Service animals are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Federal law permits people with service animals to have access to public places. Service animals may always accompany the person (handler) in all public campus locations (except for areas where animals are strictly prohibited for health or safety reasons). Service animals are not pets, therefore laws that restrict pets from public places (e.g., dining areas, housing, theaters) are not applicable to service animals.
Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example in a classroom, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations in the same room or different rooms in the facility.
It is important to always address the handler when approaching a service animal. Do not touch the service animal or its handler without the handler's permission. Service animals are working and are not to be viewed as pets. Do not make noises at, or deliberately startle the service animal; this action could distract the animal from performing its job. Do not feed the service animal; this could disrupt their schedule.
A service animal must be under the control of its handler. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls.
When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Only two questions may be asked:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove their service animal from the premises unless:
- The dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.
- The dog is not housebroken.
When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff must offer the person with a disability the opportunity to remain without the animal’s presence.
If all individuals are charged for damages they cause to a facility, a service animal’s handler may also be charged for damage caused by them or their service animal.
(U.S. Department of Justice ADA.gov)
Students who wish to utilize a service animal in their classes should notify the Office of Disability Services, and the office will notify the student’s instructors.