Service Animals
What is a Service Animal?
Service Animals are dogs or miniature horses individually trained to assist individuals with disabilities. Under the ADA, they have access to public places and can perform tasks that are directly related to the person’s disability.
Things You Should Know
Keeping fellow Texans safe
Service animals are trained to focus on specific tasks, and interfering with them can disrupt their duties or cause harm.
Consider leaving pets at home
Other animals can disrupt a service animal’s work, potentially putting both the service animal and students at risk.
Respect the privacy
Ask permission before taking photos or videos and before posting them online.
Service animals roles
Service animals play a critical role for a student both on and off campus.
What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
The primary role of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is to offer emotional support, comfort, and companionship to their owner. Unlike service animals, ESAs do not perform specific tasks related to a disability but are meant to improve their owner’s emotional well-being. ESAs must be domesticated, well-behaved, and meet certain health requirements. Their access is generally limited to residential facilities, including common areas, and they are not permitted in all public spaces. To have an ESA in campus housing, students must submit a letter from a licensed professional outlining the need for the animal as part of their treatment.
FAQ
Is an in-training service animal allowed in public places?
Yes, in-training service animals are afforded the same access as service animals. Texas law allows a trainer of a service animal accompanied by an animal for training purposes in public places and common transportation carriers.
Does the ADA require service animals to be professionally trained?
No. Service animals can be trained by their owner or by another handler. People with disabilities are not required to use a professional service animal training program.
What can University personnel ask to determine if an animal is a service animal?
In situations where it is not obvious that the animal is a service animal, personnel may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the animal a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform? Personnel are not allowed to request any documentation for the service animal, require that the service animal demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.
Is a service animal required to have vaccinations?
Yes. Individuals with service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements.
Does a service animal have to be on a leash?
It depends. Service animals must be under control which means harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the device interferes with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using the device. In that case, the individual must maintain control through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
Additional Resources
Department of Justice FAQs at https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
Office of the Texas Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/assistance_animals