The University approved an policy in 2022, unifying its separate policies for service animals and emotional support animals.
Service animals are dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities (working animals—not pets). Examples include:
- Assisting with navigation
- Alerting to the presence of people or sounds
- Pulling a wheelchair
- Assisting an individual during a seizure
- Retrieving items (e.g., medicine, telephone)
- Providing physical support with balance
- Preventing/interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors
Service animals are allowed in classrooms, laboratories (with safety gear when required for others), campus buildings, and sports facilities without pre-approval from the University or Disability Resources per the ADA (as amended in 2008).
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
Inquiry
When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. University employees may ask two questions:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Employees cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require identification/training documents, or ask the dog to demonstrate its task.
Expected Behaviors
- Service animals must be controlled by device (e.g., harness, leash) unless that interferes with the animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents use. In that case, control must be maintained through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
- The animal must be as unobtrusive as possible.
- The animal must not display disruptive behaviors/noises (barking, whining, growling, rubbing against others, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I receive an accommodation letter for a service animal?
Students may use service animals without providing accommodation letters.
How will I know if a dog is a service animal?
You may ask the two Inquiry questions above. If unsure, contact the DRSC.
Are service animals required to wear vests or identification?
No. Vests/identification are not required.
What if the service animal is disruptive?
If disruptive, you may ask the student to remove the animal.
Colorado note: Under Colorado state law, it is illegal to misrepresent a pet or other untrained animal as a service animal, punishable by fine.