When you picture move-in day at your teen’s college dorm, you probably think of duffel bags, shower caddies, and too many throw pillows — not a dog bed, a bag of kibble, and a lint roller on overdrive. But a growing number of colleges across the U.S. are now allowing pets in dorm rooms.

According to the Associated Press, schools like Eckerd College in Florida, MIT in Massachusetts, Stephens College in Missouri, and the University of Northern Colorado have embraced pet-friendly dorms, with rules ranging from cat-only floors at MIT to a 40-pound weight limit for dogs in Colorado. Administrators say the trend isn’t about making Instagram cuter (obviously) — it’s about supporting student mental health. Pets, they argue, help ease stress, loneliness, and even homesickness, while giving student

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