Service Animals on the EvCC Campus

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Service Animal Procedures

Students who use a service animal on campus are not required to notify or seek approval from the college.

The student must provide a response to any college official asking:

  1. Is this animal a service animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Some notes about service animals:

  • The care and supervision is the responsibility of the person who uses the animal’s service. 
  • The service animal must be leashed and in control at all times.
  • The animal must have appropriate hygiene and the owner is responsible for clean-up of animal waste.
  • College personnel should not touch or feed a service animal without permission, nor should they startle or attempt to separate a service animal from the owner.

Faculty Notification

If you have received an entry regarding a Service Animal on a Faculty Notification Letter, the student in your class has requested that CDS notify their faculty that they will be bringing a service animal to class. Please know that the CDS Office has asked the questions permitted under the law and has verified the animal is a service animal and not a pet. The CDS has advised the student of their rights and responsibilities related to having a service animal on campus.

Service Animals in the Classroom

In case you have not previously worked with a service animal in the classroom we wanted to make sure you have this basic information. Service animals accompany students as a working animal performing necessary tasks related to a disability. Students’ service animals are permitted in any buildings or locations where the owner is allowed. Service animals are not academic accommodations and students who own service animals are not required to register their service animal with Everett Community College.

Two questions are permitted by law (Read more at ADA.gov Service Animals Website):

  1. Is this animal a service animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

There is no federal or state service animal registry and registration documentation has no legal meaning. However, service animals must be trained to provide a specific task to support the handler with their disability. 

Service dogs are trained to assist with a variety of tasks such as a guide dog who assists individuals who with visual impairments to navigate safely; hearing dogs who alert individuals who are Deaf or hearing impaired; mobility assistance dogs who can function as a brace, assist with balance, assist with buttons and out of reach objects; diabetic and seizure alert dogs who assist an individual who may experience health issues; therapy assistant dogs who are trained to work with veterans and individuals with mental health issues; as well as many other tasks for different disabilities.

REMEMBER: In accordance with the ADA, as their instructor, you may NOT ask a student to disclose the specifics of their disability. You MAY discuss how their disability affects their studies and tasks and you MAY discuss their accommodations.

Service Dog Guidelines

Here are a few guidelines when interacting someone who utilizes a guide dog:

  1. Speak to the handler, not the dog. Remember, the animal is working, and her human's life could depend on her staying focused on her job.
  2. Don't touch the dog without asking permission first. Touching or petting a working dog is a distraction and may prevent him from tending to his human partner. The dog may be in the process of completing a command or direction given by his human, and you don't want to interfere.
  3. Don't offer food to a service dog. According to Canine Companions for Independence, "Food is the ultimate distraction to the working dog and can jeopardize the working assistance dog team."
  4. Treat the owner/handler with sensitivity and respect. Asking a service dog's handler personal questions about his or her disability is illegal. It's also disrespectful and an intrusion of privacy. Assume the service dog team can handle things themselves. If you sense they could use your help, ask first. And don't take it personally if your offer is rejected, as there's usually a good reason.
  5. Inform the handler if a service dog approaches you. If a working dog approaches you, sniffs or nudges you, etc., politely let the handler know. Resist the urge to respond to the dog — the handler will correct the dog.
  6. Do not draw excessive attention to the service dog team. Allow the team to go about their tasks as you would any other student.
  7. Do not photograph a service dog team without permission.
  8. Do not request documentation or certification of the service animal from the student. If you have any questions or concerns about a service dog team, please contact the CDS Office.

Removal of Service Animals

A college official may require an owner to remove a service animal from college grounds if:

  • The animal is sick, unclean or smelly
  • It displays disruptive behavior, including barking, growling, running or displaying aggressive behavior
  • If the owner fails to clean up animal waste

Additional Information

CDS Service Animal Handout
Everett Community College Service Animal Policy
 

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