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: Student Accessibility, HR, Res Life, Campus Safety
: President
: 10/07/2024
: 10/07/2024
: 10/07/2026

Pets, Emotional Support Animals, and Service Animals

Comment on Policy

AUDIENCE

This policy applies to all members and guests of the Thomas More University community.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is for members of the Thomas More University community and visitors to be aware of all rights and responsibilities with respect to having animals on University property or in University buildings.

DEFINITIONS

Pet – an animal kept for companionship

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) - an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability (https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animals).

Service Animal – defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities (https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/)

THE POLICY

Section 1: PETS

For reasons of health and sanitation, pets are not permitted in any University building. 

Pets in outdoor public areas must remain with their owner, leashed/harnessed, and under control. The animal must be properly vaccinated, licensed, identified with tags, clean, and in good health. Owners must clean up after their pet. Any pet posing a threat to the health and safety of others or causing property damage must be removed immediately. This determination is made at the sole discretion of Thomas More administration. Owners are always responsible for all damage to Thomas More property or other harm caused by the animal. See Section 7 for Handler’s responsibilities.

 An exception is made for students living on campus, who are each permitted to keep one fish in a tank smaller than 15 gallons.

Section 2: EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE ANIMALS (ESAs)

Emotional Assistance Animals, as defined above, will be considered as a reasonable accommodation by the Office of Student Accessibility, in conjunction with the Department of Student Affairs. Students must register through the Office of Student Accessibility using the required procedures and submit all necessary documentation pertinent to their request for an ESA. No ESA may be kept in Thomas More housing at any time prior to the individual receiving approval. If an unapproved animal is brought into University Housing, the student will be required to remove the animal immediately, even if the student has submitted a request for an ESA that is pending review.  Students who are afforded accommodation should note that housing options may be limited.

If approved, ESAs are only permitted in the residence hall room and outdoor public areas.  Owners are always responsible for all damage to Thomas More property or other harm caused by the animal. For procedures related to requesting an ESA and the responsibilities and requirements for keeping an ESA in the residence hall room, contact either the Office of Student Accessibility or the Office of Housing & Residence Life.

See Section 7 for Handler’s responsibilities.

Section 3: SERVICE ANIMALS

Service animals, as defined above, may accompany individuals with disabilities in all non-residential areas on Thomas More campus. Requests for service animals other than dogs will be handled through the Office of Student Accessibility.  Requests for service animals in residential facilities will be handled through the Office of Student Accessibility. See Section 7 for Handler’s responsibilities.

Removal of Service Animal: Service animals may be removed from Thomas More property and/or Thomas More housing if:

When there is legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, Thomas More University Housing & Residence Life staff will work with the student to bring resolution to the situation on a case-by-case basis via interactive discussion. Appropriate alternative accommodation will be considered.

Section 4: SERVICE ANIMAL IN TRAINING

Service animals in training are not protected under the ADA; rather state law addresses restrictions and protections for service animals in training. A service animal trainer, while engaged in the training process of a service animal, is entitled to access to any public accommodation granted by this section. The service animal trainer is liable for any damage done to the accommodation by the service animal. See Section 7 for Handler’s responsibilities.

Service animals in training may not reside in Thomas More University housing.

Service animals in training must adhere to all the Handler Responsibilities set forth above and are also subject to the Removal of Service Animal guidelines in this policy.

Section 5: EMPLOYEES

In accordance with Title I of the American with Disabilities Act, any employee, including student employees, requesting a service animal as a reasonable accommodation must contact the Office of Student Accessibility and the Department of Human Resources. See Section 7 for Handler’s responsibilities.

Thomas More University may request reasonable documentation of an employee from a healthcare provider or a trainer that an accommodation is needed because of an employee's disability. In addition to documenting they have a disability, employees need to be able to show that the service animal is needed for disability-related reasons and that the service animal is trained to be in a work environment without disrupting the workplace. A two-week trial period may be requested to demonstrate how the service animal behaves in the workplace to have sufficient time to address any issues.

Section 6: ANIMALS FOR UNIVERSITY USE

Animals for academic purposes are approved by the VPAA/CAO.  All other animals in use at Thomas More are to be approved by the Dean of Students or their appointed staff representative.   

Section 7:  HANDLER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 8:  VIOLATIONS

Any guest of Thomas More found to be in violation of this policy may be required to immediately remove the animal from campus, subject to the sole discretion of Campus Safety.

Any employee found to be in violation of this policy may be required to immediately remove the animal from campus and may be referred to the Department of Human Resources for appropriate disciplinary action. 

Any student found to be in violation of this policy may be required to immediately remove the animal from campus and may be referred to the Department of Student Affairs for appropriate disciplinary action under the Saints Community Standards and Student Code of Conduct.  

RELATED POLICIES AND APPLICABLE LEGAL OR ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

Federal Regulations

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Fair Housing Act
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section 504

State Regulations

Kentucky Revised Statute 258.500
Kentucky Revised Statute 258.015

PROCEDURES

If documentation is required, it will be collected and stored appropriately through the Office of Student Accessibility or the Human Resources Department of the University.

REFERENCING THE POLICY

HISTORY

 

Date

Supersedes Policy

Summarize Change

October 2024

Pets, Service Animals, and Assistance Animals

Update to Emotional Support Animals (ESAs); added sections related to Service Animal in Training and Handler Responsibilities;  added considerations for removal of service animals; clarified definitions

December 2018

Pets, Service Animals, and Assistance Animals

Update to University; updated Assistance Animals section; added section 6 on violations

September 11, 2017

Pet Policy – Employee Manual

Inclusion of service and assistance animals, clarification regarding pets

September 11, 2017

Pets – Saints Community Standards

APPENDIX

None

APPROVALS

Elizabeth Sullivan, Coordinator for the Office of Student Accessibility

Anna Kowalok, Director of Housing & Residence Life 

Jude Reser, Director of Human Resources

Ed Butler, Director of Campus Safety

Dr. Joseph Chillo, President of Thomas More University