University of Minnesota Duluth
POLICIES FOR USE OF A SERVICE ANIMAL

Policy List:

Service Animal Definition
Disability Definition
Documentation
Owner's Responsibilities
Behavior Expectations

University of Minnesota Duluth students with disabilities may require the use of a service animal for University access. In order to use a service animal within University housing and academic settings, and at University functions, all qualified students must provide appropriate documentation of a diagnosed condition and the associated functional limitations that create the substantial need for the use of a service animal from a licensed professional.

SERVICE ANIMAL DEFINITION

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as "...... any…animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items."

This definition means that 1) an individual must have a disability as defined by the ADA, and 2) the accompanying animal must be trained to do specific tasks for the qualified individual.

DISABILITY DEFINITION

In order to meet the adult criteria of "disability" under federal law a person must provide appropriate documentation of how his or her significant impairment substantially limits his or her functioning within the area for which they are requesting disability-based accommodations. A significant impairment means below-average functioning as measured through an objective evaluation by a professional qualified and licensed within the specialty area of concern.

DOCUMENTATION

The student must provide appropriate documentation of a diagnosed condition that substantiates the need for the use of a service animal on campus and at University functions. Such documentation must meet the following requirements:

• The report must indicate how the disability contributes to a significant impairment in functioning for which the accommodation is being provided.
• The report must include all diagnostic test scores or values that relate to the diagnosis and functional limitations.
• The report must substantiate the need for a service animal.
• The signed report must be completed by a qualified and licensed health care provider, and must be dated and on the official letterhead of the provider.
• The evaluation report must be relatively recent (typically within one year of the request). Documentation of conditions that are permanent or non-varying may not need to be recent, but should address the requested accommodations.

OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with the Disability Services and Resources Office, prior to receiving disability accommodations based upon that disorder. It is also the student’s responsibility to provide appropriate documentation of the disability and related functional limitations for which accommodations are being requested. Accommodations will be determined on an individual basis

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

Because service animals are in close proximity to students and others, they must be quiet, obedient and well-groomed. Specifically:

1. The service animal must be up-to-date with check-ups and vaccinations.
2. Vaccination and license tags must be displayed on the animal.
3. The student must provide documentation that shows that the service animal is trained to provide the necessary service.
4. All service animals must be well-behaved. Animals may not sniff or jump on others, bark excessively, growl, wander about, or engage in other unruly behavior.
5. Service animals must be under the control of the user at all times.
6. Service animals must be clean, groomed, and free of ticks or other pests.
7. Animals are to relieve themselves in designated locations only.
8. The animal user is responsible for promptly cleaning up after the animal.
9. The animal user is responsible for any property damage caused by the animal.
10. Service animals may be prohibited from areas that may be hazardous to the animal or its owner (mechanical equipment rooms, laboratories, etc.)
11. To assist the campus population in recognizing a service animal it is highly encouraged that service animals be identified by a marked harness or cape.

Infraction of any of these behaviors or polices may result in barring the service animal from campus property.

12/2007

Adapted from West Virginia University policies