Service and Emotional Support Animals

Animals On Campus:

The University of the South’s dog control policy informs readers that "No dogs other than service dogs are allowed in University buildings, and the Sewanee Police Department may pick up and hold all non-service dogs found in University buildings. Service dogs are dogs trained to perform a specific task or tasks necessary to assist a person with a disability. Emotional support animals, (animals that provide comfort to a person with a disability, but are not service dogs), are not permitted in University buildings except for residential buildings and then only when a student has an approved accommodation for the emotional support animal."

 

Some individuals with disabilities need access to space without animals, while others may need their service animals to access spaces with them. To help ensure all abilities are welcomed at the University of the South, the following are the guidelines for animals in university owned buildings on the domain. 

Service Animals: 

A Service Animal is a dog (or miniature horse) individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Service Animals include, but are not limited to, guides for the blind, hearing aids for the deaf/hard of hearing, and Service Animals for individuals with physical disabilities and seizure disorders. Service Animals are not considered “pets” and are explicitly permitted under state and federal civil rights laws. 

Emotional support typically does not rise to the level of a Service Animal. For more information about Emotional Support Animals, see below. 

Registering: 

While service animals are not required to register with corresponding offices to access campus, The University of the South encourages service animal handlers to work with the different ADA focused offices on campus to ensure a barrier-free experience. 

Student handlers of a service animal can contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) for additional support. 

Employee handlers of a service animal can contact Human Resources for additional support. 

Guest/Visitor handlers of a service animal can contact the ADA director at ada@sewanee.edu for additional support. 

Animals In Training:

The state of Tennessee only recognizes service animals in training when an accredited school for training dog guides is raising them. Service animals in training must be held or on a leash and must wear identification of their status on being in training. 

Questions about if an animal is a service animal: 

When in doubt, those who have administrative governance of a university space or building can ask the following two questions to help determine if an animal meets the definition of a Service Animal in the state of TN. 

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability
• This should be a yes or no answer. The inquirer should not ask what type of disability the handler has. 
• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
  • Opening Doors 
  • Alerting to physical medical changes (blood sugar, seizures, heart changes, etc.)
  • Identifying allergens in food. 
  • Providing support/guidance during mobility. 
  • Alert dog for hearing impaired. 
• This should be an actionable task. Some examples of service animal tasks include; 
• Answers relating to emotional stability should be considered carefully. Animals that only provide emotional support typically do not qualify as Service Animals. Some Service Animals are trained to provide relief/support during mental health emergencies. These animals are often trained in a specific response, such as “my dog lays on my chest during panic attacks” or “ my dog puts its paws and weight on me in specific places to help ground me during times of high anxiety.” 

When in doubt, contact the Sewanee Police Department or the ADA Director for support. 

• Sewanee Police Department - (931) 598-1111
• ADA Director - (931) 598-1896 or ada@sewanee.edu 

Emotional Support Animals: 

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide emotional support and alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s existing disability. To be considered an accommodation, an ESA must be required by an individual with a disability in their residence in order for the individual to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their residence/dwelling. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support are Emotional Support Animals, not Service Animals. Neither dangerous, poisonous, illegal animals nor any animal that directly threatens the health and/or safety of the campus community will be permitted as ESAs. Size restrictions may also apply.

Requesting an ESA: 

• Students inquiring about the ESA Process can navigate to the Emotional Support Animals webpage under Student Accessibility Services 
• Employees residing in university-owned home/rental properties can contact human resources at HR@sewanee.edu or by calling 931-598-1381. Employees can also visit HR's Disability Accommodations Webpage. 
• Guest/Visitors requesting an ESA while they stay in a university-owned home/rental property can contact the ADA Director at ada@sewanee.edu or call 931-598-1896.
• The Sewanee Inn does not currently allow ESAs. 

Helpful Notes: 

• An ESA should be prescribed by a medical or mental health practitioner with whom the individual has an established relationship. 
• ESA owners and Service Animal Handlers should be wary of any online registration services. There are no federally recognized registries for ESAs or Service Animals. 
  • As mentioned above, employees can contact HR, and students can contact SAS to inquire about ESAs and to provide supporting documentation.