Service Animals
CWI recognizes and supports the assistance a trained service animal can provide a student with a disability. In order for a service animal to be allowed on campus, certain conditions must be met. Requests for service animals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. It is the student's responsibility to supply required and requested information to establish this accommodation.
What is a Service Animal?
A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
Animals used for the expressed purpose of companionship pets or emotional support/therapy dogs DO NOT qualify as service animals as they are not providing a service. As such, companion animals are not allowed on campus.
Service Animal Documentation
While documentation for a service animal is not required under the ADA, the College may ask if the animal is a service animal and/or what tasks the animal has been trained to perform. Other than these two basic questions, the College is not permitted to ask for any specifics pertaining to an individual's service animal.
A student with a disability may be asked to remove their service animal if:
- The animal is out of control and/or if the the owner is not taking effective action to control the animal's behavior.
- The animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
Student Responsibilities
Service animals will be viewed by CWI as an extension of the student and are, therefore, subject to the Student Code of Conduct. Service animals are not permitted to roam free. Animals must be leashed in public on a leash no longer than 10 feet unless in a car or under the control of a competent attendant. Animals running free are subject to impoundment. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct will follow established procedures set forth by the College.
Students using a service animal assume full responsibility for the care and management of their service animal including:
- Food, water, and shelter.
- Managing the animal behavior on campus and in the community.
- The animal's health and wellness.
- Disposal of animal waste in an appropriate manner.