Effective March 15, 2011, only dogs (and in some cases miniature horses) are recognized as service animals under Titles II and III of the ADA. A service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability: the work or task must be directly related to the person's disability. Dogs not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs used purely for comfort or emotional support, are NOT service animals. The final rule also clarifies individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA.
Per ADA law, only the following questions are permitted to be asked in regards to service animals:
1) Is the animal necessary for the person’s disability? You cannot ask the person what his/her disability is or ask for documentation of the disability.
2) What work and/or task is the service animal trained to perform? You cannot request that the service animal perform the task and you cannot ask for documentation for the service animal.
In compliance with ADA, the service animal must be permitted to accompany the individual with a disability in all areas of the campus where students/the public are normally allowed to go. Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals per ADA law. In addition, ADA law does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.
Students with disabilities that require the use of a service animal may voluntarily complete and submit the Service Animal e-form found at https://ctceforms.ctcd.edu (please contact DSS with any questions about this e-form).
Responsibilities of Service Animal Owner:
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Ensure service animal has all required vaccinations as mandated by local laws and/or visible rabies vaccination tag should be worn by the service animal (DSS may require the student provide proof of vaccinations for the service animal).
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Ensure the service animal is has its required license from the city/state in which it is registered
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Assumption of personal responsibility for damage to any college property and/or harm to others caused by the service animal while on campus or attending college-sponsored events. CTC, its employees, agents and officers will not be held liable for any claims or costs.
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Care, control and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. CTC will not provide care, food or special location for the service animal.
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The service animal must be clean and curbed at all times while on campus.
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Service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the individual's disability prevents using these devices. In this case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls.
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Dog must be housebroken and owner is responsible for immediate clean up of litter on campus and disposed of in a plastic bag in an outside garbage dumpster.
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Owner must remove service animal from the premises/classroom if unacceptable behavior is exhibited that cannot be effectively controlled, e.g., continuous barking, growling, jumping on people or posing a threat or nuisance.
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Clear understanding that violation of policy may result in disciplinary action.
Service Animals in Training:
An individual with a service animal in training may bring the service animal to campus only under the following conditions:
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the service animal is accompanied by an approved trainer who is an agent of an organization recognized as reputable and competent to provide such training
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the individual submits proof to DSS that he or she is an approved trainer as required in Texas Human Resources Code Sec. 121.003
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the animal is adequately under control of the trainer
*If students require classroom accommodations in addition to service animal accommodations, they are required to follow the process for requesting classroom accommodations (please view the Requesting Accommodations link for further information or contact a DSS Coordinator for assistance).
