Service Animal & Emotional Support Animal Agreement

The following guidelines apply to all students with a disability who are applying for housing with a Service/Emotional Support Animal. Accommodation request for residential students with approved Service/Emotional Support Animals, and the Service Animal's Handlers if other than the residential student, who lives in a Bethel University Residence Hall or Apartment, unless the nature of the documented disability of the residential student precludes adherence to these guidelines. 

Definitions:

Service Animal means any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a Service Animal must be directly related to the residential student’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.  The overwhelming majority of Service Animals are dogs.

Therapy/Emotional Support/Comfort Animal. Animals that individuals with disabilities utilize for emotional support, well-being, or comfort. Because they are not individually trained to perform work or tasks, support animals are not service animals and do not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living, nor does it accompany a person with a disability at all times.

Pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a Service Animal or a therapy/emotional support animal, and, therefore, it is not covered by these guidelines and related policies. Residents are not permitted to keep pets on university property or in university housing.

“Student Partner” as referenced in these guidelines refers to the individual who benefits from the Service Animal’s use and training.

“Handler” used within this document refers to the Student Partner of the Service Animal as well as any other person who is in control of the Service Animal, e.g., a guest or personal attendant.

Animal Behavior

1. An animal may reside in a University Residence Hall/Apartment with its Student Partner upon approval by the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) provided that its behavior and care do not create unreasonable disruptions for residents, Residential Life staff, and other university community members. Disruptions, including noise levels, will be addressed by Residential Life staff in the same manner as with all students.
2. Dangerous, poisonous, unregistered, unlicensed, and/or illegal animals are not permitted.
3. The Animal must be under the control of its Student Partner or Handler at all times while on University property, including within the University Residence Halls/Apartment. It is expected that the Animal will be controlled by a leash or harness at all times while on or in University property, unless performance of the Service Animal's work or tasks related to the Student Partner's disability, requires the Service Animal to be off-leash/harness. The Animal may be off-leash/harness within the confines of the Student Partner's bedroom, but must remain under the control of the Student Partner or Handler and must be leashed/harnessed outside of the bedroom, or if a roommate(s)/apartment mate(s) requests leashing/harnessing. When the Animal is unattended, it must remain in the Student Partner's bedroom.
4. The University may exclude/remove the Animal when it 1) poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, or 2) results in a fundamental alteration of a University program.

Animal Health and Well-Being

1. All Service or Emotional Support Animals must have all veterinarian-recommended vaccinations to maintain the animal’s health and prevent contagious diseases. The University reserves the right to request an updated verification at any time during the animal’s residency.                   
2. Service/Emotional support animals are required to be licensed and in compliance with Minnesota and Arden Hills city legislation. An Arden Hills animal license must be obtained and kept current. The city of Arden Hill requires service/emotional support animals to be registered and tagged to be recognized in the city.  Licensing is processed through their city hall
3. The owner must provide proof of current rabies vaccination when applying for the license.  If applying for the service dog license you will need to attach a memo indicating that the dog is a Service Animal and request that the fee be waived.
4. All Animals, if taken outside the residence, must wear identification tags with a campus address, an Arden Hills rabies tag, and, if applicable, additional vaccination information.
5. The University may prohibit the use of Service Animals in certain locations due to health and safety restrictions (e.g. where the animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of research). Restricted areas may include, but are not limited to, the following areas: custodial closets, boiler rooms, facility equipment rooms, utility rooms, research laboratories, classrooms with research/demonstration animals, areas where protective clothing is necessary, wood and metal shops, motor pools, and rooms with heavy machinery and areas outlined in Minnesota law as being inaccessible to animals. Service Animals are prohibited from kitchens and food-preparation areas (this does not include public dining areas) except those in apartments and other University residential facilities.
6. Service/Emotional Support Animals that are ill should not be taken into public areas. A person with an ill animal may be asked to leave University facilities or remove the animal from campus.

Animal Cleanliness

1. Handlers are responsible for properly containing and disposing of the Animal's solid waste (e.g. feces).
   1. Indoor Service/Emotional Support Animal waste, and/or used litter, must be disposed of in an outside trash dumpster. Litter boxes may be placed on mats to minimize contamination of carpeted surfaces.
   2. Outdoor Service/Emotional Support Animal solid waste must be immediately retrieved by the Handler, placed in a plastic bag and securely tied before being disposed of in an outside trash dumpster.
2. Student Partners are responsible for feeding and watering the Service/Emotional Support Animal within the confines of their bedroom.
3. Service/Emotional Support Animal food should be kept in a closed container within the Student Partner’s bedroom.
4. If the Service/Emotional Support Animal vomits, urinates, leaves solid waste, and/or becomes incontinent, it is the responsibility of the Student Partner or Handler to make sure the contaminated area is cleaned up immediately. If the contamination occurs indoors, clean-up must include disinfectant of the area and carpet or floor treatment to minimize damage to the facility.
5. Bathing or cleaning of a Service/Emotional Support Animal is expected to avoid significant odors and/or to manage shedding. Handlers may not use human showers/tubs within the University residential community to bath or clean their Service/Emotional Support Animals.
6. Student Partners are responsible for taking effective precautions to avoid flea and tick infestations. If the Service/Emotional Support Animal is found to have fleas or ticks, the Student Partner will be responsible for eliminating the fur coat infestation, laundering all pet bedding, and treating carpet and upholstery in the Partner living space accordingly.

Student Partner Responsibilities

1. The Student Partner must provide OARS with a completed “Service/Emotional Support Animal Registration Form” and the Veterinarian’s Verification that the animal has all veterinary-recommended vaccinations to maintain the animal’s health and prevent contagious disease.
2. The Student Partner is responsible for assuring that the Service/Emotional Support Animal does not interfere with the routine activities of the University and residence or cause difficulties for students who reside there. Sensitivity to residents, staff and faculty with allergies, and to those who fear animals, is an important consideration for the Handler in order to ensure a community environment that supports the individual needs of all who reside or work at the University.  When a Handler is informed of a person with a medical condition that is affected by the Service/Emotional Support Animal, s/he will refer him/her to Res Life staff person and or OARS staff person if they have a health or safety concern about exposure to the Service/Emotional Support Animal.  Either OARS or Res Life staff will communicate with the concerned student to determine whether the condition is disabling and whether there is a need for accommodation.
3. The Student Partner is financially responsible for the actions of the Service/Emotional Support Animal including bodily injury or property damage, beyond ordinary wear and tear, including, but not limited to, any replacement of furniture, carpet, drapes, or wall covering. The Student Partner is expected to reimburse these costs upon repair and/or move-out.  If a repair is made prior to move-out, charges will be posted to the student’s Bethel account for payment.
4. The Student Partner is responsible, as are all students, for any expenses that are required due to costs incurred for cleaning or repair which is not considered ordinary wear and tear.
5. If fleas, ticks or other pests are detected within the residence it will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a university-approved pest control service. The Student Partner will be billed, as are all students, for the expense of any required pest management due to the actions or negligence of the Student Partner.
6. To be a roommate/apartment mate of the Student Partner, the student roommate/apartment mate must agree to allow the Service/Emotional Support Animal to be in residence with them, and sign an agreement to demonstrate their consent. In the event that a suitemate/apartment-mate does not want to, or cannot, live with the Service/Emotional Support Animal in the shared residential unit, either the Student Partner and Service/Emotional Support Animal or the roommate(s)/apartment mate(s) may be moved to a more suitable location.
7. The Student Partner agrees, as all students do, to continue to abide by all other Residential Life policies. Having a Service/Comfort Animal does not preclude the Student Partner from following all other guidelines found in the Housing Agreement and the Bethel’s Code of Conduct itemized in your Student Handbook.
8. Any violation of the above rules and guidelines will be reviewed by Residential Life Staff. The student will be afforded appropriate due process within this review.
9. Should the Service/Emotional Support Animal be disqualified or removed from the premises for any reason, the Student Partner is will remain responsible for the terms and conditions of the Housing License for the remainder of the term of the License.