Service Animal Guidelines

Shippensburg University is committed to compliance with state and federal laws regarding individuals with disabilities, specifically Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Individuals with disabilities may be accompanied by their service animal on Shippensburg University’s campus where members of the public or participants in services, programs, or activities are
allowed to go. By law, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not considered to be service animals. However, in some cases, the University may permit the use of a miniature horse as a service animal on a case-by-case basis, consistent with applicable law.

Where it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, the University may ask if the animal is required because of a disability, as well as what work or task the animal has been trained to perform in relation to the disability. A service animal will be allowed to accompany the partner/handler at all times and anywhere on campus, including food service locations that the partner/handler is permitted to go. Exceptions may be made in areas where, for health and safety reasons, service animals are specifically prohibited. If a service animal is specifically prohibited from any area on campus, the handler may request separate, reasonable accommodations from the Office of Accessibility Resources.

Responsibilities of Individuals with Service Animals:

1. Individuals with disabilities are responsible for the control of their service animal at all times and must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including vaccination, licensure, animal health, and leash laws. The university is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal. A service animal shall be restrained with a harness, leash, or other tether, unless the individual’s disability precludes the use of a restraint or if the
   restraint would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks. If a service animal is not tethered, it must be otherwise under the individual’s control, whether by voice control, signals, or other effective means.
2. Individuals are responsible for ensuring the immediate clean up and proper disposal of all animal waste.
3. The college may exclude a service animal from campus if its behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
4. Furthermore, the university may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from campus if the animal:
   • is out of the effective control of the partner/handler;
   • is not house broken;
   • is a disruption to class; or
   • when its presence fundamentally alters the nature of the program or activity.

Service Animals in University Housing:

1. An individual that is planning to have their service animal in University housing, must complete:
   • Roommate Agreement form (one for each roommate/suitemate)
   • Waste Removal Agreement will need to be completed prior to move-in.
   • Certification of Veterinary Care
2. Individuals are financially responsible for any and all damages caused by their service animal. Damages may include but are not limited to bodily injury, property damage (including furniture, flooring, urine, or feces stains or orders, etc.), cleaning beyond what is normally required, and any repairs that are deemed necessary after the handler and service animal have vacated the residence hall.

Requests, concerns, and questions regarding service animals should be directed to:

Office of Accessibility Resources
Mowrey Hall 252
oar@ship.edu
(717) 477-1364