Animals on campus
Animals are generally not permitted in University buildings with some exceptions, such as service animals, service animals in training, and assistance animals determined to be a reasonable accommodation by the DRC, among others. The information below is intended to help students, employees, and visitors understand the difference between various kinds of animals, where they are permitted, and when they may be removed.
Service Animals (Service Dogs)
Definition
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.
Disabled individuals may be accompanied by their service dogs on all areas of University of Arizona 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 the DRC.
Service dogs do not need to be approved by the DRC 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 Staff Can Ask
The University is only permitted to ask the following questions to determine if a dog is a service dog:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- 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 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.
Service Animals (Dogs) in Training
Definition
In Arizona, 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 dorms, classrooms, the workplace, and other areas as a reasonable accommodation through the DRC.
See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.
Assistance Animal
Definition
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.
Individuals must request to use an assistance animal in housing, classrooms, the work environment, or other buildings/facilities as a reasonable accommodation through the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
- If you are not affiliated with the DRC, complete the appropriate form for your University classification:
- Employee Accommodation Request Form.
- DRC Student Affiliation Form.
Employees and students are required to submit the Assistance Animal Medical Provider Form. Based on the information provided, DRC 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.
Disclosing Information About Assistance Animals
As part of the process of determining whether an assistance animal is reasonable, DRC may disclose the request to individuals such as roommates or officemates, 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, DRC may disclose this information to others who may be impacted by the presence of the assistance animal (e.g., Housing and Residential Life staff, potential and/or actual roommate(s) neighbors, or officemates). 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 the DRC finds the presence of an assistance animal reasonable in one location, e.g., in the dorms, 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 Staff Can Ask
If University staff have determined an animal is not a service animal or service animal in training, staff can ask the following question to determine if an animal is an assistance animal:
- Has the DRC determined that this animal is an assistance animal that may be present as a reasonable accommodation?
If an individual answers yes, University staff should not ask any subsequent questions, but may contact the DRC at (520) 621-3268 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 staff should refer the person to the DRC at (520) 621-3268.
See the section on Owner Responsibilities and Removal of Animals for more information.
