Service Animal Guidelines & Procedures
Virginia Tech seeks to accommodate persons with disabilities who need the assistance of service animals. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is "an animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability" (28 CFR part 36). The university is simultaneously mindful of health and safety interest of its general community. These guidelines are aimed at meeting these concerns. The University ADA Services office is responsible for implementing these procedures for faculty, staff, and guests. The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office is responsible for implementing these procedures with students. Success requires the cooperation of faculty, staff, students, and guests.
I. Persons who use service animals at Virginia Tech are asked to abide by the following:A. Compliance with the following university proceduresII. University community members are asked to abide by the following:1. Provision of acceptable documentation of the need for the service animal.B. Compliance with Montgomery County animal laws (service animals located on other Virginia Tech locations will be subject to relevant city or county animal laws)
2. Completion of the "registry for service animal form" and submission to the appropriate office. Faculty and staff are to submit the form to the University ADA Services office and students are to submit the form to the SSD office.
3. Documentation showing proof of vaccination and training of the service animal. Training information will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
4. Individual needs will be addressed through the appropriate office on a case by case basis.1. Service animals must be leashed while on university property unless performing training services for the owner.
2. The service animal must wear their appropriate ~dentificationta gs as indication of ownership.
3. All animals must have current vaccinations. Dog vaccinations include rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. All dogs must wear their rabies vaccinations tags.
4. Owners are responsible for cleaning and caring of their service animal as well as removing animal waste.A. Allow a service animal to accompany the handler at all times and in all campus locations (with the exception of areas where animals are strictly prohibited for health or safety restrictions).Ill. Service animals in university housing
B. Do not touch or feed service animals when the animal is working, because these actions distract the animal from required tasks.
C. Do not deliberately startle or distract a service animal.
D. Do not attempt to separate a service animal from its handler.
E. Notify the University ADA Services office or the SSD office with any questions, problems, or concerns that you may have regarding service animals on campus.
A. Students requesting the accommodation of service animals in the residence halls should complete the "Request for Special Housing Accommodation Form" as well as the Registry for Service Animal form, which is available in 109 East Eggleston Hall or on the SSD office website, www.ssd.vt.edu. This request will be reviewed by the Special Housing Review Committee.IV. Areas that may be prohibited to service animals
B. The SSD office will facilitate services with university housing.
C. Students must complete this process prior to move-in.
D. The requesting individual is responsible for any dan?ages caused by the service animal.
E. Service animals in university housing should not exceed the following weight restrictions: at least 8 pounds, but not more than 125 pounds.
F. Students are responsible for keeping their animal clean and groomed and removing animal waste.
A. The university may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health or safety restrictions, where service animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of research.V. Removal of service animals
B. Such restrictions may include, but are not limited to the following areas: research labs, classrooms with demonstration or research animals, wood shops and metallmachine shops, electrical shops, medical and veterinary surgical areas, mechanical rooms, custodial closets, and nuclear research areas.
C. Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis by University ADA Services or SSD, and the appropriate departmental representative.
A. Service animals can be removed from university grounds due to failure to comply with these procedures.VI. Resources
B. A service animal can be removed from university grounds if its behavior is disruptive. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to: barking, running without a leash, and aggressive conduct.
A. Montgomery County Animal Policies describes county laws, frequently encountered problems, and sources for additional information and assistance. This document can be downloaded from the Internet at: http://www.montva.com/departments/as/animal/
B. The Job Accommodations Network website has general information regarding the care of service animals: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/serviceanimals.pdf
C. Guidedogs.com provides etiquette on how to intemct with a guide dog. This site also supplies viewers with state access laws for guide dog users. Please see http://www.guidedogs.com/ for more information.
D. The Department of Justice defines service animal and supplies a list of commonly asked questions about service animals in places of business. Please visit their website at http://www.usdoj.aov/crt/ada/animal.htm
Code of Federal Regulations; US Department of Justice. (1990). AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.'RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS. Retrieved on September 19. 2006, from http:llwww.usdoj.govIcrt/foialtal482b.txt
Download the required Service Animal Registry Form (MS Word Document) along with the above regulations.
Last updated: Thursday, 17-Jul-2008 13:39:35 EDT