Service & Emotional Support Animals

Disability

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.

Service Animal (Department of Justice definition)

A "service animal" is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Dogs (or in very rare circumstances, miniature horses) may be permitted as a service animal. Other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include guiding individuals who are blind or have low vision, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, or pulling a wheelchair.

Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort or companionship do not qualify as service animals.

Emotional Support Animal

An “emotional support animal” (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's mental health disability. There must be an identifiable and medically indicated relationship between the individual's mental health disability and the emotional support the animal provides. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living.

Pet

A Pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a service or emotional support animal. Please review the Animals on Campus and in Campus Buildings policy in the Student Handbook for further information.

Owner

The "owner" is the member of the Bucknell University community with a disability who has a service or emotional support animal.

An individual with a service animal who intends to reside in University housing should contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and/or Residential Education or Housing Services. The University will then be able to assign the student to the most appropriate housing location and alert building and Facilities staff in case of emergency, or if work needs to be done to the student's room.

Service animals do not require documentation of a disability. However, the University has every right to ask for verification of the animal's wellness and health, including a copy of any and all necessary vaccinations.

Residential building staff will be notified about the presence of a service animal as appropriate.

Residential Education and/or Housing Services staff will determine who might be moved to a different location in the event that one or more roommates do not approve of residing with a service animal.

When it is not readily apparent that the animal is a Service Animal, Bucknell University employees are asked to make two inquiries to determine whether the animal qualifies as a service animal, which are:

• Is the animal required because of your disability?
• What work or task has the animal been trained to perform for your disability?

Students with medical conditions that are affected by animals (such as respiratory diseases, asthma or severe allergies) are asked to contact the Office of Accessibility Resources if they have a health-related concern about exposure to a service animal. The University is prepared to also reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who will have a significant impact (such as anaphylaxis) when living in proximity to service animals.

• The owner is responsible for ensuring that the service animal does not unduly interfere with the routine activities of the residence or cause difficulties for students who reside there.
• The owner is financially responsible for the actions of the service animal, including bodily injury or property damage (for example, replacement of furniture, carpets, window and wall coverings). The owner will be required to reimburse the University for these costs, as well as any expenses incurred by the University for cleaning required as a result of the service animal. The University may bill the owner's student account for these costs.
• Service animals may travel freely with their owner throughout University housing and most other areas of the University (please see Areas off Limits to Service Animals).
• Service animals may not be left overnight in University Housing to be cared for by another student. An owner leaving campus for a prolonged period must remove the service animal from campus.
• The University is not responsible for a service animal during a fire alarm, fire drill or natural disaster.
• Housing Services may relocate owners and service animals to other housing consistent with University policy.
• Owners must continue to abide by all other residential policies.
• Any violation of this policy may result in immediate removal of the service animal from the University.
• Should the Service Animal be removed from the University for any reason, the owner is expected to fulfill the housing obligations for the remainder of the academic year.
• The owner must comply with animal health and wellbeing requirements.

Care and Supervision

Care and supervision of the service animal are the responsibility of the owner, who is required to maintain control of the animal at all times.

The owner is also responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the service animal's waste and must toilet the service animal in outdoor areas designated by the University consistent with the reasonable capacity of the owner. All animal waste must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied up before being disposed of in the appropriately labeled outside trash containers. All bathing/washing care of service animals must take place off campus.

If the owner is unable to ensure cleanup of the service animal, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and a plan will be established.

Animal Health and Well-being

• Vaccination: The service animal must be immunized against diseases. Service animals must have current vaccination against rabies and wear a rabies vaccination tag. Local licensing requirements must be followed.
• Health: Service animals should be in good health and provided care from a licensed veterinarian. The University has the authority to direct that the service animal receives veterinary attention if deemed necessary.
• Training: Service animals must be properly trained.
• Leash: A service animal must be kept on a leash, unless the leash would inhibit the animal's ability to be of service.

• They are to allow a service animal to accompany its owner at all times and in all places on campus, except where specifically prohibited (please see Areas off Limits to Service Animals).
• They are not to touch or pet a service animal.
• They are not to feed a service animal.
• They are not to deliberately startle or otherwise taunt a service animal.
• They are not to separate or to attempt to separate an owner from the owner's service animal.
• They are not to inquire regarding the nature of the owner's disability.

The University may exclude/remove a Service Animal if one of the following occurs.

1. The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
2. The animal's presence results in a fundamental alteration of the University's programming.
3. The owner fails to adhere to this policy.
4. The animal or its presence creates an unmanageable disturbance in or interference with the Bucknell community.

Owners of Service Animals are solely responsible for any damage to persons or property caused by their animals.

The University may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations because of health and safety restrictions (for example, where the animals may be in danger or where their use may compromise the integrity of research). Restricted areas may include, but are not limited to: custodial closets, boiler rooms, facility equipment rooms, research laboratories, classrooms with research/demonstration animals, areas where protective clothing is necessary, wood and metal shops, motor pools, rooms with heavy machinery and areas outlined in state law as being inaccessible to animals.

Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis by contacting the Office of Accessibility Resources.

Disability

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.

Service Animal (Department of Justice definition)

A "service animal" is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Dogs (or in very rare circumstances, miniature horses) may be permitted as a service animal. Other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include guiding individuals who are blind or have low vision, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds or pulling a wheelchair.

Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort or companionship do not qualify as service animals.

Emotional Support Animal

An “emotional support animal” (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's mental health disability. There must be an identifiable and medically indicated relationship between the individual's mental health disability and the emotional support the animal provides. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living.

Pet

A Pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a service or emotional support animal. Please review the Animals on Campus and in Campus Buildings policy in the Student Handbook for further information.

Owner

The "owner" is a member of the Bucknell University community with a disability who has a service or emotional support animal.

An emotional support animal is considered a housing accommodation, so the same process will be used as in the Housing
Accommodation Request process.

Learn more about the request process, including deadlines

Documentation Requirements

Documentation of the need for an Emotional Support Animal should come from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker or other licensed mental-health professional (who is not a family member). The documentation must be on professional letterhead, be signed by the treating professional, include the state in which the professional is licensed, and be dated within the last six months. The letter must indicate the disability, specifically prescribe an emotional support animal, and note what type of animal is recommended. The letter should also indicate that the animal will provide emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of an existing disability.

Please note:

• Students are permitted to have only one emotional support animal.
• Exotic animals or those animals that pose a disease threat to humans will not be allowed on campus.
• Pennsylvania law requires that practitioners be licensed in Pennsylvania in order to treat Pennsylvania residents. For the purposes of this documentation, practitioners must be licensed either in Pennsylvania or in the student's home state, if that is where the treatment is occurring.
• Recommendation for the emotional support animal must be part of a treatment plan with evidence of an existing and presumably ongoing therapeutic relationship.
• Information written on a prescription pad is not an appropriate format for documentation.

An animal wellness examination must be completed by a licensed veterinarian and submitted to the Office of Accessibility Resources prior to approval. This examination must list appropriate shots, age, weight, name and overall health of the animal.

The approval of an Emotional Support Animal is animal-specific. If a student intends to replace an emotional support animal, a new request and updated/current supportive documentation must be submitted to the Office of Accessibility Resources.

Students with medical conditions that are affected by animals (such as respiratory diseases, asthma or severe allergies) are asked to contact the Office of Accessibility Resources if they have a health-related concern about exposure to an emotional support animal. The University is prepared to also reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who will have a significant impact (such as anaphylaxis) when living in proximity to emotional support animals.

• The owner must abide by current city, county and state ordinances, laws and/or regulations pertaining to licensing, vaccination and other requirements for animals. It is the owner's responsibility to know and understand these ordinances, laws and regulations. The University has the right to require documentation of compliance with such ordinances, laws and/or regulations, which may include a vaccination certificate and proof of licensure.
• An owner will be charged for any damage caused by the emotional support animal beyond reasonable wear and tear. The University may inspect owner's living area for fleas, ticks or other pests, as necessary and consistent with the room entry policies. If fleas, ticks or other pests are detected through inspection, the University will treat the areas as appropriate. The owner will be billed for the expense of any pest treatment necessitated by the presence of the emotional support animal, including by applying such charges to the owner's University account.
• The owner is responsible for ensuring that the emotional support animal does not unduly interfere with the routine activities of the residence area.
• The animal must be completely house trained — for dogs: trained to urinate and defecate outside. No training pads are allowed.
• The owner is responsible for the actions of the emotional support animal, including financial obligations of bodily injury.
• The emotional support animal is allowed in University housing only as long as it is necessary because of the owner's mental health disability. The owner must notify the Office of Accessibility Resources in writing if the emotional support animal is no longer needed or is no longer in residence.
• Emotional support animals must be contained within the privately assigned residential areas at all times, except when transported outside the private residential areas in an animal carrier or controlled by leash or harness.
• Emotional support animals may not be left overnight in University housing to be cared for by any individual other than the owner. If the owner is to be absent from the owner's residence hall overnight or longer, the animal must accompany the owner.
• The owner must provide contact information for an alternative caregiver/emergency contact who will take responsibility of the emotional support animal and remove it from campus should the owner be unable to care for it (for example, due to hospitalization or accident). The caregiver/emergency contact must reside off campus and must be available to remove the emotional support animal in a timely manner appropriate for the animal species and needed care. Dogs must be removed within six hours. All other animals must be removed in no more than 12 hours. In instances where it is determined the emotional support animal needs care not being provided to ensure immediate health and well-being, the University reserves the right to have the animal removed from university housing. The University may have an emotional support animal removed from university housing if it is not removed in a timely manner as specified in this policy.
• The owner is responsible for ensuring that the emotional support animal is contained, as appropriate, when the owner is not present during the day while attending classes or other activities.
• Housing Services may relocate owners and emotional support animals to other housing consistent with University policy.
• Owners must continue to abide by all other residential policies.
• Information regarding the request for and presence of the emotional support animal may be disclosed to those individuals who may be impacted by the presence of the animal including, but not limited to, Residence Education personnel and potential and/or actual roommates and neighbors. Such information shall be limited to information related to the animal and shall not include information related to the owner's disability. Upon the Office of Accessibility Resources' approval of an emotional support animal, Housing Services, Residential Education, Facilities building staff, Public Safety, and any other key personnel, as well as potential or current roommates, will be notified as appropriate.
• Emotional support animals are not permitted in University facilities beyond the student's approved housing.

Care and Supervision

• Care and supervision of the emotional support animal are the responsibility of the owner, who must maintain control of the animal at all times.
• Bucknell personnel shall not be required to provide care or food for any emotional support animal including, but not limited to, removing the animal during emergency evacuation for events such as a fire alarm. In the event of an emergency, appropriate personnel will determine whether to remove the animal and may not be held responsible for the care of, injury to or loss of the animal.
• In the case of an emergency, the owner must have a backup plan including a caretaker's name and number to provide to the Office of Accessibility Resources, Housing Services and Residential Education.
• The owner is required to ensure the animal is well cared for at all times. Any evidence of neglect, mistreatment or abuse may result in immediate removal of the Office of Accessibility Resources and/or discipline for the responsible individual.
• The owner is also responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the emotional support animal’s waste and, when appropriate, must toilet the emotional support animal in outdoor areas designated by the University. All animal waste, including cat litter, must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied up before being disposed of in the appropriately labeled outside trash containers. Litter boxes must be placed on mats so that waste is not tracked onto carpeted surfaces. All bathing/washing care of emotional support animals must take place off campus.

Animal Health and Well-being

• Vaccination: The emotional support animal must be immunized against diseases common to that type of animal. Dogs must have current vaccination against rabies and wear a rabies vaccination tag. Cats should have the normal shots required for a healthy animal. Local licensing requirements must be followed.
• Health: Emotional support animals must have an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian. Documentation should be an animal wellness check from a veterinarian regarding the emotional support animal's health. The University has the authority to direct that the emotional support animal receives veterinary attention, but has no obligation to do so.
• Licensing: The University may require documentation showing that the emotional support animal is properly licensed.
• Leash: An emotional support animal must be kept on a leash (if appropriate).
• Other Conditions: The Office of Accessibility Resources may place other reasonable conditions or restrictions on an emotional support animal depending on the nature and characteristics of the animal.

The University may remove an emotional support animal if there is substantial objective evidence that:

1. The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or causes substantial property damage to the property of others.
2. The animal's presence results in a fundamental alteration of the University's programming.
3. The owner does not comply with the owner's responsibilities set forth above.
4. The animal or its presence creates an unreasonable disturbance in or interference with the Bucknell community.

Note: If the ESA is required to be removed from the University for any reason, the owner is still required to fulfill housing obligations for the remainder of the academic year.