Service Animals on Campus Guidelines and Procedures

I. Policy

It is the policy of Central Piedmont Community College that individuals are generally prohibited from bringing pets, defined as “a domestic animal kept for pleasure or companionship," onto College property or into facilities controlled by the College. However, the College welcomes the presence of animals on campus when consistent with the provisions of this policy the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

II. Guidelines and Procedures

Classifications

A. Service Animals for Students and Visitors

  1. A service animal for students and visitors, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, is any dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a student or visitor with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed must be directly related to the student’s or visitor’s disability. The potential crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence, or the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship, do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accompaniment of these animals with students, visitors, or employees will be considered by Disability and Access Services on a case-by-case basis.
  2. In limited circumstances, miniature horses may qualify as service animals for students and visitors. To qualify in this circumstance, authorization must be granted by Disability and Access Services.

B. Service Animals for Employees

Employees with disabilities who wish to bring an animal on campus as part of a reasonable accommodation should submit a request to Disability and Access Services, consistent with Central Piedmont Policy 1.26, and comply with the provisions of College policy.

C. Service-Animals-In-Training for All Individuals

A service-animal-in-training is an animal brought to campus by a trainer for the purpose of training the animal to become a service animal for individuals with disabilities, and is allowed in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes 168-4.2.B and the provisions of College policy.

  1. Visiting trainers must provide prior documentation to Disability and Access Services, demonstrating that the animal is a service-animal-in-training, and they must adhere to the responsibilities outlined in these procedures.
  2. Student trainers must provide prior documentation to Disability and Access Services, demonstrating that the animal is a service-animal-in training, and they must adhere to the responsibilities outlined in these procedures.
  3. Employee trainers must provide prior documentation to the Office of Human Resources demonstrating that the animal is a service-animal-in training, and they must adhere to the responsibilities outlined in these procedures.

III. Places of Access

A. Service animals and service-animals-in-training are permitted to accompany students and visitors with disabilities and student or visitor trainers in all areas of the College’s campuses and facilities where the individual is normally allowed to go.

Animals approved as part of an accommodation and service-animals-in-training are permitted to accompany employees with disabilities and employee trainers in all areas of the College’s campuses and facilities where the employee is normally allowed to go.

The College may, however, prohibit the presence of animals in certain locations where health or safety restrictions prevent their presence; where animals may be in danger; or, where the presence of animals may cause health issues. Examples include laboratories, food preparation areas, mechanical rooms, or other places where the health or safety of others may be compromised.

B. The appropriate College office will be consulted by Disability and Services when determining if the presence of the animal can be allowed. If the animal cannot be present, every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodation to help the individual have equal access to perform the required tasks.

IV. Requirements

A. No request by a student or visitor to bring a service animal on campus is required, and no documentation supporting the need for a service animal is required. A student or visitor does not need to register the service animal with the College in order to be accompanied by a service animal. However, when the need for a service animal by a student or visitor is not readily apparent, College staff may make the following two inquiries of the individual:

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

B. Although not required to do so, students and visitors who wish to bring service animals to campus are encouraged to voluntarily make that known to Disability and Access Services (Students) or the Office of the President (Visitors). Advance notice can facilitate effective communication with College staff and provide more flexibility in meeting an individual’s specific needs.

C. An animal will not be permitted on campus if it behaves in a way that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, has a history of such behavior, or is not under the control of the owner/handler.

V. Procedures and Responsibilities Regarding Animals on Campus

All individuals are responsible for complying with the College’s Policies and Procedures.

A. Responsibility for the Animals

  1. The owner/handler is fully responsible for:

    1. The care and supervision of the animal, including toileting, feeding, grooming, veterinary care, and cleaning up after the animal and including any associated costs;
    2. The well-being of the animal; and,
    3. Any damage or injury caused by the animal.
  2. Evidence of mistreatment or abuse may result in immediate removal of the animal and/or discipline for the owner/handler.

B. Animal Health and Hygiene

  1. Animals must be current on all state and local vaccination requirements. The College may, in its discretion, require the owner/handler to provide documentation establishing that such vaccination requirements have been met.
  2. Animals must be housebroken.

C. Control over the Animal

  1. The owner/handler must be in full control of the animal at all times; the animal may not be left unattended at any time.
  2. An animal must have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the owner/handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the animal must be otherwise under the owner’s/handler’s control.
  3. Upon approval of the President or designee, an animal may be removed from campus if it is out of control, such as uncontrolled barking, wandering, displaying aggressive behavior, and the owner/handler does not take effective action to control it; if it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others; or if it is not housebroken.

D. Identification

  1. It is recommended, but not required, that animals for individuals with disabilities wear some type of commonly recognized identification symbol indicating the animal is a working animal.
  2. A service-animal-in-training must wear a collar and leash, harness, or cape that identifies the animal as a service-animal-in-training.

VI. Conflicts

A. Students who come into contact with an animal on campus regularly and who experience reactions to the animal should contact Disability and Access Services.

B. Employees who come into contact with an animal on campus regularly and who experience reactions to the animal should contact the Office of Human Resources.

Related Policies

The Latest at Central Piedmont