Service and Comfort Animals

Malone University recognizes the importance of service and comfort animals to individuals with documented disabilities. We are committed to compliance with state and federal laws regarding individuals with disabilities. This policy ensures that residents with disabilities who require the use of service or comfort animals as a reasonable accommodation receive the benefit of the work or tasks performed by such animals or the therapeutic support they provide. 

Residence Life is committed to supporting residents with disabilities and their use of such animals in campus housing to facilitate their full participation and equal access to University programs and activities on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Student Development reserves the right to amend this policy as circumstances require. 

In order to maintain a safe and healthy academic and living environment for all individuals who live and work within the Malone community, those interested in bringing a comfort/assistance animal to the campus are required to register with Student Accessibility Services.

The University will not permit animals on Malone premises if:

1. They would cause substantial personal harm or physical damage to other persons or to the property of others
2. They would pose an undue financial or administrative burden 
3. They would fundamentally alter the nature of the University’s educational or housing operations. 

For example, if a roommate has asthma or allergies which are adversely affected by the animal, or a reasonable fear of the animal, it is not acceptable for the animal to live in a room with such individual. In such event, efforts will be made to find an alternative housing arrangement for the animal, if available and appropriate. 

Please keep in mind that comfort/assistance animals are generally restricted to the owner’s housing unit and must comply with housing policies and procedures and other pertinent requirements of the University. If a student desires that a comfort/assistance animal live in campus housing, the student must notify Student Accessibility Services at least 30 days prior to the desired move-in date so that staff can best accommodate the student and the animal. 

If all other criteria are met, as set forth by Student Accessibility Services (SAS), a Letter of Accommodation will be sent to Residence Life notifying and approving the animal accommodation in the residence hall.

Definitions

Service Animal

A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a documented disability. Other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Examples of such work or tasks provided by a service animal include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service Animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a service animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals.

Comfort Animal

A Comfort Animal is an animal that provides emotional support, alleviating one or more identified symptoms or effects of a resident’s documented disability. Some, but not all, animals that assist residents with disabilities are professionally trained. Other assistance animals are trained by owners. 

In some cases, no special training is required for a comfort animal. An important consideration for Residence Life is whether or not the comfort animal provides the benefit needed as a reasonable accommodation to the resident with the disability. Unlike a service animal, a comfort animal does not assist a resident with a disability with activities of daily living, nor does it accompany a person with a disability at all times. 

Comfort animals may be considered for access to residential housing; however, they are not permitted in other areas of the University (e.g., the library, academic buildings, classrooms, labs, and student lounges, etc.).

Pet

A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a service or comfort animal. Pets are not covered by this policy.

See Pet Policy for further guidelines.

Approved Animal

An “approved animal” is a service or comfort animal that has been granted as a reasonable accommodation under this policy.

Owner

The owner is the residential student who has requested the accommodation and has received approval to bring the approved animal into campus housing.

Guidelines

The following are specific requirements and guidelines concerning the appropriate use of and protocols associated with service animals and comfort animals, (also known as therapy or emotional support animals, which are distinctly different from service animals). See Service Animal section for more information.

1. The owner is responsible for assuring that the approved animal does not unduly interfere with routine activities of the residence hall community or cause difficulties for students who reside there.
2. Any comfort/assistance animal approved to live in Malone facilities must be housebroken and under the control of its owner. The University may also designate areas where animals may relieve themselves. Care and supervision of the animal are the responsibility of the owner. The owner is responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the animal’s waste, and when appropriate, must train the animal to use designated area for waste. Indoor animal waste, such as cat litter, must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied before disposing of in an outside trash dumpster. Litter boxes should be placed on mats so waste is not tracked onto carpet. University staff are not responsible for any aspects of caring for a comfort/assistance animal.
3. When leaving the residence hall, the comfort/assistance animal must have a harness, leash, or other tether and be under the owner’s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means).The residence hall and designated area will be the only area for approved animals; animals cannot wander about freely.
4. The owner’s residence may be inspected for fleas, ticks, or other pests as needed. Residence Life will schedule the inspection. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are detected through inspection, the residence will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a University-approved pest control service. The owner will be billed for the expense of any pest treatment beyond standard pest management in residence halls.
5. Vaccination: In accordance with local ordinances and regulations, the animal must be immunized against diseases common to that type of animal. Dogs must have current vaccination against rabies and wear a rabies tag. Cats should have normal shots required for a healthy animal. Local housing requirements must be followed. Licensing requirements must be followed.
6. Health: Animals to be housed in University housing must receive an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian. Required documentation can include, without limitation, vaccination certificate for the animal or a veterinarian’s statement regarding the animal’s health. The University reserves the right to request appropriate documentation. Also, the University has the authority to direct that the animal receive veterinary attention.
7. Training: Service animals must be properly trained.
8. Approved animals may not be left overnight in University Housing without the owner’s presence, or in the care of another person. Animals must be taken with the student if the student leaves the campus for a prolonged period (as determined by the University).
9. The owner is solely liable and financially responsible for the animal’s behavior or actions (including bodily injuries, property damages, etc.) while in any University setting. The owner’s responsibility covers, but is not limited to, replacement of furniture, carpet, windows, or wall coverings. The owner is expected to cover these costs at the time of repair and/or check-out date, as appropriate.
10. The owner is responsible for any expenses incurred for cleaning above and beyond a standard cleaning, or for repairs to the University premises that are assessed after the student and/or animal vacates the residence. The University reserves the right to bill the student account of the owner for unmet obligations.
11. The owner must notify Student Accessibility Services and Residence Life in writing if the approved animal is no longer needed or is no longer in the residence hall. To replace an approved animal, the owner must file a new request.
12. Residence Life may designate specific single rooms and floors for comfort/assistance animals and their owners. Single rooms do have an upcharge.
13. Residence Life reserves the right to relocate an approved animal owner’s room in order to accommodate other medical conditions (allergies, asthma, etc.). Attempts will be made to house the student and service animal or comfort animal in a room/floor devoid of conflict based on allergies or fear of animals. Conflicts that occur after placement will be appropriately mitigated and adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis.
14. Consistent with federal and state law, an animal may be prohibited from a Malone University facility or program if the animal’s behavior or presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
15. An animal may be excluded from areas where its presence fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity, if the animal is disruptive, if its presence would result in substantial physical harm or damage to the property of others, or if it substantially interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of housing.
16. Emotional distress resulting from having to give up an animal because of a “no pets” policy does not qualify a person for an accommodation under federal law.
17. Appeal/grievance process and procedures may be found in the Student Handbook.
18. The animal owner agrees to continue to abide by all other residential policies. A reasonable accommodation which may constitute an exception to the community agreement standards that otherwise would prohibit having an animal does not constitute an exception to any other community agreement standard.
19. Any violation of the above rules may result in immediate removal of the animal from the University and may be reviewed through the judicial process and the owner will be afforded the right of due process and appeal as outlined in the judicial process policy.
20. Should the approved animal be removed from the premises for any reason, the owner is expected to fulfill his/her housing obligations for the remainder of the housing contract. 

Procedure for requesting to bring a comfort/service animal to University housing

• Animal owners must apply for services with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at least 30 days prior to the desired move-in date. SAS Staff will contact the owner within five business days to schedule an appointment to meet with a staff member.
• Documentation of the need for a comfort/service animal should follow SAS guidelines for documentation of disability, and should generally include the following information:
  • Verification of the individual’s disability from a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or another mental health professional
  • Statement on how the animal serves as an accommodation for the verified disability
  • Statement on how the need for the animal relates to the ability of the resident/student to participate in residence life
• After documentation has been submitted, the student will meet with Anna Meadows, Director, Student Accessibility Services, where eligibility for disability-related accommodations is determined through an interactive conversation.
• SAS will retain a photo of the animal and other appropriate documentation to verify permission to live in University housing.
• Updated documentation may be requested in the future to support continued need for accommodations.

Please contact Student Accessibility Services with any questions:   

Anna Meadows, Director
330-471-8496
ameadows@malone.edu