Animals on Campus

University Policy 704, Animals on Campus

Executive Summary

Because of safety and sanitary considerations, animals may not be brought onto campus except in the following circumstances:  

1. service animals providing assistance to disabled persons,
2. for academic research as set forth in University Policy 310, and
3. for a purpose specifically approved and under conditions required by the Chancellor or a vice chancellor.

Policy Details

I. Introduction

1. Service Animals and Service Animals in Training as set forth in Section II.A below;
2. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals, as set forth in Section II.B below;
3. Animals used for academic research, but only as set forth in University Policy 310, Laboratory Animals Used for Teaching and Research; or
4. Animals that are brought on campus for a purpose specifically approved and under conditions established by the Chancellor or a vice chancellor.

II. Categories and Rules

A. Service Animals and Service Animals in Training

1. Definition:  Service Animals are animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to sounds, providing animal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, and fetching dropped items for mobility impaired persons. If they meet this definition, animals are considered Service Animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. Service Animals include dogs or other common Domestic Animals but do not include wild animals, such as reptiles, rabbits, farm animals (including any breed of horse, miniature horse, pony, pig, or goat), ferrets, amphibians, or rodents.
2. Definition:  A Service Animal in Training is an animal in training to become a Service Animal when the animal is accompanied by a person who is training the Service Animal and the animal wears a collar and leash, harness, or cape that identifies the animal as a Service Animal in Training.
3. Students and employees bringing Service Animals or Service Animals in Training onto campus are required to report the presence of such animals on campus to the Office of Disability Services.
4. Service Animals and Service Animals in Training must meet the requirements set forth under Section II.B below, except as otherwise provided.
5. Use of a Service Animal must comply with ADA regulations.  Questions about the impact of the Service Animal on an educational program or activity should be addressed with the Office of Disability Services in consultation with the sponsoring department.
6. Use of a Service Animal or Service Animal in Training in University facilities and on the University campus (i.e., attendance at special event) may be prohibited if the use of the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of other persons. Use of a Service Animal in Training may be prohibited if the presence of the Service Animal in Training will result in a fundamental alteration of the educational program or activity involved. 

B. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals

1. Definition: A Domestic Animal means those species of animals that are indigenous to Mecklenburg County, normally and customarily share human habitat in the county, and are normally dependent on humans for food and shelter in the county, including dogs, cats, and other common domestic animals, but not including feral or wild animals as defined in Section II.C below.
2. Definition: A Therapy Animal is an animal certified for animal assisted therapy (AAT) by a recognized and reputable AAT certification organization, such as the Delta Society or Pet Therapy International, and used by a student or employee to provide comfort or companionship or for other “therapeutic” purposes.  An animal meeting this definition is not a Service Animal and will not qualify as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. 
3. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals must be under control while on campus grounds, and restrained by a leash or other appropriate device that does not exceed 6 feet in length and that is under control by a responsible person.  At no time will an animal be allowed to wander off leash. 
4. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals brought to campus must be licensed and fully inoculated in accordance with Mecklenburg County regulations, if such licensing is required by Mecklenburg County, with the burden of proof on the owner.
5. Fecal matter deposited by any Domestic Animal or Therapy Animal brought to campus must be removed immediately and disposed of properly by the owner.  The burden is on the animal handler to arrange for removal of fecal matter if he or she is personally unable to perform the task. 
6. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals may not enter any (a) campus building, including all residence and non-residence buildings, (b) enclosed or delineated outdoor athletic or recreational facility, or (c) officially reserved or scheduled outdoor event on campus.  This paragraph does not apply to Service Animals or Service Animals in Training accompanying a person with a disability or an authorized service animal trainer.
7. Domestic Animals or Therapy Animals found tethered, unattended, or abandoned may be humanely impounded in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
8. Domestic Animals or Therapy Animals may be confined in vehicles parked on campus for a reasonable period of time as long as the animal is not endangered and does not endanger others or create a public nuisance.  In the event of endangerment to the animal or others, or public nuisance, the animal’s handler or owner is subject to citation and the animal may be humanely impounded.   
9. Domestic Animals and Therapy Animals must have appropriate behavior while on campus.  If there is anything about the condition, health, or behavior of any animal on campus that is deemed by the University to be a threat to the health or safety of any member of the campus community or to any other animal, then that animal may be removed from campus in any manner deemed necessary University officials.  Such action may be taken regardless of whether the animal posing a threat would otherwise be permitted on campus under this Policy.   

C. Feral or Wild Animals

1. Definition: Feral or Wild Animals are non-domesticated, have been found in the wild, or in the wild state.  Feral or Wild Animals that are not a risk and do not represent a hazard, cause property damage, or create a public nuisance, and that do not require human intervention, may inhabit the campus grounds.
2. Human intervention includes, but is not limited to, attracting animals, feeding, watering, building of shelters for animals, and injection of medication.
3. Feral or Wild Animals that are a potential risk, represent a hazard, cause property damage, create a nuisance, or otherwise pose a potential threat to the health or safety of humans will be regulated, controlled, and humanely relocated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
4. No person may do anything to attract animals to campus nor may any person feed or set out food or water for animals on campus or engage in any other human intervention as described in II. C. 2, above.

III. Responsibilities

IV. Violations of this Policy

1. Any person who brings an animal onto campus in violation of this Policy will required to remove the animal from campus immediately. 
2. Any person who feeds or attracts animals on campus in violation of this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the disciplinary Policy applicable to the person’s status as a student, or employee. Those who are not students or employees may be trespassed from the campus. 
3. Stray or unattended animals may be impounded by Police and Public Safety and turned over to the local Animal Control Shelter.

Revision History

Initially approved by the Chancellor on July 25, 1977
Revised April 25, 1997
Revised October 30, 2000
Revised April 7, 2003
Revised March 9, 2010