Dear Faculty Relations听鈥� A surprising number of dogs are in my classroom this semester. I鈥檓 unsure if I can ask students about them or how to manage these additional 鈥渟tudents.鈥� What can I do? - Not a Dog-Sitter听

Dear Not a Dog-Sitter听鈥撎鼺irst, let鈥檚 distinguish between Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and pets.听

Service animals are individually trained to work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.听

  • Students are not required to register or provide accommodation letters for service animals and can accompany their handlers in most places.听
  • 鈥婼ervice animals are not required to wear a vest.听
  • Service animals can only be dogs or miniature horses.听听
  • Colorado allows service animals-in-training the same rights and access as service animals.听
  • If the animal is well-behaved, it does not need to be addressed.听

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and pets.听

  • ESAs can be any animal that provides comfort to their handler, and no specific training is required.
  • 鈥婨厂础蝉 require an accommodation to be present in classrooms or university housing.听
  • Pets are generally not permitted in residential or academic settings.听

What to do

If an animal is accompanying a student in your class, you can ask the following two questions:听

听 听1. Is the animal required because of a disability?听
听 听2.听What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?听

If the student answers these two questions satisfactorily and the animal is not causing issues in the classroom, let it be. If the dog is anything other than a service animal, inform them that only service animals are permitted in the classroom. You should also refer the student to Disability Services.听听

What not to do

  • Do not ask the student to disclose their disability.听
  • 鈥婦o not announce to the class that there is a student with a service dog.听
  • Do not pet the dog or allow others to do so.听

Service animals are held to the same behavior standards as all students. If a service animal disrupts class, ask the student to control the animal or leave. If you encounter a misbehaving animal in class, please report the incident to ADA Compliance. We can also help you navigate these situations.听

Added June 2024

Reader Inquiry 鈥� What if a student in the class is allergic to the animal?

ADA Response听鈥撎�Our goal is to find workable solutions for all parties who may be experiencing limitations on campus. If a student is experiencing an allergic reaction to a service animal in the classroom, please have that student connect with听Disability Services听to discuss possible accommodations and how they can continue to engage in the course.听

Students and faculty are also welcome to contact our office,听ADA Compliance, to discuss situations like these and to problem solve together.

Written by Maggie Higgins, Senior Program Manager, ADA Compliance, and Caitlin O鈥橠onnell, Director of ADA Compliance, Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, November 2023.