Animal Overview
Ohio University's Animal Policy does not allow animals on campus, however exceptions are made for Assistance animals or service animals for persons living with disabilities, or those animals being trained for such a purpose, as defined and approved by law; in accordance with procedures outlined by student accessibility services and the office for university accessibility. A variety of animals which assist individuals with disabilities fall under this exception.
Service Animals
"Service animals" are recognized under the ADA as a dog (or miniature pony) that is trained to provide a specific task related to a person's disability. A person with a service animal is not required to register with SAS or OUA and are permitted to bring their service animal into campus buildings.
Service Dogs in Training
A service dog in training is a dog who is preparing to be trained or is in training to perform a task related to a disability, for a person with a disability. Under Ohio Revised Code, a service dog in training should be afforded the same access as a service dog, however must be covered by a liability insurance policy provided by a nonprofit special agency with a primary focus of training service animals.
Registration Process
Students and employees must register their service dog in training with the Office of University Accessibility. Community members and other visitors who are frequently on campus with their service dog in training are likewise encouraged to also register their dog with the Office of University Accessibility.
Once it has been determined that the animal is a service animal in training, has basic obedience training, and is housebroken, the following information will be required annually:
As part of the registration process, individuals must provide the following documentation:
- Proof of liability insurance provided by the nonprofit special agency engaged in training of service dogs;
- A photo of the service dog in training;
- Health information about the service dog in training; and
- Dog registration from Athens County or the home county.
To begin the process, please contact the Office of University Accessibility at 740.593.2620 or email access@ohio.edu.
Assistance Animals
Assistance animals are animals which provide benefit to alleviate one or more symptoms of a person’s disability. In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, Ohio University allows these animals in the residence halls as an exception to the no pet policy. Students must work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to initiate their request. Assistance animals are not permitted outside a student’s privately assigned living space (or outdoors, as appropriate) unless approved as a reasonable accommodation through SAS. Employees or visitor should contact the Office for University Accessibility for requests related to assistance animals.
For information assistance animals in the residence halls, refer to the Reasonable Accommodations & Assistance Animals in University Housing.
Animal Etiquette and Expectations
For further information about who to go to if there are questions and to better understand how we can best support those requiring an animal under the ADA, please read about Animal Etiquette and Expectations.
Contact
Questions about animals which assist people with disabilities may be directed to:
Crystal Hill
ADA/504 Coordinator and Assistant Dean for Accessibility
740.593.2620