Service Animal & Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

Monmouth College is committed to providing a supportive environment for students with disabilities as well as complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADAAAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act.

Service animals are dogs specifically trained to assist people with disabilities in the activities of daily living. The ADAAA, as amended, defines a service animal as “an animal that does work or performs tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (including psychiatric, cognitive, and mental).” Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not service animals and are addressed in the College’s Emotional Support Animal Policy. Other than dogs, the only type of animal that can be considered a service animal under the ADAAA is a miniature horse, though miniature horses may be subject to somewhat greater restrictions than Service Dogs. Given the rarity of the use of miniature horses as service animals, in the rest of this policy, “Service Dogs” will be used when referring to service animals.

A Service Dog may accompany the individual with a disability everywhere on campus except in rare situations where safety may be compromised or where a Service Dog may interfere with the fundamental nature of the activities being conducted. Students with disabilities who require a Service Dog on-campus are requested to self-identify as a person with a disability to the Accessibility Services Office as soon as possible after deciding to enroll at the College. The Student Access & Support Specialist will provide information on expectations for the Service Dog to the student and communicate to other college community members to ease the transition of the student.

For students living in campus housing with a Service Dog, the College requests that the student provide as much advance notice as possible prior to the desired move-in date so that College can best accommodate the student and the animal. A meeting may be arranged between the student and the Student Access & Support Specialist to discuss how to best accommodate the student, the Service Dog and the campus community.

The care and supervision of the Service Dog is solely the responsibility of the student and should comply with the following guidelines:

• The student must be in full control of the Service Dog at all times.
• Service Dogs must always be accompanied by the student owner and not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of persons on the college campus, cause physical damage to property, or fundamentally alter the nature of the College operations.
• The Service Dog must be maintained (kept clean, free from fleas or tics, etc.).
• The Service Dog must be compliant with vaccinations, licensing, noise, and restraint in accordance with state and Warren County laws.
• The Service Dog’s behavior, noise, odor, and waste must not exceed reasonable standards for a well-behaved animal. These factors should not create unreasonable disruptions for other residents. If the noise (whining or barking) is excessive as judged by residence life staff, it is grounds to remove the Service Dog from campus. Service Dogs may be excluded from the college campus if the Service Dog behaves in an unacceptable way and/or the student does not control the Service Dog.
• Service Animals should be under the control using a harness, leash, or other tether apart from being in the student’s However, in cases where either the student is unable to hold a tether because of a disability or its use would interfere with the animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, the Service Dog must be under the student’s control by some other means, such as voice control.
• Any suspected or observed issues related to animal abuse or neglect will be reported to the Director of Residence Life and Head Judicial Officer and may subject the student to college disciplinary action as well.
• The student is responsible for immediately cleaning up and properly disposing of the Service Dog’s waste and is responsible for having the equipment to do so. Students who are physically unable to accomplish this task are responsible for arranging for it to be done. The College retains the right to designate a particular area for the Service Dogs to relieve themselves and/or for the disposal of their waste.
• The student, not the College, is responsible for the actions of the Service Dog including bodily injury or property damage. Students with Service Dogs are likely to be charged if additional cleaning or damage occurs as a result of having the Service Dog on campus. The student is expected to pay these costs upon repair or cleaning.
• The College retains the right to remove the Service Dog, at the student’s expense, should the Service Dog become a direct threat to the health and safety of others or violates these requirements in any way.

 

Monmouth College is committed to providing a supportive environment for students with disabilities as well as complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADAAAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act. In addition, this policy will ensure the safety and privacy of students, employees, and visitors on campus.

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), a person with an appropriately documented disability may keep an emotional support animal in the individual’s dwelling when there is an established need for the therapeutic nature of the animal that is connected to the individual’s disability.

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. An assistance animal is not a pet. The ESA is indicated as necessary for an individual with a disability by an appropriate and relevant healthcare professional. They do not have to be trained; their very existence and presence is what helps their students overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. Unlike s, the ADA does not protect ESAs. [Note: Any website claiming to “register” or “certify” your animal to be an ESA or (especially if they charge a fee) is a scam with no legal bearing and is never a substitute for following the policy and procedures to have an ESA at Monmouth College or anywhere else.

An ESA may be a reasonable accommodation for a student with a diagnosed disability within the student’s privately assigned living space. Students may qualify for this accommodation if (1) the student has a documented disability; (2) the animal is necessary to afford the student with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling; and (3) there is an identifiable and documented nexus between the disability and the assistance that the animal provides. The College will allow only those ESAs that are allowed by local and state laws and conform to standards within this policy.

Once a student completes the Disclosure to New Accommodations form, the Student Access & Support Specialist will communicate with the student to provide further instruction. Student must receive an approval from the Student Access & Support Specialist prior to bringing their animal to campus. If the student does not have authorization, they can’t have their animal on campus. If they are found to have an animal on campus without approval, that animal must be removed immediately. Therefore, students are to follow the deadlines indicated for all housing accommodation requests (new students for fall - July 17, spring - December 1, and for returning students, March 1). The Accessibility Services Office will review documentation, like all accommodations, to determine whether or not an ESA will be permitted. This is made on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process between the student and the Student Access & Support Specialist.

Upon approval, the Student Access & Support Specialist will notify the Residence Life Office and the student. Students should note that housing options may be limited as the College balances appropriate accommodations to other students with disabilities, students who have allergies, and/or have animal fears.

Requirements for Emotional Support Animals

The care and supervision of the ESA is solely the responsibility of the student. The student must be in full control of the ESA at all times. ESAs may not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of persons on the college campus, cause physical damage to property, or fundamentally alter the nature of the College operations.

An ESA can be a dog, cat, small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, fish, turtle or other small, domesticated animal that is traditionally kept in the home.

• The student is financially responsible for the actions of the animal including bodily injury or property damage including but not limited to the replacement or cleaning of damaged furniture, carpet, window, and wall coverings, etc.
• The student must notify the Accessibility Services Office in writing if the animal is no longer needed or is no longer in the student’s residence.
• The animal’s behavior, noise, odor, and waste must not exceed reasonable standards for a well-behaved animal. These factors should not create unreasonable disruptions for other residents. If the noise is excessive as judged by residence life staff, it is grounds to remove the animal from campus.
• The student’s residence may be inspected by Residence Life Staff for fleas, ticks, or other pests once a semester or as If Residence Life determines that fumigation is needed the student will be responsible for the expenses associated with the treatment.
• Any suspected or observed issues related to animal abuse or neglect will be reported to the Associate Dean for Students & Director of Residence Life and may subject the student to college disciplinary action as well.
• The College retains the right to remove the animal, at the student’s expense, should it cause significant damage to property or become a direct threat to the health and safety of others or violates these requirements in any way.
• Animals may not be left overnight in the student’s residence to be cared for by someone else. Animals must be taken with the student if they leave their college residence for a prolonged period. A student who leaves their animal unattended for longer than a reasonable period will receive one warning, and if the behavior occurs a second time, the student will be required to remove the animal from campus and prohibited from bringing the animal back onto college

Dogs

• Dogs must be at least 12 months of age to live on campus.
• Dogs must be housebroken.
• Dogs must be compliant with vaccinations in accordance with state and Warren County laws.
• A copy of the veterinarian’s report must be on file with the Accessibility Services Office.
• Dogs must be crated as appropriate when not present.
• Dogs must be free of fleas and ticks.
• Dogs must always be kept on a leash when outside the student’s residence and while on any property owned or under the control of the college.
• Dogs must possess friendly and sociable characteristics. Any dog that displays threatening behavior, including territorial behavior, shall be removed from campus upon the direction of the Accessibility Services Office and Residence Life.

Domestic Cats

• Feral cats (cats that cannot be handled and which display unsocial behavior toward humans) are not permitted to be used as support animals and do not meet the definition of a “domestic cat”.
• A copy of the veterinarian’s report must be on file with the Accessibility Services Office.
• Cats must be free of fleas and ticks.
• Cats must be housebroken, meaning that cats must be litter box trained and an appropriate enclosed litter box manufactured for the purpose must be used.
• The cat must be kept in a closed carrier when being transported to and from the support animal student’s residence. Cats must never be allowed to run freely.

Other Animals

• Animals other than cats and dogs will be considered on an individual assessment that relies on objective evidence about the specific animal’s appropriateness and conduct. The evaluation will be based on the type of animal, with primary attention given towards whether the animal would pose a threat to the health and safety of others, would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others, would pose an undue financial and administrative burden, or would fundamentally alter the nature of the college’s operations.
• Animals that can carry zoonotic (Lyme, malaria, rabies…) diseases, as well as dangerous, poisonous, or illegal animals are not permitted on campus.

Roommates

All roommates and quad mates of the student will be notified about the ESA. The notification will include the type of animal and size as well as access to an anonymous reporting the can complete if they have concerns about the animal.

Needs of Individuals with Allergies or Animal Fears

Sensitivity to residents with medical conditions affected by animals (e.g., asthma, severe allergies) and to those who fear animals is important to ensure a positive residential community and work environment. Students with a condition affected by an ESA should contact Residence Life if they have a health or safety related concern about exposure to an animal. The College will work with all parties to meet the needs of the student with the animal as well as the student with the medical condition or animal fear.

Emotional Support Animal Requests

Requests to use an ESA in college housing, must be made by following the required process below:

Returning students must notify the Accessibilities Services Office to complete all requests by March 1 for the following academic year and for Spring, by December 1 to help provide enough time for processing requests.

New incoming students must submit their applicable request forms by July 17 to ensure accommodations are set prior to arrival for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester.

Disciplinary Policies

Students with an ESA are held to the same standards of conduct as other students as set forth in the Scots Guide.