011 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 (edited) I'm at UTS - so no vet science practice. I might ask the rules/regulations people to get a clarification. It was a brief 2 hr visit - I couldn't imagine bringing her to work all day. She loves chewing paper and I think my office would turn into a shredding facility! Students asked me if she could come to the final exam so they could have a pat for good luck before they go into the exam room (it might be feasible since exams are held at Wentworth Park, but students sometimes congregate before the exam in an adjacent public park that allows dogs) Edited June 10, 2011 by stonecutter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Maybe it depends on the campus. When I was at ANU I took my dog to uni a few times. There were often dogs on campus, but our building at least had a rule that dogs weren't allowed inside for OHS reasons. Everyone turned a blind eye to the leveret I was raising during honours year, though. ;) He went to seminars, meetings, and spent a lot of time being hare-sat in the honours room. I used to take him out into the courtyard on his shoelace harness so he could run in the grass. The local magpies thought I'd brought him just for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staranais Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Which uni? I had my guide dog puppy at sydney uni all last year and no one ever questioned me. But then again, I was at the vet campus so surrounded by animal lovers. I wish we were the same - I'm at the only vet school in the country & we have a no pets on campus rule (unless they are specifically there for treatment at the clinic). When I'm on a 24 hour watch caring for someone else's sick dog, it would be very convenient to be able to have my dog on campus with me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dxenion Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I couldn't find any other reference in the Act which is good news of sorts - it doesn't specifically prohibit access to a tertiary institution. The next place I'd check would be the local council that the university is in to see if they have any specific school restrictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I had my guide dog puppy at sydney uni all last year and no one ever questioned me. I'm wondering if the legislation which allows access to guide dogs, would cover the puppies in training as well? Just out of interest, I looked up the Brisbane uni where I'd see the 'No Dogs' sign. To my surprise, they have a course for people to become a guide dog instructor. Masters of Human Services (Orientation and Mobility). But then, maybe any presence of dogs for that, would also be covered by that same legislation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsrawesome Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Well i think it would be a good idea if teachers could occasionaly bring in their dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayly Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Our vet campus doesn't allow those living on campus to own dogs but bringing pets along isn't really a big deal, most of the uni staff have their pets on capus, and they often get used for teaching handling pracs. I take my girls in when they need to see the vet and they spend the time I'm in lectures/pracs in the vet hospital in the kennels and then during my breaks I take them out and walk them around. But I couldn't imagine taking them in to the city campus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Well i think it would be a good idea if teachers could occasionaly bring in their dogs I think I'd get a whole lot more people attending my lectures and tutorials! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlet Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I had my guide dog puppy at sydney uni all last year and no one ever questioned me. But then again, I was at the vet campus so surrounded by animal lovers. Also, I was trying to get her used to busy environments that she would be required to work in and she was not at the time, technically a pet dog. Techincally no pets are allowed on campus- Paul McGreevy sends an email around each year reminding us of this, however, his two dogs have exemptions for this rule, teaching purposes etc as do any animals used for demonstrations, assistance animals etc. I guess so long as nobody minds its ok- Ziva is such a cutie, who wouldn't want a cuddle I was under the impression that a guide dog puppy has the same exemption rules that apply to guide dogs. It is important that they are socialised in all areas that a guide dog may have to work in. I have seen guide dog puppies in shopping centres and in the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsrawesome Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I had my guide dog puppy at sydney uni all last year and no one ever questioned me. But then again, I was at the vet campus so surrounded by animal lovers. Also, I was trying to get her used to busy environments that she would be required to work in and she was not at the time, technically a pet dog. Techincally no pets are allowed on campus- Paul McGreevy sends an email around each year reminding us of this, however, his two dogs have exemptions for this rule, teaching purposes etc as do any animals used for demonstrations, assistance animals etc. I guess so long as nobody minds its ok- Ziva is such a cutie, who wouldn't want a cuddle I was under the impression that a guide dog puppy has the same exemption rules that apply to guide dogs. It is important that they are socialised in all areas that a guide dog may have to work in. I have seen guide dog puppies in shopping centres and in the airport. Ive seen one in the shopping centre the lady had the puppy in a trolley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Seems that the DOLer who said it'd be an issue relating to Workplace Health & Safety is right. I quickly googled using that term & found at least 2 universities' list of WH & S rules which specifically say that no dogs are allowed on campus. Exception being the service dogs used by people with disabilities (the words of one uni). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffpup Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 (edited) I haven't kept up with things over the years but I was under the impression that uni grounds are nothing like schools and TAFEs etc - that is, they are definitely not owned by State govt. As I saw it, they used to seem to be able to make up a lot of their own rules, don't know if they still do. Without having any idea what UTS or any other uni's rules are, maybe the security guard was thinking along the lines of ..... if someone objects, gets bitten .... whatever. I'd imagine the Uni could get sued if a dog bit someone, so that could be his objection to any dog around. imo you're best off checking the policies at the source or from whoever does know. eta just read mita's post. That's pretty much what I was thinking, and if one dog is allowed then how could they prevent others? Edited June 10, 2011 by ruffpup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Different states have different legislation but in NSW, only guide dogs in training or qualified guide dogs have full public access. During the special training days puppy raisers attend, the trainers might organise for the pups to do a trip to the mall, or airport or on public transport but aprt from when under instruction by a qualified person, guide dog puppies do not have legal access everywhere. This might be different in other states though. I have taken my guide dog puppy to restuarants before, I rang ahead to ask if it would ok and brought some documents stating she was a guide dog puppy and they were ok with it At sydney uni people who live in the area always walk their pet dogs through the uni, so its quite accepted to see dogs at the uni. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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