Dogs on Campus

Dog Policy

As of September 1, 2021, dogs are welcome on campus, with specific guidelines in place to ensure the comfort of our community. Research* indicates that students and teachers benefit from the presence of dogs at school. The company of a dog can promote social-emotional development, wellness, and cognitive skills. 

It is a privilege to bring dogs to campus during the school day. Not all children and adults are dog owners or dog lovers, however, and we are sensitive to the fact that some community members are allergic to animals. Everyone has a right to a safe, clean campus. Therefore, dog owners must read and agree to the following policies before bringing their dogs to school. These policies apply throughout the year to all constituents using the Tower campus. 

Exemptions to this policy include service dogs such as guide dogs, hearing dogs, or assistance dogs. See Human Resources for more information about the use of service dogs on campus.

Dog Policy Details

For All

• Dogs must be healthy, housebroken, and trained to handle active social settings.


• Dogs must be on a leash while on campus and under the owner’s control at all times. 

• Children may not walk dogs on campus during school hours, including their own family dog.

• Cleaning up after a dog is the sole responsibility of the dog owner (children may not do so). 

• Dogs must be current with all vaccinations and licenses.

• Dog owners are personally responsible for any damage or injury that their dog may cause and must pay for any damage, stains, or odor if the school determines that an area requires cleaning beyond normally scheduled maintenance.

• Dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior or bark frequently will not be allowed on campus.

• The School reserves the right to ask individuals not to bring animals onto campus. The final decision rests with the Head of School, at their sole discretion.


For Families

• Family dogs are welcome on campus outside for athletic games and other activities. 

• Dogs are not permitted on the turf field.

• Family dogs are not permitted inside the school building.

For Faculty

• Before bringing a dog to the School, a faculty member must obtain permission from their supervisor.

• Each fall, administrators will gather requests from those who wish to bring their dogs to school and then make a determination about how many days per week each dog may come to school. The number may vary from year to year depending on the number of requests in any given year.   

• Any employee who is allowed to bring a dog onto the School grounds must provide proof of their current homeowner’s insurance policy or similar liability insurance covering pets before bringing the dog to campus. Proof of insurance should be provided annually to the Registrar. In addition, the School requires that evidence of rabies vaccination be submitted annually to the Registrar.

• Dogs should remain at home if their presence in a classroom or office causes allergic reactions in students or colleagues. Decisions on allergies will be based on school health information.

• Dogs should never be in shared spaces in the building, including the PAC, gym, faculty lounge, kitchens, any office/classroom other than your own, or in any meeting rooms (dogs may not attend faculty meetings).

• Dog owners understand that there are certain times when dogs should stay home (e.g., open houses, conference days, curriculum nights, etc.).

• All employees have the right to raise dog concerns in confidence with their division head or supervisor.