Service Animals and Therapy Animals

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. Responsibilities of the individual with disability using a service animal

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:

1. Meet all requirements for the presence of animals in public places (vaccinations, licensure, ID tags, etc.) mandated by State or Local ordinance must be followed.
2. Be in good health. Animals to be housed in University Housing must have an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian.
3. Be under control. The person with a disability must be in full control of the animal at all times. Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals while on campus. If a service dog, for example, exhibits unacceptable behavior, the partner is expected to employ the proper training techniques to correct the situation.
4. Not cause damage to the campus. A person who has a service animal on campus (including University Housing) is financially responsible for property damage caused by his or her service animal.
5. Defecate in appropriate places. Individuals using services animals must follow local ordinances in cleaning up after the animal defecates, must take their service animals to the marked toileting areas for service animals, when provided, and must also clean up the waste and place the plastic baggie of waste in the appropriate trash receptacle.
6. Not cause financial obligations to the University. All functions of service animal use, including service animal training or re-training, independent travel, animal food purchasing and maintenance, grooming, veterinarian care, and hygiene work is considered a personal aid or service and is the full responsibility of the individual with the disability.

B. Service Animals in University Housing

1. The CAAR will work directly with University Housing and the resident with the service animal to ensure appropriate accessible housing is provided. Service animals must always be kept under control and on a leash/lead, except in the resident’s own room with the door shut.
2. Disturbing vocalizations or noises from the animal must be kept to an absolute minimum.
3. When the service animal needs to be “walked”, they must be taken to a specific area designated by the Residence Hall Director or designated staff member. The droppings must be picked up in a plastic bag and deposited in a trash can provided specifically for that purpose in the area.
4. Service animals may not be bathed in the shower rooms, bathtubs, or sinks of the residence halls; food dishes must be cleaned only in the large sinks located for resident use on each floor; and service animal food must be kept in a covered storage container (plastic or paper bags are not sufficient to keep out pests).
5. In the cafeteria, service animals must:

• Remain quietly by the student’s chair or under the table out of the way of other visitors to the cafeteria.
• Not disturb others at the table, in any way, including other service animals.
• Keep their noses and all body parts, off tables, trays, and food-servicing counters at all times.

C. Removal of Service Animals

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.).

D. Grievances

Any partner dissatisfied with a decision made concerning a service animal should follow the applicable institutional Appeal / Grievance Procedure.

Therapy Animals

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.

Veterinarian Care

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.