[Wsssc] Service and Emotional Support/Comfort Animal Policy

Leslie Blackaby lblackaby at yvcc.edu
Wed Mar 15 13:54:07 PDT 2017


At Yakima Valley College, we also struggle with this matter.  Comfort animals in campus housing have run the gamut. Most recently, we've had rats, ferrets, cats and dogs.  The dogs have been the most problematic.  It appears many of the dogs are being obtained directly from the Humane Society.  These animals typically have received little to no training.  The dogs bark, scratch at the door and display all the other behaviors you'd expect from an untrained dog that has to live in a small dorm room.  All that said, here's our procedure:


*        Visit the Disability Support Service office to talk about why a ESA/Therapy animal is needed.

*        Complete out a Disability Support Service applicant.

*        Provide medical documentation to Disability Support Services or consent for DSS to obtain medical documentation

*        Wait for approval before moving animal into campus housing

*        Approval letter will be emailed to student

*        Students are instructed in the approval letter to call Disability Support Services to arrange a meeting with a faculty counselor

*        Students are also instructed to bring in a copy of current class schedule

*        An accommodation letter is then sent to the student and the campus housing director

Thanks for asking about this.  It's helpful to see others' approaches.

Leslie Blackaby
Dean, Student Services
Yakima Valley College
Deccio Higher Education Ctr.
Building 8, Room 121
(509) 574-6867
lblackaby at yvcc.edu<mailto:lblackaby at yvcc.edu>

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From: wsssc [mailto:wsssc-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Dave Paul
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:01 PM
To: Flores, Chio <cflores at wvc.edu>; 'wsssc at lists.ctc.edu' <wsssc at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wsssc] Service and Emotional Support/Comfort Animal Policy

Hi Chio,
Sorry to take so long to reply.  We have a lot of issues with folks claiming that their comfort animal is a service animal, and we've had a few cases where the "service" animal is disruptive (one is especially good at eating other lunches belonging to employees).

Here's our policy for comfort animals in campus housing...I think the title may be outdated, and it should be the Director of Residence Life who makes the call.

Comfort animals in campus housing.
Comfort animals may not reside in campus housing without express approval of the Director of Student Life. (These requests are covered under the Fair Housing Act, NOT Disability Access Services.) Such requests will be processed as follows:
A requesting individual should provide the Director of Student Life with appropriate documentation at least 30 days before prospective housing will be needed for the comfort animal.

The Director of Student Life will review the documentation and arrange a meeting with the prospective student.

A person who has a service or comfort animal on campus (including campus housing) is financially responsible for any and all property damage caused by his/her animal.

Hope this helps...
Dave

David M. Paul, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Services
Skagit Valley College
2405 East College Way   Mount Vernon WA, 98273
(360) 416-7738

From: wsssc [mailto:wsssc-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Flores, Chio
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2017 4:41 PM
To: 'wsssc at lists.ctc.edu' <wsssc at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wsssc at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: [Wsssc] Service and Emotional Support/Comfort Animal Policy

All, I'm reviewing our policy in relation to abovementioned subject.

I would welcome any and all guidance.  I am particularly interested in knowing how similar/different the policy might be for schools with residence halls.

Thanks,

Chio
**************************************************
Maria "Chio" Flores, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Services & Enrollment Management
Wenatchee Valley College
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
cflores at wvc.edu<mailto:cflores at wvc.edu>
509.682.6805 (work)
509.682.6402 (fax)
www.wvc.edu<http://www.wvc.edu/>


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