Animals on Campus

Handler

A person with a disability that a service animal assists or a personal care attendant who handles the animal for a person with a disability.

Service Animals

The work or tasks performed must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Service animals are not therapy animals, nor are they pets.

A miniature horse may qualify under particular circumstances set forth in the ADA regulations 28 CFR 35.136.

Owner

A student with a disability and an approved assistance animal

Assistance Animal

Often referred to as an emotional support animal. This animal is one that is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy University housing. An assistance animal may provide physical assistance, emotional support, calming, stability and other kinds of assistance.

Assistance Animals do not perform work or tasks that would qualify them as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. An assistance animal is not limited to dogs, however, ERAU reserves the right to exclude certain animals from campus.

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in all places of public accommodation when the animal is accompanied by a handler who indicates that the service animal is trained to provide and does provide a specific service to them that is directly related to their disability.

In general, Embry-Riddle will not ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability and will not require documentation of proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal. However, when it is not readily apparent that an animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, Embry-Riddle can make two inquiries to determine whether the animal qualifies as a service animal:

• Is the dog (or miniature horse) a service animal that is required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the dog (or miniature horse) been trained to perform?

Embry-Riddle may not permit service animals when the animal poses a substantial and direct threat to health or safety, or when the presence of the animal constitutes a fundamental alteration to the nature of the program or service. Florida Statute 413.08(8) specifically states: “Any trainer of a service animal, while engaged in the training of such an animal, has the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities and the same liability for damage as is provided for those persons described in subsection (3) accompanied by service animals.”

Questions related to an animal on campus can be directed to:

• Director of Disability Support Service, dbdss@erau.edu, 386-226-7916

Exceptions, considered on a case-by-case basis, could include areas that necessitate protective clothing, mechanical/facility equipment rooms, and areas that present a health or safety risk to the service animal.

Students who wish to bring a service animal to campus are strongly encouraged to partner with the Disability Support Services Office, especially if other academic accommodations are required. Additionally, students who plan to live in on-campus housing are strongly encouraged to inform Housing and Dining Services that they plan to have a service animal with them in student housing.

Advance notice of a service animal for on-campus housing may allow more flexibility in meeting student’s specific requests for housing.

The service animal must be at all times under the control of the handler when outside of the handler’s personal residence.

Emotional Support Animals are only allowed in the student's residence hall room or temporarily in outdoor areas  They are not allowed in classrooms, dining halls or other areas around campus..

To request a comfort or emotional support animal, please provide:

• A written request to the office of Disability Support Services (DSS) including a description of the animal
• Documentation of a disability diagnosis
• Documentation showing the link between the animal and the disability
• A signed Emotional Support Animal Agreement
• A signed Emotional Support Animal Request

Final decision of the request will be made by DSS, and the decision will be forwarded to Housing. Approved assistance animals in University Housing must also meet ERAU requirements/policies for animal health and behavior.

Note: Once an ESA is approved, housing assignment may be changed if there are roommates with allergies, or the animal’s arrival to campus may be delayed until appropriate housing accommodations become available.

• Vaccinations; cost of care, arrangements, and responsibilities for the well-being of the animal
• Any damage or injuries caused by their animals
• Property damage
• Clean up after their animal's waste. Always carry equipment sufficient to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal is on campus. Proper disposal of animal waste must be immediate.
• Overnight care of the animal. The animal cannot be left overnight in the care of roommates or anyone other than the handler.

It is unacceptable for a service or assistance animal to exhibit:

• Poor health, lack of cleanliness, and/or aggressive behavior
• Disruptive behavior - properly trained service animals should be housebroken and completely socialized. A socialized animal has a good disposition, does not exhibit fear, and is calm in the presence of another animal.
• Disruptive noises (barks, growl) and is not aggressive.
• Inability to be controlled or managed by the handler.
• Animal is left overnight on campus in the care of a person other than the handler.

• Touching: As with any unknown animal, one should never attempt to touch or interact prior to asking permission of the accompanying individual.
• Petting: Do not pet a service animal. Petting distracts the animal from its work and could create a hazard for the person with a disability.
• Feeding: Do not feed a service animal. The animal may be on a prescribed diet; feeding it could cause the animal to become ill.
• Harassing: Do not tease or deliberately attempt to startle or frighten the animal.
• Separating: Do not separate the person with a disability from his/her service animal for any reason.
• Questions: Do not attempt to answer any questions related to animals on campus, but direct them to the office of Disability Support Services or Campus Safety.

Some people may have allergic reactions to animals that are substantial enough to qualify as disabilities. ERAU will consider the needs of both persons in meeting its obligations to reasonably accommodate all disabilities and to resolve the problem as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. Students requesting allergy accommodations should contact Disability Support Services.