Assistance Animals

Reasonable Accommodations & Assistance Animals in University Housing

Ohio University is committed to granting reasonable accommodations to its rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford people with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwellings, as required by federal, state and local law. A reasonable accommodation may include a change or exception to a rule or policy that is needed because of a person’s disability, or it may be a physical change to a unit or common area.

Ohio University accepts reasonable accommodation requests from persons with disabilities and those acting on their behalf. Application for Accommodation forms are available to students through the Office of Accessibility Services. If you require assistance in completing the form, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Alden Library 230. Employees seeking an accommodation in university-owned housing for themselves or an individual living with the employee should contact Office of University Accessibility.

We will make a prompt decision on your request. In the event we need additional information, we will advise you of the information needed. It is Ohio University’s policy to seek only the information necessary to verify whether you are a person with a disability and/or to evaluate if the reasonable accommodation is necessary to provide you an equal opportunity to use and enjoy Ohio University housing. If we grant the request, you will receive an email so indicating.

Ohio University may deny the requested accommodation under specified circumstances. If we believe that the requested accommodation poses an undue financial and administrative burden or a fundamental alteration to the nature of Ohio University’s operations, we will schedule a meeting at a mutually convenient time to discuss possible alternative accommodations that would not impose such a burden or result in a fundamental alteration. If agreement on an alternative accommodation is not reached, we will send you a letter providing Ohio University’s decision on your requested accommodation and a detailed explanation of our reasons for a denial or decision to grant an alternative accommodation.

Assistance Animals

Ohio University Policy 44.120 prohibits individuals from having animals other than fish in any type of university housing, unless an exception applies. An assistance animal provides assistance that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. Ohio University recognizes the importance of allowing assistance animals necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy university housing.

An assistance animal does not necessarily need to be trained and is not limited to any specific type of animal. An assistance animal is restricted to the owner’s privately assigned individual living accommodations and may not accompany the resident to other areas of the university without permission except to the extent the individual is taking the animal out for natural relief.

Service Animals in University Housing

Service animals are dogs or miniature horses that are individually trained to perform specific tasks or do work for a person with a disability. While service animals are permitted to accompany individuals with disabilities in public facilities, individuals seeking to reside with their service animal in university housing are asked to work with Accessibility Services or ECRC, as applicable, to ensure that the animal is in good health and to facilitate appropriate placement in housing.

Requesting an Assistance Animal as an Accommodation

A student wishing to request an assistance animal should follow Accessibility Services' general procedures for requesting an accommodation .

An employee seeking an assistance animal as an accommodation in university housing for themselves or an individual living with the employee should contact Office of University Accessibility.

No assistance animal may be kept in Ohio University-owned housing at any time prior to the individual receiving approval as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this Policy.

Ohio University, in consultation with the resident, and other parties, as appropriate, may consider the criteria below in determining whether the presence of the animal is reasonable in the making of housing assignments for individuals with assistance animals:

• Whether the animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to the individual or others;
• Whether the animal causes or has caused excessive damage to housing beyond reasonable wear and tear;
• Whether the size of the animal is too large for available assigned housing space;
• Whether the animal's presence would force another individual from individual housing (e.g. serious allergies);
• Whether the animal's presence otherwise violates individuals' right to peace and quiet enjoyment; and
• Whether the animal is housebroken or is unable to live with others in a reasonable manner.

The individual must provide written consent for Accessibility Services to disclose information regarding the request for and presence of the assistance animal to those individuals who may be impacted by the presence of the animal including, but not limited to, Housing and Residence Life, Facilities Management, Emergency Response personnel and potential and/or actual roommate(s)/neighbor(s). Such information shall be limited to information related to the animal and shall not include information related to the individual’s disability. Ohio University reserves the right to assign an individual with an assistance animal to a single room without a roommate upon availability.

Approval of an assistance animal is good for the duration of the academic year. If a student or employee is returning to live on campus for another academic year, the individual must seek renewal of the approval pursuant to the applicable process, i.e. Accessibility Services or Office of University Accessibility.

Owner’s Responsibilities

Owners granted the accommodation of an assistance animal in university housing shall be subject to the following rules, in addition to any other university rules and regulations not specifically related to assistance animals. The owner must:

• Keep the Animal in the Housing Unit: An assistance animal must be contained within the owner’s privately assigned individual living accommodations except to the extent the individual is taking the animal out for natural relief. When an assistance animal is transported outside the private individual living accommodations, it must be in an animal carrier or controlled by a leash or harness. Assistance animals are not allowed in any university facilities other than the university housing to which the resident is assigned.
• Keep the Animal under Control: The assistance animal must be properly housed and restrained or otherwise under the dominion and control of the owner. No owner shall permit the animal to go loose or run at large. If an animal is found running at large, the animal is subject to capture and confinement and immediate removal from university housing.
• Abide by Laws and Policies: The owner must abide by current city, county, and state ordinances, laws, and/or regulations pertaining to licensing, vaccination, and other requirements for animals. It is the owner’s responsibility to know and understand these ordinances, laws, and regulations. The University has the right to require documentation of compliance with such ordinances, laws, and/or regulations, which may include a vaccination certificate. The University reserves the right to request documentation showing that the animal has been licensed. Additionally, the owner must abide by all equally applicable residential policies, such as assuring that the animal does not unduly interfere with the routine activities of the residence or cause difficulties for individuals who reside there.
• Ensure the Animal is Well Cared-For: The owner is required to ensure the animal is always cared for. Any evidence of mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or leaving the assistance animal unattended for unreasonably long periods of time may result in immediate removal of the assistance animal and/or discipline for the responsible individual pursuant to the University Student Code of Conduct, and/or Department of Housing and Residence Life Student Handbook. The University will not base this determination on speculation or fear about the harm or damages an animal may cause. University personnel shall not be required to provide care or food for any assistance animal including, but not limited to, removing the animal during emergency evacuation for events such as a fire alarm. Emergency personnel will determine whether to remove the animal and may not be held responsible for the care, damage to, or loss of the animal. Additionally, assistance animals may not be left overnight in university housing to be cared for by any individual other than the owner. If the owner is to be absent from his/her university housing overnight or longer, the animal must accompany the owner. The owner is responsible for ensuring that the assistance animal is contained, as appropriate, when the owner is not present during the day while attending classes, work, or other activities.
• Be Responsible for Personal Injury and Property Damage, Including University Property: The owner is financially responsible for all injury or damage to persons or property, including other animals, caused by the assistance animal. The owner is required to clean up after and properly dispose of the animal’s waste in a safe and sanitary manner and, when provided, must use animal relief areas designated by the University. An individual with a disability may be charged for any damage caused by his or her assistance animal beyond reasonable wear and tear to the same extent that it charges other individuals for damages beyond reasonable wear and tear. The owner's living accommodations may also be inspected for fleas, ticks or other pests if necessary, as part of the University’s standard or routine inspections. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are detected through inspection, the owner will be billed for the expense of any pest treatment above and beyond standard pest management in the residence halls. The University shall have the right to bill the owner’s account for unmet obligations to the University under this provision.
• Notify Accessibility Services or ECRC if Assistance Animal is No Longer Needed: The animal is allowed in university housing only as long as it is necessary because of the owner’s disability. The owner must notify Accessibility Services or ECRC, as applicable, in writing if the assistance animal is no longer needed or is no longer in residence. To replace an assistance animal, the new animal must be necessary because of the Owner’s disability and the Owner must follow the procedures in this Policy when requesting a different animal.

Removal of the Assistance Animal

The University may require the Owner to remove the assistance animal from university housing if:

• The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or causes substantial property damage to the property of others, including University property;
• The animal’s presence results in a fundamental alteration of a university program;
• The owner does not comply with the Owner’s Responsibilities set forth above; or
• The animal or its presence creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference with the University community.

Accessibility Services or The Office of University Accessibility will base such individualized determinations upon the consideration of the behavior of the animal and resident on a case-by-case basis, and in consultation with Housing and Residence Life, the resident, and other parties as appropriate. The University will not base this determination on speculation or fear about the harm or damages an animal may cause. Any removal of the animal may be appealed pursuant to the grievance procedure through, as applicable, the Procedure for appealing student eligibility as outlined in the Student Accessibility Handbook or the ADA/504 Coordinator. The owner will be afforded all rights of due process and appeal as outlined in those processes.

Should the assistance animal be removed from the premises for any reason, the owner is expected to fulfill his/her housing obligations for the remainder of the housing contract.