Disability Services Service and Support Animals

The ESA request process must begin a minimum of six (6) weeks prior to bringing an animal to College housing.

Consistent with federal and state law, Westmont College permits assistance animals on its campus pursuant to the following policy and procedures. This policy applies to students.

It is important to understand the following terms and definitions:

Individual with a Disability:  An individual with a disability means a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who has a record of having such impairment or is regarded as having such impairment.

Accommodation:  Any modification or adjustment in policies, practices, procedures or work/school/housing environment to enable an individual with a disability to enjoy equal access to college programming, activities and services.

Student Owner: Individual with a disability that uses a service or support animal.

Assistance Animal: Assistance animal is the umbrella term which includes both service and support animals as defined below.

Service Animal: Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities.

Emotional Support Animal:  Support animal means an animal that individuals with disabilities use for emotional support, well-being or comfort. A support animal need not be trained to perform any specific task. In accordance with Federal law (Fair Housing Amendments Act), Westmont College will consider requests for accommodations to the housing policy to allow students experiencing significant mental health problems to keep an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) with them in-residence.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are a category of animals that provide necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of an individual’s disability, but which are not considered Service Animals under the ADAAA. An ESA may be a dog, cat, small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, fish, or other small, domesticated animal that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure.

Animals that pose health risks from zoonotic diseases or safety concerns to others will typically not be approved. Generally, a dog should be at least nine months of age to live on campus.

The communal living nature of the residence hall requires Westmont to consider the comfort and concerns of all students in residence. Therefore, Westmont College offers some important guidance for those who are considering making a request for an ESA. Please read all the information on the following pages. ESAs are not permitted on campus until the accommodation request has been made and approved.

Responsibilities of Service and Support Animal User

All service and support animal users are responsible for any damage caused by their animals and must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury. The care, supervision and well-being of a service/support animal are the sole responsibility of the User at all times. Review and complete the College Housing Service/Support Animal Agreement which details the full list of responsibilities.

Complaint Process

Residents will have the opportunity to report complaints and concerns in regard to noise, odor, pests, threat, or danger. Unacceptable behavior from a support or service animal may be reported as follows:

  • Behaviors in residential facilities should be reported to the Resident Director or to the On Call Resident Director.
  • Behaviors in non-residential campus facilities should be reported to Public Safety.
  • In all emergencies, in any setting, contact 911.

The complaint will be forwarded to and reviewed by the Associate Dean for Residence Life (or designee). Within 5 business days of the receipt of the complaint, the Associate Dean for Residence Life (in consultation with the Director of Disability services) will respond to the complaint in writing and may issue any one or more of the following sanctions:

  • Requiring specific reasonable action on the part of the User to rectify a problem
  • Suspension of use of service or support animal for one or more semesters

Removal/Relocation of Service or Support Animal

An animal may be removed from any campus facility for unruly and/or disruptive behaviors including but not limited to:

  • Excessive barking
  • Repeated lack of supervision
  • Aggressive Behavior
  • Repeated soiling in residence or not housebroken
  • Improper grooming or hygiene (foul odors, fleas, excessive shedding, etc.)

If suspension of pet owning privileges is implemented, the pet owner will be given up to 14 days to alternately place the animal.

When a service animal is properly excluded from the premises for any of the reasons above or other appropriate reason, users will be offered the opportunity to participate in the service program or activity without the service animal.

Grievances

Students may appeal decisions made pursuant to this policy under Disability Services Grievance Procedure.