By Audrey Sears
The stresses of student life can get overwhelming, but for a few students on campus, emotional support animals (ESAs) have made all the difference.
“Mello is awesome. She helps me regulate my routines, I feed her at 8 in the morning and at night. She goes to bed by ten and I’m usually up by 7:30 so it works out pretty well,” said Leah Baxter ’26 about her gray calico tortie cat.
Along with establishing a routine and keeping a schedule, emotional support animals provide their owners with companionship and affection during times of high stress.
“Some of my favorite things about him are that he’s very silly and playful and he’s also such a lovebug,” said Abby Gilbert ’26 about her black cat Winnie. “He helps a lot with my OCD and anxiety.”
However, getting these friendly furballs certified to live on campus can be a challenge.
“We tend to receive few ESA accommodation requests each year, although the Office of Residence Life does receive inquiries regarding non-ESA animal requests,” said Stonehill Assistant General Counsel Alana Clark. “Students who inquire about a non-ESA animal are encouraged to explore the ESA process. Students who provide the required documentation meeting documentation guidelines and substantiating the need for an ESA are approved.”
After submission, applications are then processed by the Housing Accommodation Committee. The committee consists of many staff representatives, including the offices of Health Services, Residence Life, Counseling Services, and General Counsel.
According to Clark, 8 requests were approved for emotional support animals during the Fall 2024 semester.
“When I was trying to get Winnie on campus, it was a little bit challenging. Just a lot of additional steps that I had to take. He has to have all of his paperwork in, you have to get a note signed from a doctor, and you have to get letters of recommendation explaining why you need them,” said Gilbert.
Students are either approved or rejected based on their documentation, and the appeals process provides students with the opportunity to substantiate their needs.
“It’s really important to look over the paperwork first to make sure you understand it, that your PCP (primary care provider) understands what you need it for,” said Baxter.
As far as living in the confined space of a dorm room, the felines seem to enjoy their residences.
Wainwright’s 10-month-old cat, Astrid, loves to cuddle with a stuffed cheetah cub and is known to have a curious streak.
“A little advice would be to make sure you get an animal small enough for the space that you have, especially in these dorms,” said Adam Wainwright ’25. “A lot of cats like a lot of space, but I’m lucky enough to have a single, which means Astrid and I have a little bit more space and a bathroom.”
“Mello likes to be on campus. I have two big windows in my room, so she typically just sits there and watches students when I’m out or in class. If she sees you, she’ll typically talk back,” added Baxter.
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