Emotional Support and Service Animals in the library

Desk staff have been made aware that a student who regularly uses the library has been bringing her emotional support animal (a puppy) with her. According to Mindy Diaz, the college's Student Disability Services Director:

Emotional Support Animals are not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, they are only covered under the Fair Housing Act. ESAs are allowed in the residence halls, but they are not allowed outside of the students living space. Service animals are allowed anywhere on campus.

 

There are only two questions a person with an animal can be asked: 1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

 

Comfort is not a task.

Mindy is working with Campus Safety to develop policies and procedures for how to address the presence of emotional support animals outside of their approved spaces. For the moment, she is asking the campus community to note and observe if the puppy makes any more appearances. Please contact me (enicholson@noctrl.edu) if you have any additional sightings (or hearings - the puppy is a barker).   

Thanks, 

Elizabeth