Dogs and other domesticated animals will not be banned from Town Hall after all.

Voters ruled against Article 19 at Town Meeting Tuesday evening, which would have banned all domestic animals from Town Hall and other public buildings.

Resident Deborah Rose cited instances of storms or natural disasters, where pet owners need to seek refuge at designated shelters at public buildings, as a reason to not ban pets from those properties.

“We cannot bring our animals,” she said. “I have concerns about that part. To some of us who live alone, that’s all we have.”

The proposed change was inserted into the warrant by the Board of Selectmen per request of Town Clerk Mary Ann Silva, who cited a rise in the number of people entering Town Hall and other buildings with pets.

“I am not a dog hater,” she said, noting that the presence of animals at town buildings present a risk as well as liability to the town. “I have a chocolate lab and a chihuahua.”

Selectmen had voted in favor of the article with a vote of 4-0-0. Voters unanimously voted against the proposed article.

Prior to the vote, Jeffrey Tufts of the Finance Committee said that he thought each department should set their own policy building-by-building.