Service Animal Policy

Under Title III of the ADA, service animals are allowed to accompany persons with disabilities on the Naropa University campus. A service animal must be permitted to accompany a person with a disability everywhere on campus except in situations where safety may be compromised or where the service animal may interfere with the fundamental nature of the activities being conducted.

What is a Service Animal?

Service animals are trained in specific tasks to assist people with disabilities in the activities of daily living.

Under ADA, Companion/Therapy/Support Animals are not Service Animals.

Requirements of Service Animals and their Handlers:

• The animal cannot pose a direct threat to the health and safety of persons on the university campus.

• Local ordinances regarding animals for animals in public apply to service animals including requirements for immunization, licensing, noise, restraint, at-large animals, and dangerous animals. Dogs must wear a license tag and a current rabies vaccination tag.

• The handler must be in full control of the animal at all times, including use of a leash, as appropriate for the disability. The care and supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of its handler.

• The handler is responsible for cleaning up the animal’s waste. The handler should carry sufficient equipment to clean up and properly dispose of the waste. Handlers who are not physically able to pick up and dispose of feces are responsible for making all necessary arrangements for assistance. The University is not responsible for these services.

• Disruptive behavior in a college facility or program including, but not limited to, barking, whining, growling, wandering, and initiation of contact outside of working role

• Hygiene - dirty, strong odor, not groomed, evidence of having fleas, ticks, etc.

• Aggressive behavior

• Allow a service animal to accompany the handler at all times and everywhere on campus, except in a few locations where service animals are specifically prohibited (e.g., custodial closets, where protective clothing is required). The courts have upheld the rights of service animal owners to take service animals into food service locations.

• Do not touch or interact with a service animal while it is working. (If the animal is in a harness, it is working.) Do not startle a service animal.

• Do not feed a service animal.

• Do not separate or attempt to separate a handler from his or her service animal.

• Allow a service animal to accompany the handler at all times and everywhere on campus, except in a few locations where service animals are specifically prohibited (e.g., custodial closets, where protective clothing is required). The courts have upheld the rights of service animal owners to take service animals into food service locations.

• Do not touch or interact with a service animal while it is working. (If the animal is in a harness, it is working.) Do not startle a service animal.

• Do not feed a service animal.

• Do not separate or attempt to separate a handler from his or her service animal.

Service animals can be suspended from Naropa University campuses due to:

Complaints regarding an animal belonging to a student and its behavior should be directed to the Office of Disability Resources, who will contact the handler to review the policies regarding service animals and address the complaints.

Community Responsibilities: