The following information is provided to help define the role and the place of service animals, at NIU, in promoting the safety, dignity, and independence of persons with disabilities. Service animals are welcome in all buildings on campus and may attend any class, meeting, or other event.
To work on campus, a service animal must be specifically trained to perform a service function. Service animals whose behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or is disruptive to the campus community may be excluded regardless of training or certification.
Cleanliness is mandatory for service animals. Daily grooming and occasional baths (at a vet or a family home) should keep dog odor to a minimum. Flea control is essential and adequate preventive measures should be taken. If a flea problem develops, it should be dealt with immediately and in an effective manner.
Consideration of others must be taken into account when providing maintenance and hygiene of service animals. Therefore, the following policies and responsibilities have been established concerning the use of service animals on NIU campuses:
A person with a disability who utilizes a service animal is strongly encouraged to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR). The cost of care, arrangements and responsibilities for the well-being of a service animal are the sole responsibility of the owner at all times.
Service animals on campus must:
Disruption: The partner of an animal that is unruly or disruptive (e.g., barking, running around, bringing attention to itself) may be asked to remove the animal from university facilities. If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the partner may be told not to bring the animal into any university facility until the partner takes significant steps to mitigate the behavior. Mitigation can include muzzling or refresher training for both the animal and the partner.
Health: Service animals that are ill should not be taken into public areas. A partner with an ill animal may be asked to leave university facilities.
Cleanliness: Partners with animals that are unclean, noisome, and /or bedraggled may be asked to leave University facilities. An animal that becomes wet from walking in the rain or mud or from being splashed on by a passing automobile, but is otherwise clean, should be considered a clean animal. If the animal in question is usually well-groomed, the University may consider the animal that appears messy due to environmental conditions (rain, snow, sleet, mud, etc.) well-groomed until the partner is able to then groom the animal appropriately (give it a bath, brushing, towel dry, etc.).
Any partner dissatisfied with a decision made concerning a service animal should follow the applicable institutional Appeal / Grievance Procedure.
Under the Fair Housing Act, therapy animals may be allowed in public housing, but are not required to be allowed across campus, in non residential locations.
Local veterinarians can be found in the DeKalb / NIU phone book or through directory assistance. The following veterinarians are located within the area operated by the Huskie Bus Line and the paratransit service (the Freedom Mobile). Each veterinarian may offer some type of discount to service animal owners. Check on the discount when making an appointment. CAAR is providing this contact information simply as a service to the students and does not imply, endorse, or guarantee the services provided by these independent veterinarians.
Bethany Animal Hospital, 2400 Bethany Road, Sycamore, Illinois 60178; (815) 756-8925 or after hours 815-756-8926.
Prairie View Animal Hospital, 24 Rich Road, DeKalb, Illinois 60115; (815) 756-9976 or after hours, same number.
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