Service & Support Animals

I. Definitions

• Service Animal: is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, intellectual, or other mental disability.
  • Other animals, whether domestic or wild, do not qualify as Service Animal except for miniature horses in extreme and rare circumstances.
  • Examples of such work or tasks may include guiding a person with impaired vision, alerting a person with a hearing impairment, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure.
  • Service Animals are working animals, not pets.
• Support Animals (sometimes called “Therapy Animals”) are NOT Service Animals even if prescribed by a physician or therapist. While they may be considered for access to University housing, Support Animals are NOT permitted in other areas of the university, such as the Sullivan Library, academic and administrative buildings, classrooms, labs, athletic facilities, food service/dining areas, and student service facilities.
• A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a Service Animal or Support Animal. It is not covered under these procedures. Individuals are not permitted to keep pets on campus including in University housing.
• An Approved Animal is a Service or Support Animal that has been granted as an accommodation by these procedures.
• The Owner is the student who has requested the accommodation and has received approval to bring the Service or Support Animal onto campus.

II. General

The University provides appropriate accommodations to all enrolled students with a documented disability.

Residence Life allows Service or Support Animals to live with students in the residential halls only after receiving approval by Kokua Ike: Center for Student Learning (Kokua Ike) and in accordance with these procedures.

If a student is initially approved to have a Service Animal and later applies for campus housing, the student is required to contact Kokua Ike to initiate the portion of the
approval process and related forms regarding Service or Support Animals in campus housing.

The University may exclude a Service Animal or Support Animal from its campus or other teaching sites if it:

• Poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
• Causes substantial physical damage to the property of others;
• Poses an undue financial and administrative burden, or
• Results in a fundamental alteration of the University’s program(s).

*Advance approval and documentation verifying a disability are not required for a Service Animal that is clearly doing work or performing tasks for the benefit of an individual with an obvious disability (such as blindness or mobility-impairment). All other rules and procedures described below will apply.

III. Approval Procedure

Advance approval must be obtained from Chaminade’s Kokua Ika by the Owner of a Service or Support Animal except as indicated above* before any animal is allowed on campus.

To receive approval for having any other Service or Support Animal on campus, students should begin by contacting the Tutor Coordinator in Koku Ike. Students must provide appropriate documentation and must sign all applicable agreements.

The student will be asked to provide verification that:

• He/she has a disability;
• The animal is necessary for the individual with a disability and equal access to the University’s educational program; and
• There is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.
• A statement regarding how long this animal will be necessary for the student.

Upon receipt of this documentation, Kokua Ike staff will initiate a conversation with the student about the University’s procedures for use of Service or Support Animals on campus.

If a disability is confirmed and the need for a Service Animal or Support Animal is approved, the student will be provided with a letter of approval from the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike once all the appropriate forms have been completed.

Except in the case of Service Animal assisting a student with an obvious disability, the student may find it helpful to have the letter available to demonstrate that a Service Animal is approved to enter non-residential facilities on campus (i.e. Sullivan Library or the Loo Student Center).

If appropriate, the student’s instructors will be notified by the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike that the student has been approved to have the animal present in the student’s classes. If the student resides on campus, appropriate notice will also be provided to the Director of Residence Life.

Every student who brings a Service or Support Animal onto campus must sign the Service and Support Animal Agreement. The student must also provide evidence to Kokua Ike that the animal is in good health and has been fully vaccinated against diseases common to that breed of animal as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary records attesting to that fact must be submitted to the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike PRIOR to the animal being on campus or other teaching sites.

IV. For Students Who Reside in Campus Housing

If the Service or Support Animal is approved by Kokua Ike to live with the student in campus housing the student must next schedule a meeting with the Director for Residence Life or her/his designee to review pertinent Residence Life rules related to the animal. This meeting must occur PRIOR to the animal taking occupancy in order to review the agreement and expectations.

The student’s roommate(s), suitemate(s), or those otherwise sharing the living space will be notified of the approval of the Service or Support animal by the Director for Residence Life or her/his designee. All roommates, suitemates, or others sharing living spaces are requested to sign a notification form acknowledging that the Service or Support animal will be in the residence with them. In the event that one or more of these persons does not consent, Residence Life will reach a resolution of the matter through an interactive process with the appropriate participants.

Service or Support animals which are approved to live with the student in campus housing must be neutered or spayed, if applicable to the species.

V. Renewal of Approval

The Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike will determine if any accommodation approved by these procedures requires periodic renewal.

VI. Guidelines for Animal Care

• The student who benefits from the Approved Animal’s use (the Owner) is responsible for its care, maintenance and supervision.
• The Owner is also responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the animal’s waste and, when appropriate, must toilet the animal in areas designated by the University or other teaching site consistent with the reasonable capacity of the Owner.
  • Outdoor animal waste such as dog feces must be immediately retrieved by the Owner, placed in a plastic bag and securely tied before being disposed of in an outside trash dumpster.
  • For students who reside in campus housing, indoor animal waste, such as cat litter, must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied up before being disposed of in outside trash dumpsters.
• The Owner is financially responsible for any damages caused by the animal, including bodily injury and property damage to any private or university property.
• The Owner must effectively control the animal at all times.
  • The animal cannot pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
  • If the owner cannot effectively control the animal, or if it poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, the permission to keep that particular animal at the campus or other teaching sites will be rescinded until such time as the problem is rectified.
• If any animal neglect is suspected, the university will contact the student. The entire responsibility of the animal should be taken on by the student. The animal should not be left alone on the campus or other teaching sites for extended periods of time, specifically, no more than 6 to 8 hours.
• The Approved Animal must be immunized against diseases common to that type of animal. Dogs must have current vaccination against rabies and wear a rabies vaccination tag. Animals other than dogs to be housed in University residences must have an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian. Cats in residences must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian. Documentation may be a vaccination certificate or a veterinarian’s statement regarding the animal’s health. The University has the authority to direct that the animal receives veterinary attention.
• The animal should have a tag identifying the owner and providing contact information in case of emergency.
• The University reserves the right to request documentation showing that the animal has been licensed, if required by local law.
• The Owner is responsible at all times for the actions of his or her animal. The student is responsible for any odors, noise, damage, or other conduct of his or her animal that disturbs others or damages property.
• Service Animals may travel freely with their Owner throughout areas of the University, with the exception of areas which may pose a threat to health or safety or create an undue burden (see “Areas off Limits to Service Animals” below).
  • They must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the Service Animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devises. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
  • The animal cannot be left unattended on campus.
• Areas off Limits to Service Animals: The University may prohibit Service Animals in certain locations because of health and safety restrictions, for example, where the animals may be in danger or their use may compromise the integrity of research.
  • Restricted areas may include but are not limited to the following: custodial closets, facility equipment rooms, areas where protective clothing is necessary, laboratories where chemicals or other elements may be harmful to the animal or where natural organisms carried by the animal may interfere with laboratory activities, rooms with heavy machinery, and areas outlined in state law as being inaccessible to animals, such as food preparation areas.
  • Students must request exceptions to “off-limits” areas directly to the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike who will consult with the Dean of Students.
• The Owner must notify the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike in writing if the Approved Animal is no longer needed as an Approved Animal or is no longer in residence. To replace an Approved Animal, the Owner must file a new Service and Support Animal Agreement.
• Any violation of the above rules may result in immediate removal of the Approved Animal from the University and may be reviewed through the Student Judicial System. The Owner will be afforded all of the rights and procedures of that process.
• Support Animals may only be in privately assigned living spaces in housing with prior authorization from the Tutor Coordinator of Kokua Ike.
  • Support Animals must be contained within the privately assigned residential area (room, suite, house, apartment) at all times, except when being transported off-campus with the Owner or being taken directly to or from appropriate toileting locations (in an animal carrier or controlled by leash or harness).
• The Owner is responsible for assuring that the animal does not interfere with the routine of the residence or cause difficulties for students who reside in the unit. Sensitivity to residents with allergies and to those who fear animals is important to ensure a positive residential community.
• Students with medical conditions that are affected by animals (e.g., respiratory diseases, asthma, severe allergies) are asked to contact Residence Life if they have a health or safety-related concern about exposure to a Service or Support Animal. The University is prepared to also reasonably accommodate individuals with such medical conditions that require accommodation when living in proximity to Approved Animals. Conflicts will be resolved in a timely manner. The potentially conflicting needs of all persons involved will be considered.
• Approved Animals may not be left overnight in University residences to be cared for by another student. Approved Animals must be taken with the Owner if the Owner leaves campus for a prolonged period, 6 to 8 hours.
• When an Approved Animal is left alone in a room or residence without a human, it must be kept in a crate, cage, carrier or other container at all times to insure that it will not interfere with University staff who may need to enter the unit.
• The student will cover all costs for cleaning, repair, and replacement to return the unit to the same condition as at move-in.
• Residence Life will inspect the residence unit on a regular basis, minimally once per semester. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are discovered, the unit will be treated using fumigation appropriate methods by University-approved pest control services, and the Owner’s account will be billed for any pest treatment expenses beyond standard pest management in campus residences.
• If the Owner moves to a different location within University housing, the Director of Residence Life will assign a Residence Life staff member to oversee the move, arranging for staff notification, training, and assistance with reintroduction of the animal to a new community.
• Should the Approved Animal be removed from the premises for any reason, the Owner is expected to fulfill his/her housing obligations.

The Owner is responsible for all costs of any damages to university property or the property of others caused by the approved Service Animal.

(NOTE: This policy has been adapted from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor website on 8/2018 and is subject to change based on any revisions to ADA law and guidelines.)

Download a PDF copy of the Service and Support Animal Accommodation Agreement for your reference.