Animals on University Property

Scope

This policy applies to all university property and to all members of the university community, guests, and visitors.

This policy does not apply to the following animals:

•     Animals involved in authorized research
•     K-9 animals (police dogs)
•     Animals being temporarily held by Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)
•     Fish contained in aquariums; or
•     Animals used for a performance on university premises or involved in a university-  sponsored activity (such as mascots or special events) that have received advance university approval

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Policy Statement

With the exception of service animals and emotional support animals (“ESAs”) in university housing, bringing animals onto Indiana University property is a privilege and not a right. Animals that are not service animals or ESAs that have received prior approval to be in university housing are generally not allowed in buildings owned or leased by Indiana University, and all animals, whether service animals, ESAs, or pets in outdoor areas, must be managed by their owner/handler in accordance with this policy.

Indiana University is committed to ensuring equal access to facilities, programs, and activities. Service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are generally permitted in all university facilities and programs, except as described below. ESAs are permitted only in the owner’s on-campus residence or IU real estate housing with advance approval, as described below.

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Reason for Policy

The presence of animals can be disruptive, sometimes dangerous, and may present issues of health, safety, hygiene, and/or property damage, and this policy is intended to ensure that service animals and ESAs are integrated appropriately into the university setting and that owners/handlers of all animals that are brought onto university property are advised of their responsibility for the care and supervision their animal.

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Procedures

1. Requirements for All Animals
   Unless expressly noted otherwise, all individuals bringing or having an animal, including service animals or ESAs, onto university property must comply with the following requirements:
   1. The animal must at all times be under control of the owner/handler and must not be disruptive.
   2. The animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless, with respect to a service animal, these devices interfere with the task or work the service animal has been trained to perform or the individual's disability prevents use of these devices.
   3. The animal must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
   4. Except as provided herein, animals may not be left unattended while on university property. Animals may never be left tethered to a stationary fixture or tree. On campuses that offer university-owned housing, a service animal or ESA that has received prior approval to be in university housing may be left unattended during the day within the confines of the owner’s university on-campus residence or IU real estate housing consistent with campus-specific guidelines. 
   5. Neither a service animal nor ESA may be left alone or, in the absence of affirmative agreement, in the care of others (such as a roommate) overnight.
   6. All animals must be vaccinated against diseases common to that species of animal in accordance with all federal, state, and local ordinances and/or regulations, and the owner/handler must be able to provide proof of such vaccinations if requested. In addition, all animals should have a tag that identifies the owner/handler and contact information in case of emergency.
   7. The owner/handler is responsible for containing and disposing of all animal waste.
   8. The owner/handler is responsible for all damages and injuries caused by the animal.
2. Service Animals and ESAs
   In addition to the requirements that apply to any animal on university property, the following provisions govern service animals and ESAs:
   
   1. Service animals are generally permitted in all university facilities and programs. However, the university may exclude a service animal:
      1. If the animal is out of control and the owner/handler does not take immediate effective action to control it;
      2. If the animal is not housebroken;
      3. If the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by a reasonable modification to other policies, practices, and procedures; 
      4. If the presence of the animal would fundamentally alter the nature of the university’s services or programs; or
      5. Where service animals are specifically prohibited due to health or environmental and/or safety hazards, or the service animal creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference within the university community.
   2. ESAs are permitted only in the owner’s on-campus residence (e.g., a residence hall room or apartment that is managed by campus student housing and entries/exits to those buildings as necessary or rental houses that are managed by IU Real Estate) with advance approval from the appropriate campus offices and only for so long as the owner has a disability-related need for the ESA. Student residents should seek approval from the campus office serving students with disabilities; employee residents should seek approval from the campus office that handles disability accommodations. In either case, the approval decision will be made in consultation with campus student housing or IU Real Estate, depending on the type of residence at issue. ESAs are not permitted in any other university building or facility.  The university may exclude an ESA based on an individualized assessment of the actual behavior of the specific ESA that results in a determination that:
      1. The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by a reasonable modification to other policies, practices, and procedures; or
      2. The animal would impose an undue financial and administrative burden; or
      3. The animal would fundamentally alter the nature of the university’s services or programs.
   3. Students who have a service dog and who study or work in a teaching and research laboratory must adhere to the university’s written guidance that governs these areas.  
   4. Students with service animals or ESAs who wish to participate in study abroad programs and members of the university community who wish to visit one of the university’s Gateway offices should consult with the Office of Overseas Study at the earliest possible opportunity to address any local regulatory or programmatic issues presented by the particular program or Gateway office they are interested in.
   5. Service animals and ESAs in university residential housing facilities are also governed by campus-specific residential guidelines. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit the applicability of such guidelines.

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Definitions

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs):  Animals that provide emotional or other support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s existing disability.  Emotional support animals are not recognized under the ADA.
 
Service Animals:  Dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or task that the dog performs must be directly related to the individual’s disability, and can include a wide variety of services. Service animals are recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Indiana University also recognizes miniature horses as a service animal consistent with relevant ADA guidance and regulations.

Member of the University Community: Any individual who is a student, staff, faculty member, university official, or any other individual employed by, or acting on behalf of the university; other individuals while on Indiana University property, including employees of third-party vendors and contractors, volunteers, and visitors. 

University Housing:  Residence halls, apartments, or rental housing that is owned or controlled by Indiana University and leased to IU students or employees.
 
University Property:  Buildings, grounds, and land that are owned by Indiana University or controlled by Indiana University via leases or other formal contractual arrangements to conduct ongoing university operations.

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Sanctions

Any owner/handler of an animal who fails to abide by this policy will be required to remove the animal from university property.

Any owner/handler who is a member of the university community who fails to abide by this policy will be subject to the disciplinary procedures contained in Indiana University's staff, academic, or student policies, as applicable.

Any owner/handler who is not a member of the university community who fails to abide by this policy may be considered a trespasser on university property.

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History

This policy was established on September 22, 2000 and updated to articulate protocols related to service animals and emotional support animals on September 13, 2021.

A substantive review of the policy was conducted by the Office of Insurance, Loss Control & Claims in May 2023 with no revisions made to the policy.

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