Animals on Campus

1.0    Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines under what circumstances animals are allowed on campus.

2.0    Revision History

3.0    Persons Affected

3.1    All employees, students, volunteers, and visitors.

4.0    Policy

The policy of Casper College is to ensure the following.

4.1    The college provides equal access and nondiscrimination of individuals with disabilities.

4.2    The college provides a safe and healthy environment conducive to providing instruction, service to the community, and efficient operations.

4.3    The college allows animals on campus under specific and limited situations.

4.4    The college abides by all federal, state, and local laws regarding access of animals.

5.0    Definitions

5.1    Individuals with a Disability. A person who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

5.2    Service Animals. A dog or miniature horse that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The animal must do work or perform tasks directly related to the individual’s disability. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Miniature horses must meet the same requirements of dogs and are allowed only when the facilities are able to reasonably accommodate the horse’s size, type, and weight. Other animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support or to deter a crime do not qualify as service animals.

Service animals are allowed in all areas where students or the public are allowed to go. Interference of a service animal in performance of its work is prohibited. People should not pet, feed, or disturb a service animal.

Service animals are considered an extension of the individual and, therefore, must comply with the same public rules as the individual, including not being disruptive or exhibiting threatening behavior. The service animal must be housebroken, healthy, and under the control of the individual. Usually the individual controls the animal with a tether, but when the individual cannot use a tether or a tether interferes with the service animal’s work or tasks, the individual may control the service animal by other means, such as voice command or signals. Service animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as a service animal. All service animals must meet local animal regulations including vaccinations and licensing.

5.3    Service-Animals-in-Training. Dogs or miniature horses that are being trained to be a service animal are allowed in campus buildings. The same requirements and restrictions of a service animal apply to service-animals-in-training, and they must be identified as being in training.

5.4    Emotional Support Animals (ESA) (also referred to as comfort, assistant, companion, or therapy animals). Any animal that provides emotional support to mitigate one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s disability such as psychiatric disabilities and other mental impairments. ESAs are not pets. They are not required to be trained or perform work or tasks.

ESAs are only allowed in the owner’s assigned residential unit. They are not allowed in other campus buildings or in residential common areas. Owners must apply to have an ESA in their residential unit per the housing agreement. Application is not a guarantee that the request will be granted. If approved, owners may have only one ESA. The ESA must be housebroken, healthy, and under the control of the individual. All ESAs must meet local animal regulations including vaccinations, licensing, and restrictions on exotic or wild animals. The president may, upon request, authorize ESAs for campus events.

5.5    Educational, Research, and Athletic Program Animals. Animals used in the college’s classes and programs for educational purposes or athletics are allowable on campus or in campus buildings.

5.6    Law Enforcement Animals. Animals used by law enforcement units are allowed on campus for training with approval from the campus safety and security coordinator or as part of legal law enforcement activities.

5.7    Pets. Any animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. Pets are not allowed in campus buildings with the exception of fish in a container no larger than 10 gallons and only one container per room. Pets may be on the campus grounds on leash and under the control of the owner. The ranch manager and the residence hall area coordinator are allowed pets under their contract agreements. Pets are allowed in the president’s residence. All pets must meet local animal regulations including vaccinations, licensing, and restrictions on exotic or wild animals.

5.8    Wildlife and Feral Animals. Animals that are not socialized or domesticated. Wildlife and feral animals that do not create a risk or represent a hazard, cause property damage, or create a public nuisance are allowed on campus.

6.0    Responsibilities

6.1    The associate vice president of student services (AVPSS) is responsible for verifying compliance with this policy when it concerns students.

6.2    The vice president of student services (VPSS) is responsible for maintaining compliance with this policy when it concerns students.

6.3    The assistant human resources (HR) director is responsible for verifying compliance with this policy for all other persons.

6.4    The HR director is responsible for maintaining compliance with this policy for all other persons.

7.0    Procedures

7.1    Verification of a Service Animal
In situations where it is not obvious that a dog or miniature horse is a service animal, employees may ask two specific questions: 1) is the animal needed because of a disability and 2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform. Employees may not ask the nature of an individual’s disability; request training documentation; require an individual to document a disability with Disability Services; or ask that the animal demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task. If the animal does not meet the definition of a service animal, employees should contact the AVPSS in cases involving students or the assistant HR director for all other cases. Employees should not ask individuals to leave or remove the animal.

The AVPSS or the assistant HR director, depending on the situation, will determine if the animal is a service animal. Depending on the determination, the animal may be allowed to stay on campus with the owner.

7.2    Verification of an ESA
The housing director, housing coordinator, or disability services coordinator may ask individuals who request to have an ESA in their residential unit if they have a disability-related need for an ESA such as providing emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s disability. Only the disability services coordinator may ask the nature, details, or extent of an individual’s disability.

The disability services coordinator may request that individuals provide reliable documentation of a disability and the disability-related need for a support animal from a licensed medical or mental health provider. Based on the information gathered, the disability services coordinator will grant or deny the request for an ESA in the specific residential unit.

7.3    Excluding Animals from Campus or Campus Areas
The college reserves the right to remove or exclude any animal from campus, including a service animal or ESA, if the animal poses a direct health and safety threat, is ill, not housebroken, or creates an unmanageable disturbance or if the animal’s owner is unable to control the animal. Report the presence of dangerous or nuisance animals to Campus Security who will respond as needed or contact the appropriate animal control agency. Allergies or a fear of dogs is not a valid reason to exclude a service animal.

Pets are not allowed in any campus building. Employees may ask individuals to remove their pets from a campus building. Employees should contact Campus Security if the individual fails to comply.

An ESA may only be in residential units for which they have been approved. Employees may ask individuals to remove their ESA from non-approved areas. Employees should contact Campus Security if they fail to comply.

7.4    Appeals
Individuals may submit a written appeal of the barring of their animal from campus or from certain areas of campus to the AVPSS in cases involving students or the assistant HR director for all other cases. Students whose request for an ESA in their residential unit was denied may submit a written appeal to the AVPSS. The AVPSS or the assistant HR director, depending on the situation, will render a decision in writing within 10 business days from the submission of the appeal request.

Individuals who disagree with the decision of the AVPSS or assistant HR director may submit a written appeal to the VPSS in the case of students or the HR director for all others. The VPSS or the HR director, depending on the situation, will render a final decision in writing within 10 business days from the submission of the second appeal request.

7.5    Responsibilities and Damages
Owners are responsible for the care and supervision of their animals including cleanup and disposal of waste and proper hygiene. The college may charge the owner for damages caused by their animals, costs incurred for pest control or maintenance, or cleaning beyond standard levels if the college normally charges for similar damages or costs.