Service & Emotional Support Animals

1400.095 SERVICE & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS IN WVC HOUSING PROCEDURE

A. OVERVIEW

Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) has a general “no pets” policy in all of its buildings, including college housing. However, service animals are allowed to accompany their handlers while on campus and in their residence and emotional support/assistance animals may be requested as an accommodation in housing through the student access office.

B. SERVICE ANIMALS

As defined by the ADA, as well as service animal policy 500.405, a service animal is a dog or miniature horse that has been trained to perform an active task that mitigates or partially mitigates the impact of the person’s disability. If a service animal’s role is not apparent by observation, you may be asked:

1. “Is that a service animal for a disability?” and
2. “What service/tasks does it perform for you?”

The service animal is an access need not something that needs to be requested as an accommodation therefore you will not have to submit documentation of a disability for its use on campus, only if you are requesting separate accommodations needs.

C. STEPS TO HAVE A SERVICE ANIMAL LIVE IN WVC HOUSING WITH YOU

1. Complete a new student application and housing and dietary accommodation request. (WVC ID required). Once admitted to the college, meet with the student access coordinator.
   
   1. Answer the question: What tasks does the service animal perform for you or your dependent in residence?
2. Submit to the student access coordinator verification of:
   
   1. Up-to-date veterinarian report including any necessary vaccinations.
   2. Acquired animal license through the city of Wenatchee.
3. Residence life will review housing assignment for needs related to space and accommodating an animal. Factors that are included are not limited to:
   
   1. Impact to roommates based on any verified factors related to conflicting disabilities or health conditions.
   2. Size of animal (if the space is not appropriate).
   3. Breed of animal (allergies and other impacts to roommates).
4. Once all documents are submitted to the student access coordinator, the residence life coordinator will schedule an animal care expectations meeting and will notify all room and pod mates that an approved service animal will reside in the hall.
5. Final approval given for animal to come into residence by residence life coordinator after all steps completed.

D. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

Under Housing and Urban Development’s Rules, as well as service animal policy 500.405, assistance animals include animals other than dogs that provide passive support that alleviates or at least partially mitigates an impact of a person’s disability allowing them to benefit from WVC’s programs and services. Animals providing these passive services are generally referred to as emotional support animals. Emotional support animals (ESA) are generally not allowed on campus, but can be requested via student access services and residence life for allowance in the WVC Residence Hall.

E.  STEPS TO HAVE AN ESA LIVE IN WVC HOUSING WITH YOU

1. Complete a new student application and housing and dietary accommodation request (WVC ID required). Once admitted to the college, meet with the student access coordinator.
   
   1. Obtain a copy of the ESA housing request form for your health care provider to fill out and return to the student access coordinator.
   2. Provide the student access coordinator documentation from your health care provider that addresses questions outlined in F. 1-5 below.
2. Upon approval by the student access coordinator of an “ESA in residence,” submit verification of:
   
   1. Up-to-date veterinarian report including any necessary vaccinations.
   2. Acquired animal license through the city of Wenatchee.
3. The residence life coordinator will review housing assignment for needs related to space and accommodating an animal. Factors that are included are not limited to:
   
   1. Impact to roommates based on any verified factors related to conflicting disabilities or health conditions.
   2. Size and type of animal.
   3. Health and safety of residents in residence.
4. Once all documents are submitted to the student access coordinator, the residence life coordinator will schedule an animal care expectations meeting. You will need to submit an ESA care plan and agree to have roommates and pod-mates notified that you have been approved to have an ESA in the residence hall.
5. Final approval given for animal to come into residence by residence life coordinator after all steps completed.

F.  DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL

The documentation from an appropriate health care provider must include the following:

1. Identifies you and states your disability/health condition including how this condition would substantially limit you in a college housing environment.
2. Shares the relevant history of work together in relation to the specific disability or condition. A medical or mental health practitioner you have seen only once or who has seen you for other issues, but not this specific condition, may not be considered an appropriate recommendation.
3. States need for the animal as a part of your current healthcare/treatment plan.
4. Explains how the animal helps alleviate the impact of the identified disability/health condition.
   
   1. Is it the long-term relationship that has broad and diffuse impact that reduces the overall level of symptoms?
   2. Is it in moments of high stress?
   3. Examples are encouraged.
5. Identifies the basis for providing passive support (e.g. the ongoing relationship with the animal) or that it serves a defined role in the person’s treatment plan, and states that it is necessary for full participation in or to benefit from particular programs or environments.

G. ANIMAL CARE AND CONDUCT

1. All animals are the responsibility of their handlers and should be under their control (in proximity to the handler and responsive to commands, in harness, leashed or in a carrier).
2. An ESA or service animal must be housebroken and under owners control (voice or tether) at all times.
   
   1. Puppy rearing (under six months of age) which focuses on socialization and general obedience training may not qualify as housebroken.
3. An animal’s behavior is considered the handler’s behavior; the animal will be held to the same basic standard of conduct as their handlers. If they are disruptive to college business or community behavioral expectations for educational and residential environments handlers may be asked to correct the animal’s behavior or remove it from the environment.
4. A student with an approved ESA in the residence hall will be held responsible for any damages or extra cleaning costs associated with housing the animal.
5. An ESA may not accompany a resident to the main campus. ESAs must be crated in the resident’s room when the resident is not at home. ESAs are not allowed in common areas of the residence hall except for times necessary to take the animal outside.

Approved by the president’s cabinet: 6/4/19
Present to the board of trustees: 6/19/19
Last reviewed: __/__/__
Procedure contact: Student Services

Related policies and procedures
500.405     Service Animal Policy