Use of Service Animals

A service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform a specific task to help a person with a disability

Some tasks that service animals do but are not limited to are:

• guiding a person who has a visual impairment;
• pulling a wheelchair;
• alerting a person who has a hearing impairment or who is deaf;
• alerting a person who has a seizure disorder; and,
• reminding a person to take prescribed medication.

Please remember that a service animal is a working animal and should not be petted, fed, or deliberately startled because this will distract the animal from its job.

A person should never be asked about his/her disability to determine whether an animal qualifies as a service animal.  If it is not apparent that a dog is a service animal, the following two questions may be asked to determine whether the dog qualifies as a service animal:

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

Students who use service animals need only contact the ODS to register as a student with disabilities if they need to request other appropriate accommodations.  Using a service animal is not an accommodation.

It is recommended that all service dogs wear vests identifying them as a working animal.  If it is not apparent that the animal is a service animal, LSCPA may require documentation be provided on the letterhead of a medical professional, which will be used to determine that the individual has a disability for which the animal is required, how the animal assists the individual and the relationship between the disability and the assistance the animal provides. 

An individual with a disability may be accompanied by his/her service dog in all parts of the LSCPA campus where other students, faculty and staff, members of the public, or participants of services, programs, or activities can go.

An individual who uses a service dog is responsible for keeping the animal leashed or harnessed or under another mode of control, such as voice control, signals, or other effective means.  The individual is responsible for controlling their service animal at all times and must comply with all laws and regulations, including vaccinations, licensure, animal health, and local leash laws.

The individual is held liable for any damages done to the campus, facilities, or other individuals by the animal.  Individuals with service animals are responsible for ensuring the immediate clean-up and proper disposal of all animal waste.  LSCPA is not responsible for the supervision or care of a service animal. 

LSCPA may exclude a service animal from campus if its behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.  The institution may also remove an animal from campus if the animal’s behavior is uncontrolled and the individual does not take effective action to control it.

An animal that only provides comfort or emotional support is not legally considered a service animal.  Some people with disabilities are comforted and supported by the presence of an emotional support animal (ESA).  These animals are not service animals and will not be allowed in the classrooms, cafeteria, or other public areas on the campus.

Any questions regarding service animals or emotional support animals at LSCPA should be directed to the ODS Coordinator.