What to say if your House Mom has a pet...

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Why is the dog even a factor? Why bring it up at all? Will the dog be hanging out in the house? Will the housemom insist that the dog be on the front lawn for game day activities? If not, then it is a moot point.

Frankly, I don't think a house mom and her activities are recruitment conversation fodder, other than "We have a great house mom. She is so caring and loving, etc"

I say, do not even bring it up. The dog is not part of XYZ sorority, and therefore, has no bearing on info a girl needs to know about pledging there.

This would be my suggestion as well.

I do know the house mom at UK Theta has (or did until recently) a very sweet shih tzu named Francisco. She keeps his hair shaved off. She takes him out back for potty time and picks up his poo. He usually stays in her apartment, but last I heard he is ADORED by nearly everyone living in the Theta house. Apparently he loves being around people and being petted and isnt a nuisance barker so he fits in well.

[33girl]

Not having lived in this kind of house, how big will the housemother's quarters be? I think keeping the dog (especially a Standard Poodle) confined to a very small space in the midst of a "pack" situation is horribly unfair to the dog. It'll hear all the commotion going on in the house and be cooped up and miserable. You might as well tie the poor thing out back to a stake.

Not only that, what happens if the house mom leaves for a weekend? Does someone there feed and walk the dog?

No house (including a sorority house) should have a dog if ALL the members of the house are not in favor of it. In other words: get a new housemother.

[RaggedyAnn]

My question is, if someone does have an allergy or fear of dogs, would they be required to live in the house? Or will there be a waver? That would probably be the biggest question you could get and I'd be prepared to answer it.

[Titchou]

Having dealt with many House Directors who have had pets, I can offer some information. In my GLO, the chapter has to vote in favor of the HD having a pet. The HD must keep it confined to her apartment (most consist of bedroom, sitting/living room, bathroom). The only time it is allowed in other parts of the house is when it going from her apartment to the outside. They are not allowed to "roam" the house and the chapter has no obligation to care for it in any way. If she goes out of town and can't take the pet, she does whatever she would do if she lived elsewhere - board it, get a sitter, etc. A member having a verified allergy (doctor's written proof) would not be required to live in as long as the pet was there.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Having dealt with many House Directors who have had pets, I can offer some information. In my GLO, the chapter has to vote in favor of the HD having a pet. The HD must keep it confined to her apartment (most consist of bedroom, sitting/living room, bathroom). The only time it is allowed in other parts of the house is when it going from her apartment to the outside. They are not allowed to "roam" the house and the chapter has no obligation to care for it in any way. If she goes out of town and can't take the pet, she does whatever she would do if she lived elsewhere - board it, get a sitter, etc. A member having a verified allergy (doctor's written proof) would not be required to live in as long as the pet was there.

@ the bolded, how frequently does the chapter vote? Only once (before the HD gets the pet)? Yearly? I can see problems with just about any voting schedule - vote only once and 10 years down the road, all the sisters who voted to allow the pet are long gone (and the current sisters might not be too keen on that); vote yearly and the HD faces losing a pet she's had for years (or losing a job). I just wonder about the logistics.

[Titchou]

The vote is before she is hired if she already has the pet or before she is allowed to acquire the pet. Then the chapter votes annually on whether to support her rehire for the coming year (HC makes the final decision) and it includes discussion of that as well.

[Splash]

Originally Posted by kddani

A lot of people aren't into dogs, especially larger ones (i.e. non-lapdog).

I would've been pretty turned off from a house that had a dog. Not only because I am allergic, but because I'm just not a large dog person.

This. Now if you had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel...

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by kddani

A lot of people aren't into dogs, especially larger ones (i.e. non-lapdog).

I would've been pretty turned off from a house that had a dog. Not only because I am allergic, but because I'm just not a large dog person.

Again, this. In fact, having been mauled as a child by a "very sweet, loves kids" standard poodle, and having also been bitten by my brother's Doberman, I would probably do anything I could to keep from getting a bid from that house!

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It is possible to still have an allergic reaction to poodles and other "hypoallergenic" dogs. It's just less likely.

My mother (now I) had a Bichon Frise, one of the top hypoallergenic dogs. At first, I had reactions, but they were mild. Now, I have none. I've learned to say "you're much less likely to have a reaction to him" when people ask about him.

small hijack: Every Pika chapter I knew had a Dalmation; is that just locally, or does every Pika/Pike chapter have one?

[Drolefille]

^^^ maybe it goes with their firetruck thing?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Again, this. In fact, having been mauled as a child by a "very sweet, loves kids" standard poodle

Yeah, don't let the foofy haircut fool you. Standard poodles are seriously badass mofos. I don't mean they bite everyone, I mean they are very active, macho dogs.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Again, this. In fact, having been mauled as a child by a "very sweet, loves kids" standard poodle, and having also been bitten by my brother's Doberman, I would probably do anything I could to keep from getting a bid from that house!


My mother (now I) had a Bichon Frise, one of the top hypoallergenic dogs. At first, I had reactions, but they were mild. Now, I have none. I've learned to say "you're much less likely to have a reaction to him" when people ask about him.

small hijack: Every Pika chapter I knew had a Dalmation; is that just locally, or does every Pika/Pike chapter have one?

The Pikes at my school did not have a dalmation but did have a firetruck (which was featured in Tim McGraw's "Down on the Farm" video a gizillion years ago, BTW.