Campus Guide for Service Animals

Animals on Campus Policy Guide

See the Animals on Campus Policy here.

What is a Service Animal?

A “Service Animal” is defined as a dog or a miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a trained Service Animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Service Animals are defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Washington State Law Against Discrimination (WLAD).

Where are service animals permitted?

Service animals are permitted in all university facilities and programs where members of the public are allowed access. (Students may bring their service animal anywhere students are permitted, see the faculty service animal guidance.)

Employees

Service animal owners who use an animal during their employment can seek accommodation by contacting Human Resources.

What questions can I ask of a person who brings an animal into a university facility or program?

If it is readily apparent that an animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability (e.g., a Guide Dog for a blind individual), you should not ask any questions about the animal.

If it is not readily apparent what role or status the animal has you may ask the individual the following two questions to determine if the animal is a Service Animal:

  1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task is the animal trained to perform?

You may NOT:

  1. Ask an individual with a Service Animal about the nature or extent of their disability;
  2. Require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a Service Animal;
  3. Require the animal to perform a task it has been trained to perform; or
  4. Ask any questions if it is readily apparent that the animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability

Why isn’t the animal wearing a vest or have paperwork?

Federal and State laws do not require Service Animals to be identified by a vest or paperwork and likewise the university cannot require vests or paperwork either.  Federal and state law also prohibits a place of public accommodation, such as a university, from requiring that Service Animals be registered with the university.

Does the animal need to be leashed?

Service Animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the Service Animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents use of these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or use of other effective controls. ADA (42 USC 12101 et seq.))

Service animal owner’s responsibilities

The service animal’s owner is responsible for:

  • Keeping the animal under direct control
  • Ensuring that the animal is not disruptive
  • Cleaning up after the animal immediately and disposing of waste and debris promptly
  • Dealing with any damage or injury caused by the service animal

University employees may not ask a handler to remove their Service Animal from a University premises unless:

  • The animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it;
  • The animal is not housebroken;
  • The animal is in a prohibited area; or
  • The animal injures or attempts to injure a person or property.

Prior to requesting removal, the handler is first afforded the opportunity to bring the animal under control. If the behavior persists, a University employee may request that the handler immediately remove the animal from the facility.