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Animals on Campus

1. Purpose and Scope

Otis College of Art and Design (“Otis College”) is committed to ensuring equal access to College programs, activities, and housing for students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This policy applies to students only across all Otis College locations and College-owned or -controlled housing.

Pets and other animals are prohibited on Otis College campuses, except as specifically permitted under this policy for Service Animals and Assistance Animals (Emotional Support Animals).

2. Definitions

Disability: As defined by the ADA and Section 504, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment, or being regarded as having such impairment.

Service Animal: A dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a student with a disability. The tasks performed must be directly related to the disability (e.g., guiding individuals with vision impairment, alerting individuals who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting to seizures, interrupting self-harm behaviors, reminding about medication). Service animals are not pets.

  • Miniature horses may be permitted as service animals on a case-by-case basis if trained to perform disability-related tasks.
  • Under California law, knowingly and fraudulently misrepresenting a pet as a service animal is a misdemeanor.

Assistance Animal / Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An animal that provides emotional support or other disability-related assistance to a student with a disability. ESAs are not service animals and are only permitted in College housing when approved as a reasonable accommodation.

3. Service Animals – Access & Approval

General Access

  • Service animals may accompany their handler in any area of campus open to students or the public, unless the animal’s presence would:
  • Compromise legitimate safety requirements; or
  • Fundamentally alter the nature of a College program or activity.
  • In these limited cases, Disability Services will conduct an individualized assessment before restricting access.

Housing Approval – Service Animals in Residence Life & Housing

Students who intend to have a service animal reside with them in Otis College housing must obtain prior approval from the Disability Services office. To apply, students must complete the Housing Accommodation Application. The application must include:

  • A statement that the animal is required because of a disability.
  • A description of the specific work or task the animal has been trained to perform
  • Approval must be obtained before the animal is brought into the College residence halls. Once Disability Services grants approval, they will coordinate with Residence Life and Housing to ensure that appropriate housing arrangements are made. The student is responsible for maintaining the necessary health and behavioral standards for the animal, as required by College policy.

Removal
 A service animal may be removed if it:

  • Is out of control, and the handler does not take effective action, or
  • Is not housebroken.

Students will still be permitted to participate in College programs without the animal.

4. Service Animals in Training (SAIT)

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), only service animals that are individually trained to perform specific work or tasks for a person with a disability are recognized as service animals. Animals in training do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Therefore, animals in training are not permitted to reside in Otis College Housing facilities. This includes puppies or young dogs that are being socialized, as well as animals that are undergoing formal training but are not yet fully trained service animals.

Students who wish to volunteer as trainers or raisers of service animals must do so outside of college housing facilities..

Only service animals that have completed training and are approved through Disability Services may be permitted on Otis College’s campus.

5. Assistance Animals (ESAs) – College-Owned and Affiliated Housing Only

Where Allowed

  • ESAs are permitted only in:
  • The student’s assigned housing unit,
  • Direct routes for entering/exiting housing, and
  • Designated outdoor relief areas.

  • ESAs are not permitted in classrooms, studios, dining facilities, libraries, labs, or other campus spaces.

Request Process

  • Students must obtain written approval from Disability Services before bringing an ESA into any Residence Life and Housing space (Park West apartment or Residence Hall space).
  • Students must first receive confirmation of housing placement before submitting an ESA request.

Documentation Requirements

  • Documentation must be from a licensed healthcare provider with whom the student has an ongoing therapeutic relationship.
  • Documentation must:
  • Confirm the student’s disability,
  • Explain the need for the ESA as related to the disability,
  • Identify the type of animal.
  • Requests for unusual or “unique” animals (species other than dogs or cats) require additional justification.
  • Online “certifications” will not be accepted.

Limitations

  • Only one ESA is permitted per student.
  • The College may deny a request if the animal’s presence:
  • Imposes undue financial or administrative burden,
  • Fundamentally alters housing policies,
  • Poses a direct threat to health/safety, or
  • Has caused or would cause substantial property damage.

6. Responsibilities of Student Owners

Students approved for a Service Animal or ESA are responsible for:

  • Care and Health: Daily care, supervision, vaccinations, licenser, ID tags, and annual veterinary verification of health.
  • Control: Keeping the animal leashed, harnessed, tethered, or under effective control at all times.
  • Cleanliness: Safely and promptly cleaning up animal waste. Indoor waste (e.g., cat litter) must be bagged and disposed of in designated trash rooms.
  • Supervision: Animals may not be left unattended for unreasonably long periods and cannot be left overnight in housing under another student’s care.
  • Damage: Covering the cost of any damage to College property or pest remediation caused by the animal.
  • Compliance: Following all College and Residence Life policies.

7. Restricted Areas for Service & Support Animals

Service and Support Animals are generally not permitted in:

  • Mechanical rooms/custodial closets (e.g., boiler rooms, electrical closets, elevator control rooms).
  • Areas requiring protective clothing/gear (e.g., Photo Lab, woodshop, metal/machine shops).
  • Areas dangerous to animals (e.g., labs or classrooms with sharp metal, hot surfaces, chemicals, moving machinery, high dust levels, or molten materials).

Exceptions: May be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Disability Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and relevant lab directors.

8. Removal of an ESA

An ESA may be removed if it:

  • Poses a direct threat to the health/safety of others,
  • Causes substantial property damage,
  • Fundamentally alters College housing programs,
  • Creates significant disturbance or interference in the community, or
  • Is not cared for responsibly.

Any removal decision will be made in consultation with Disability Services, and the student has the right to appeal under the ADA/Section 505 Grievance Policy & Procedure.

9. Conflicts, Grievances, and Retaliation

  • Conflicts (e.g., allergies, phobias) should be reported to Disability Services, which will attempt to reasonably accommodate all parties.
  • Students may appeal denials or removals through the ADA/Section 505 Grievance Policy & Procedure in the Student Handbook.
  • Retaliation for requesting or using a Service or Support Animal is strictly prohibited.

10. Violations of this Policy

Failure to follow this policy, including failure to register an animal, lack of appropriate care or supervision, falsely claiming an animal is a service animal, or violations of housing and campus rules, may result in:

  • Review by Disability Services and Residence Life,
  • Removal of the animal from campus housing or other areas, and
  • Referral to Student Conduct for further action, if appropriate.

Students remain responsible for the animal’s behavior and any damages it causes.

11. Contacts

12. Effective Date, with Review Cycle, & Related Resources

Download Handbook

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Phone: 310-665-6960

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