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Disclaimer: The content on these webpages appears as a courtesy to site visitors and is for general informational purposes only. To obtain a copy of the official applicable policy or regulation, please contact Brookdale’s Public Records Custodian via the Public Records webpage of the Brookdale website at https://www.brookdalecc.edu/about/public-records

I. Title of Regulation

Service Animals and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

II. Objective of Regulation

This Regulation establishes the guidelines pertaining to service animals on campus that assist individuals with disabilities while attending class(es), programs, activities or otherwise accessing College facilities. This Regulation applies to students, employees and third parties/visitors and “service animals” that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.  Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under ADA.

III. Authority

ADA 2010 Revised Requirements, US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

IV. Regulation Statement

Service Animal Registration

To register a service animal to be allowed on campus:

Emotional support animals are not allowed on campus subject to limited exceptions such as dog therapy during student anti-stress week, animals used in educational training/learning programs, a special event approved by the College President (e.g., pets allowed at outdoor Graduation ceremony), and individuals visiting, walking, jogging, attending outdoor sporting events or otherwise accessing the campus property, not buildings, with their well-behaved, non-vicious leashed family pet.  Such individuals shall comply with all College Policies and Regulations, including this Regulation and 7.1000 Community Use of College Facilities Policy.

User/Handler Responsibilities

While access rights are legally afforded to users of service animals, that access is accompanied by the responsibility of ensuring that animals act and respond appropriately at all times while in public and that users/handlers adhere to the same socially accepted standards of behavior as other members of the College community. Users/handlers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their service animals.

Control Requirements:

Financial Responsibility

A person who has a service animal on campus is financially responsible for property damage caused by his or her service animal including but not limited to cost of repairs, replacement or cleaning of facilities or furnishings, and any bodily injury or personal injury caused to other persons by the service animal.

Licensing

The animal accompanying a student, employee or other campus visitor must meet the licensing requirements of the user/handler’s resident town and wear tags indicating this licensing.

Health/Vaccinations

Students

Students are required to contact Accessibility Services to have a service animal accompany them in academic classes, activities, or services on campus.

Employees

Employee questions on service animals or requests for an accommodation to have a service animal at work, shall be coordinated through the Human Resources office.

Visitors

Service animals accompanying individuals with disabilities are welcome in all areas of campus that are open to the public (except in situations determined to apply below).

Reasons for Exclusion of a Service Animal

Valid Reasons

There are only two instances where a service animal can be denied access to College premises:

  1. if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take action to control the animal, or
  2. the animal is not housebroken.

If a service animal is determined to be out of control (e.g., displaying vicious behavior towards people; excessive barking, running around, nipping) or is not housebroken, the owner may be subject to action within the College’s disciplinary process.  The infraction will be reviewed on an individual basis through the Student Conduct Office or Human Resources Department.  The parties above may consult, as needed, with the appropriate College officials.

When one of these reasons occur and the animal is made to leave the College, accommodations will be made for the individual to still receive help/goods/services without the aid of their service animal.

Invalid Reasons

Conflicting Disabilities

Allergic reactions to animals are common. Persons who have asthma, allergies, or other medical conditions affected by the presence of animals are asked to contact the Accessibility Services Office.  The person impacted by the presence of the animal must provide verifiable medical documentation to support their claim.  The needs of both persons will be considered in resolving the issue.

If an allergy/animal conflict cannot be resolved agreeably, then the Executive Director of Student Services, AVP, Student Affairs or AVP, Human Resources will determine a solution.

Other Illegal Practices

Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, on campus personnel designated to respond are expected to recognize service animals and their role in communicating their partners’ need for assistance.  The handler and/or animal may be confused or disoriented in a stressful situation due to smoke, sirens, wind noise or by shaking and moving ground.  Response personnel should be aware that animals may be protective in their confusion and should not be considered harmful. The responders should make every effort to keep the animal with its partner.  The handler should make every effort to control the animal during an emergency situation and be prepared to muzzle or restrain the animal as needed.

Restricted Areas

The College may restrict the use of service animals in certain locations.  Service animals may be restricted when their presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity; or where the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. The safety of locations will be considered on an individual basis by the Accessibility Services Office in consultation with the laboratory director, professor, and the College’s Risk Management team. If a location is determined to be unsafe, reasonable accommodations will be provided to ensure the individual equal access to the activity.

Complaints, Grievances, and Appeals

Any claims of discrimination on the basis of a disability or failure to provide reasonable accommodations regarding the use of a service animal on campus may be brought by a student pursuant to the College’s Grievance Procedures to the AVP, Student Affairs or by faculty, staff or a visitor to the AVP, HR.  Prior to filing a formal grievance, a complaint may be considered for informal resolution.

Policy/Regulation Exceptions

Individuals wishing to request a modification or exception to the Policy or this Regulation as a reasonable accommodation should make their request to:

 

Public Etiquette Concerning Service Animals on Campus

A service animal is not a pet; it is as necessary as a wheelchair to someone with a mobility impairment or a guide cane to someone with a visual impairment. Additionally, alerting a patient of low blood sugar, or preventing someone with post-traumatic stress disorder or autism from performing a destructive behavior, are examples of life-saving tasks service dogs perform.

 

In most cases, trained service dogs are required to be tethered, leashed or harnessed while in public.  Although the ADA does not require it, service dogs often wear vests or patches that state “DO NOT PET”.

 

To be a lifeline to a disabled person, a service dog needs to focus on his/her job.  Trainers are adamant that people need to respect boundaries which can be accomplished by treating the service dog team with respect and not distracting nor petting the service dog.

While service dogs help people with disabilities to stay healthy, survive and even thrive, in order for the relationship to work, the service dog has to stay focused.  Proper service dog etiquette boils down to respecting these boundaries:

Questions for a Handler of a Service Animal

In order to protect both their privacy and dignity, the ADA restricts what staff and/or the institution can ask of an individual who wishes to access an area with a service animal.

Employees may ask only two questions (These are the only two questions that may legally be asked; other questions infringe on the individual’s right to privacy):

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

What should you NOT ask a handler?

Don’t ask that the animal demonstrate its ability to perform its work and/or task.

For additional information, please see: https://adata.org/guide/service-animals-and-emotional-support-animals which information may be amended from time-to-time.  For the most current and accessible version, please visit: http://adainfo.us/serviceanimalbook or contact your regional ADA center at 1-800-949-4232.

V. Responsibility for Implementation

VP, Student Affairs

AVP, Human Resources

 

Approved: President, 10/26/2021

 

Diversity Statement: Brookdale Community College fosters an environment of inclusion and belonging. We promote a safe and open culture, encourage dialogue respecting diverse perspectives informed by credible sources, and uphold the virtues of civil discourse. We celebrate all identities with the understanding that ultimately, diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate belonging and make us a stronger Brookdale community.