Policies + Guidelines

A “pet” is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. Assistance animals (service and support), as defined below, are not considered pets. RMCAD specifically prohibits pets anywhere on campus with the exception of approved assistance animals for individuals with disabilities.

ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

This policy applies to assistance animals that may be used by individuals with disabilities. The term “assistance animal” is the overarching term that refers to both service animals as well as support animals as defined below. Therefore, an assistance animal is an animal that either (1) works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability; or (2) provides emotional or other types of support that alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.

SERVICE ANIMALS

A “service animal” means any dog or, in some cases, miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this definition. Species other than dogs or, in some cases, miniature horses, are not considered service animals for the purpose of this definition of a service animal. Additionally, RMCAD cannot ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability to determine whether a person’s animal qualifies as a service animal. However, when it is not readily apparent that a dog is a service animal, RMCAD employees may make two inquiries to determine whether the dog qualifies as a service animal, which are:

• Is the animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

A service animal must be housebroken (i.e. trained so that it controls its waste elimination, absent illness or accident) and must be kept under control by a harness, leash, or other tethers, unless the person is unable to hold those, or such use would interfere with the service animal’s performance of work or tasks. In such instances, the service animal must be kept under control by voice, signals, or other effective means. RMCAD and SAS will assess requests for the use of miniature horses by people with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.

Requests should be submitted to the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Committee and, consistent with applicable laws, RMCAD may make modifications in its policies to permit their use if they meet certain criteria and have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of people with disabilities.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS (ESA)

(updated June 2022)

An “emotional support animal” is an animal that provides emotional or other support that ameliorates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. Unlike service animals, support animals are not required to be trained to perform work or tasks, and they include species other than dogs and miniature horses. Support animals are generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all public areas in the same manner that a service animal is allowed to. At this time, RMCAD is not allowing Emotional Support Animals on campus.

GUIDE + HEARING TRAINEES

Colorado law states the following with respect to animals in training and will be allowed on campus:

• 24-34-803. Rights of persons with assistance dogs

A trainer of a service animal, or an individual with a disability accompanied by an animal that is being trained to be a service animal, has the right to be accompanied by the service animal in training without being required to pay an extra charge for the service animal in training in or on the following places or during the following activities:

• Any place of employment, housing, or public accommodation;
• Any programs, services, or activities conducted by a public entity;
• Any public transportation service; or
• Any other place open to the public.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES USING ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

RMCAD is not responsible for the care or supervision of assistance animals. People with disabilities are responsible for the cost, care, and supervision of assistance animals, including:

• Compliance with any laws pertaining to animal licensing, vaccination, and owner identification;
• Keeping the animal under control and taking effective action when it is out of control; and
• Feeding and walking the animal and disposing of its waste.

RMCAD will not require any surcharges or fees for assistance animals. However, a person with a disability may be charged for damage caused by an assistance animal to the same extent that RMCAD would normally charge a person for damage caused. People with disabilities who are accompanied by assistance animals must comply with the same campus rules regarding noise safety, disruption, and cleanliness as people without disabilities. 

Any questions about this Pets + Assistance/Support Animals policy should be directed to the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Advising at DeanofStudents@rmcad.edu.