Service and Companion Animals Policy
Idaho State University enforces a no-pets policy in its residence halls and University-owned apartments, except such service, therapy or companion animal specifically allowed under applicable law and at its sole discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Disability Services has primary authority at the University to determine whether any student, or household member has the right to house any service, therapy, or companion animal. If Disability Services has granted approval with respect to the animal, then the student or household member must ensure that any and all appropriate paperwork is completed with each of the ADA and University Housing Offices. That individual must also notify both the Housing Office and Disability Services before any date that a service, therapy, or companion animal first arrives at any ISU Housing facility.
Helpful Definitions
A "companion animal" is an animal that Disability Services determines to be necessary for a person with a disability to participate in University programs.
A "DSM" diagnosis is a clinical assessment based on any then-current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
A "therapy animal" is an animal owned by a therapist who uses the animal as a therapy component for a person with a disability.
A "qualified professional" or "licensed practitioner" is any person generally recognized as being currently certified and qualified to make a DSM diagnosis, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or licensed physician.
Service Animals
Disability Services reserves the right to require that a student or household member produce documentation that a service animal that this individual houses in any Residence Hall or University Apartment fulfills any and all federal or local law's service animal exception criteria. The University considers these exception criteria to mean that the animal must be trained specifically to perform a service tailored to compensate for the individual's disability.
Examples of applicable service animals include, without limitation: a dog guide for a blind/vision-impaired person, a hearing dog for a deaf/hard of hearing person, or a service animal for a person having a seizure disorder or any other physical disability. Under applicable law, a service animal or service dog is exempt from no-pet restrictions.
Therapy and Companion Animals
Disability Services determines a companion animal a "necessary" or "reasonable" accommodation upon confirming that a person with a disability may experience discrimination based solely on disability if the animal does not live with the student in a Residence Hall or University Apartment.
State and federal laws do not provide any public accommodation exception to any "no pets" policy with respect to therapy and companion animals. Disability Services requires that the individual provide written current and comprehensive documentation including - without limitation - a DSM diagnosis from a licensed practitioner or qualified professional before determining whether to permit any on-campus use of any therapy or companion animal. Disability Services further assesses any request for any therapy or companion animal in University housing with respect to its reasonable accommodation standards, as currently outlined in Disability Services's web page.
Disability Services welcomes any student or the student's diagnostician/therapist to provide additional information that explains whether a therapy or companion animal is necessary to avoid discrimination. However, Disability Services reserves the right to deny any request that the animal is necessary that is not supported by documentation. If Disability Services determines that a requested animal is not a necessary companion animal, then the University will enforce its "No Pets" policy relative to that animal.
The student or household member retains a duty to comply with each local, state, or federal requirement for any service animal, or to comply with this policy with respect to any therapy or companion animal. Each individual with any disability who uses any service, therapy, or companion animal at the University remains responsible at all time for that animal. The above student or household member must ensure that any use of the animal does not constitute a direct threat to any other person's health or safety. That individual must cause the animal to be marked with identification that informs the general public that the animal is a service, therapy, or companion animal.
Other matters for which the student or household member is legally responsible include, without limitation:
- having the animal's health verified as acceptable by a qualified veterinarian or service animal school;
- cleaning up after the animal, including sanitarily disposing of any animal waste;
- restoring any University property damage that the animal causes;
- controlling the animal's behavior in any private or public place related to the University; and
- maintaining due care and diligence in the animal's on-campus use.
Under its student conduct code and any applicable law, the University reserves the right to enforce any and all relevant rules governing the use of any service, therapy, or companion animal. The University retains discretion to deny any retroactive request for any service, therapy or companion animal.