College Dorm Rooms Go to the Dogs

College students have long been expert at sneaking everything from gerbils to puppies into their dorm rooms, but a number of schools have made furry residents official, reports USA Today. The pet-friendly movement's spread to more than a dozen campuses, where officials hope reducing the stress of college life and stemming the tide of students to off-campus housing where they're allowed to have dogs and cats.

Some animal advocates aren't on board with the idea, arguing students are often too impulsive to take care of animals, not to speak of frequent moves and vacations between terms. Shelters near schools often report a spike in abandoned pets every spring. But others argue that pets will get better care if they're legal. "We know kids will have pets anyhow," one said, and a program with regular monitoring should works to the animals' advantage. (More pets stories.)