Animals on Campus

URP 01.245 Animals on Campus

A service animal is a dog, or a miniature horse when reasonable, that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.

Individuals with disabilities can train service dogs themselves and are not required to use professional programs.

Examples

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• A dog that is trained to alert an individual when blood sugar reaches high or low levels.
• A dog that is trained to remind an individual to take medication.
• A dog that is trained to pick up items.
• A dog that is trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action, such as lead a person away.

Service Dogs at TWU

Disabled individuals may be accompanied by their service dogs on all areas of TWU campuses, unless the presence of the service dog would be a fundamental alteration of the program or service.

Departments, instructors, and employees should not determine a service dog is a fundamental alteration without consulting DSS.

Service dogs do not need to be approved by DSS as a reasonable accommodation. A service animal identification vest or harness is not required.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

Questions University Faculty/Staff Can Ask

The University is only permitted to ask the following questions to determine if a dog is a service dog:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

If an individual answers yes to the first question and identifies work or a task that the dog performs, University faculty/staff should not ask any subsequent questions. If an individual answers no to the first question or does not identify work or a tasks, the animal could be a service animal in training, assistance animal, therapy animal, or pet. Review the sections on these animals for additional information.

In Texas, disabled individuals and trainers may take dogs being trained as service dogs to public places for training purposes to the same extent as service dogs that are already trained. In addition, individuals with disabilities may request to be accompanied by service dogs in training in residence halls, classrooms, the workplace, and other areas as a reasonable accommodation through DSS.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

A program animal (sometimes referred to as a therapy animal) can be any type of animal that has been screened to behave appropriately when interacting with people in places where pets are traditionally not allowed and whose participation in a University service program has been approved by a Department Head or Director. The owner/handler is not required to be disabled.

Examples

• Programs for students to pet dogs or other animals during finals
• Programs that allow people to pet a dog before getting a vaccine

Program Animals on Campus

The presence of a program animal(s) at the TWU must be approved by the Department Head or the Director of the unit that is hosting the program or event in which the program animal is involved. This approval does not extend to buildings or facilities that the Department Head or Director does not oversee.

A program animal is not required to wear an identification vest or harness.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

Question University Faculty/Staff Can Ask

If University faculty/staff have determined an animal is not a service animal, service animal in training, or assistance animal, faculty/staff can ask the following question to determine if an animal is a program animal:

1. Has the presence of this animal and its participation in a service program been approved by a Department Head or Director?

University faculty/staff may ask which Department Head has provided approval and contact the Department Head for verification. If an individual answers no, this animal is likely a pet. Review the pets section for additional information.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

URP 01.245 Animals on Campus

Assistance Animals are a category of animals that may work, provide assistance, or perform physical tasks for an individual with a disability and/or provide necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of an individual’s disability, but which are not considered service animals under the ADAAA.

Includes: Emotional support animals, comfort animals, companion animals

Note: Assistance Animals are distinguished from service animals in that they have not been individually trained.

Examples

• A cat that helps an individual with a disability feel more calm because of its presence.
• A dog that helps an individual with a disability focus better when the individual pets it.

Requesting an Assistance Animal at the TWU

Students must request to use an assistance animal in housing, classrooms, the work environment, or other buildings/facilities as a reasonable accommodation through the Disability Services for Students (DSS).

• Students who are not currently registered follow the New Student Registration process to receive accommodations.
• Registered DSS students should contact their assigned DSS Coordinator.
• Students are required to submit the Emotional Service Animal Request Form.

DSS will make a determination on a case-by-case basis about whether the presence of the assistance animal is reasonable and may consider the following factors, among others:

• Whether the size of the animal is too large for a space, such as available assigned housing;
• Whether the animal’s vaccinations are up-to date;
• Whether the animal’s presence would force another individual from individual housing or another location (e.g. serious allergies)
• Whether the animal’s presence in housing otherwise violates individuals’ right to peace and quiet enjoyment;
• Whether the animal causes or has caused excessive damages to housing or other property beyond reasonable wear and tear;
• Whether the animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to individuals or other animals such as aggressive behavior or injuring an individual or other animal

Students approved for ESAs will be required to provide updated animal health records (rabies vaccines, etc.) and City of Denton registration to DSS annually. 

Disclosing Information About Assistance Animals

As part of the process of determining whether an assistance animal is reasonable, DSS may disclose the request to individuals such as roommates, who may be impacted by the presence of an assistance animal, e.g. because of animal allergies. 

Additionally, if it is determined that it is reasonable for an individual to have an assistance animal as an accommodation, DSS may disclose this information to others who may be impacted by the presence of the assistance animal (e.g., Housing and Residence Life staff, potential and/or actual roommate(s) or neighbors). This information will be shared with the intent of preparing for the presence of the assistance animal or resolving any potential issues associated with the assistance animal. 

Approved assistance animals are not required to wear an identification vest or harness.

If DSS finds the presence of an assistance animal reasonable in one location, e.g., housing, this does not mean it is reasonable for an individual to take the animal to other University buildings/facilities, e.g. the Library, classrooms, or athletic events.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

Questions University Faculty/Staff Can Ask

If University faculty/staff have determined an animal is not a service animal or service animal in training, faculty/staff can ask the following question to determine if an animal is an assistance animal:

1. Has DSS determined that this animal is an assistance animal that may be present as a reasonable accommodation?

If an individual answers yes, University faculty/staff should not ask any subsequent questions, but may contact DSS at (940) 898-3835 to verify the information. If an individual answers no, this animal could be a therapy animal or pet. Review the sections on these animals for additional information.

If the individual answers no, but would like the animal to be considered an assistance animal, University faculty/staff should refer the person to DSS at (940) 898-3835.

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

Any type of animal owned by an individual that is not a service animal, service animal in training, assistance animal, or program animal.

Examples

• A dog being walked by his owner in the mall
• A puppy being fostered by a student that may later be trained as a service animal

Pets at TWU

Pets are only permitted in outdoor, public areas of the TWU campus. Pets are not permitted in TWU buildings or facilities or at TWU events except on designated days. 

See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.

The University is not responsible for the custody or care of a service dog, service dog in training, assistance animal (emotional support animal), or program animal.

Owners/handlers must:

• Be in control of their animals at all times, e.g. not allow the animal to run at large, bark, growl, snap, lunge, or bite.
• Keep animals in a carrier or controlled by a leash or harness, with the following exceptions: 1) when an animal is in the owner’s room in University Housing; 2) If an individual’s disability precludes the use of a restraint or 3) if a service dog needs to be off leash to do its job (e.g., a dog trained to enter a space to check if there are threats and then return and signal to an owner that it is safe to enter).
• Clean up after and properly dispose of animal waste in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Be responsible for the cost of any damages caused by the animal.
• Follow city, county, and state ordinances/laws or regulations pertaining to licensing, vaccination, and other requirements for animals.

Owners/handlers may be required to follow additional requirements in particular settings, e.g., University Housing, classrooms, or the work environment.

University faculty/staff may ask that animals be removed from campus under the following circumstances:

• The animal is in a University building and does not meet the definition of a service dog, service dog in training, assistance animal (emotional support animal), or program animal.
• The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or causes substantial property damage.
• The animal or its presence creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference with the University community.
• The animal’s presence results in a fundamental alteration of a University program.
• An owner/handler does not comply with the responsibilities listed above.

Depending on the circumstances, an animal may be excluded from campus on a permanent basis.

For service dogs, unless there is a threat to health or safety, University faculty/staff should provide the individual an opportunity to bring the dog under control. For more information about service dogs or assistance animals, please contact DSS at (940) 898-3835.

If an owner/handler refuses to remove an animal from a TWU building or authorized event, University faculty/staff may request assistance from the building manager or the individual(s) in charge of the event.

If there is an issue or suspected issue concerning safety due to an animal, contact the Texas Woman's University Department of Public Safety at 940-898-2911.  If an individual believes the removal or exclusion of a service dog or assistance animal was in violation of the ADA or other law/policy, they may contact the University’s ADA Coordinator at 940.898.3615 to review that decision or file a complaint with the Office of Civility and Community.