TAP No. 59: Animals on Campus 

Scope

This policy applies to all University students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Purpose

Animals on campus can pose risks to the campus community. The University, therefore, has developed a policy to define categories of animals which are anticipated to be present from time to time on the University's campus and to set forth guidelines regarding their presence on campus and handler/owner responsibilities. This policy does not apply to research animals, wild animals, police K9 units, and/or animals used in pest management.

I. Policy

  1.  Service Animals:

    A service animal is any dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks to accommodate an individual with a disability. A service animal may also be a miniature horse where the miniature horse can be reasonably accommodated in accordance with ADA assessment factors.

    Service animals are typically permitted anywhere on campus where the animal's handler/owner is permitted. There are, however, some limited locations on campus where a service animal might not be permitted such as where a sterile environment will be compromised. A handler/owner may be asked to remove his or her service animal from campus where the service animal is uncontrolled and the handler/owner cannot control it or where the animal is not housebroken.

    University students, faculty, and staff who intend to bring a service animal onto campus are required to register with the Office of Disability Services and follow all requirements established by that office and TAP No. 56: Americans with Disabilities Act and Requests for Reasonable Accommodations.
  2. Emotional Support Animals:

    An emotional support animal is an animal that has been approved as a reasonable accommodation in accordance with TAP No. 56.

    Emotional support animals are not permitted in academic or administrative buildings unless otherwise approved by the Office of Disability Services in accordance with the requirements established by that office and TAP No. 56.

    An individual with a disability who is living in University housing may be permitted to have an emotional support animal present in University housing as long as approval has been granted by the Office of Disability services in accordance with the requirements established by that office and TAP No. 56.
  3. Therapy Animals:

    A therapy animal is an animal brought on to campus for the purpose of providing comfort to the campus community. The University, in its discretion, may from time to time permit trained therapy animals to be present on campus during such times as finals week.

    Students, faculty, or staff wishing to work with an outside agency to bring the therapy animal(s) onto campus must comply with the following: 1) the location for the event with the therapy animal(s) must be approved by Conference and Event Services, 2) outdoor location should be prioritized, 3) the outside agency must provide certificates of insurance and sign a University Hold Harmless Agreement, 4) proper signage must be posted near the event area to enable individuals with allergies and other concerns to avoid the area, and 5) animal hair must be cleaned and removed from the event location after the event. The University Hold Harmless Agreement may be obtained by contacting Risk Management.
  4. Pets:

    A pet is an animal that is not trained or used as a service, emotional support, or therapy animal, but is instead kept for recreation and companionship.

    The University may impose restrictions on the presence of pets on campus from time to time in its discretion. In all cases, pets are not permitted on athletic fields or inside indoor spaces owned or controlled by the University. Dogs are permitted to be present on campus at outdoor events, including football and soccer games.

    The University recognizes that an individual may choose to keep fish in a bowl or tank in his or her office or living learning center room . Individuals who are living in University housing must comply with Residence Life policies regarding keeping fish as pets, including restrictions related to the size of the fishbowl or tank. Individuals are not permitted to keep carnivorous fish as pets. In all cases, the individual is responsible for the care and feeding of the fish and the cleaning/maintenance of the fish bowl or tank.

    Exceptions to this policy with respect to pets on campus may be made on a case by case basis in consultation with appropriate University offices.
  5. Animal Owner/Handler Responsibilities:

    In addition to any specific requirements otherwise described in this Policy, all animal handlers/owners must also acknowledge and comply with the following provisions regarding their obligations with respect to the behavior and care of their animals:
    1. Dangerous, poisonous, or illegal animals are not permitted on campus.
    2. Animals may not be left unattended or tied to any objects.
      1. It is acceptable for students who are handlers/owners of service animals or emotional support animals to leave such service and emotional support animals unattended within the confines of the student owner/handler's University residence.
    3. Animals must be housebroken.
    4. Animals must be vaccinated in accordance with local laws and university policies/guidelines and meet all other licensing requirements.
    5. The University will require all animals which are uncontrolled, disruptive, and/or which pose a threat to the health or safety of others to be removed from campus.
    6. An animal's behavior, noise, odor, and waste must not exceed reasonable standards and these factors must not create an unreasonable disruption. The handler/owner must maintain his or her animal's hygiene. The handler/owner is responsible for waste removal and for otherwise cleaning up after their animal.
    7. The owner/handler is responsible for the animal at all times, including financially responsible for bodily injury or property damage caused by the animal.
    8. The University is not responsible for harm to animals on campus caused by the University's use, from time to time, of cleaning supplies, de-icing materials, and other materials used in the maintenance and operations of the University's facilities.

II. Related Information

TAP No. 56, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Requests for Reasonable Accommodations

Residence Life Handbook

Environmental Health and Safety guidelines and policies

Office of Disability Services guidelines and policies

Americans with Disabilities Act

Pennsylvania Human Relations Act

Fair Housing Act

III. Violations

Violations of this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Employees are subject to formal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Students are subject to the non-exhaustive list of disciplinary sanctions in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct for violations of the Code.

IV. History

Adopted: October 2019

V. Ownership of Policy

Environmental Health and Safety; Office of Disability Services