Animals Present at a College Location

1. Purpose

Loyalist College is committed to providing a safe, secure, and healthy environment for all members of the college community. The college recognizes the role that service animals perform and is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to those with disabilities, in alignment with the Human Rights Code. Loyalist also acknowledges that animals may be present at a college location for academic purposes or to serve and protect the community.

The purpose of this policy is to regulate the presence of animals at college locations, ensure alignment with legislation, while being cognisant of conflicting human rights and prioritizing the health and safety of the college community.

2. Application

This policy is applicable to all college employees, students, visitors, volunteers, contractors, and the public. External organizations that lease or rent college space, operate on college property, or are connected to any college initiatives, are responsible for upholding this policy and its related procedures.

3. Definitions

• Accommodation. An accommodation is an adjustment to an individual’s work or learning environment to ensure that people with Human Rights Code-related needs have equal opportunities, access, and benefits. Accommodation is necessary to address barriers in society that would otherwise prevent people from fully taking part in, and contributing to, the college community.
• Disability. The term disability covers a broad range and degree of conditions, some visible and some not visible. A disability may have been present from birth, caused by an accident, or developed over time. There are physical, mental, and learning disabilities, mental disorders, hearing or vision disabilities, epilepsy, drug and alcohol dependencies, environmental sensitivities, and other conditions.
• On-Duty Police Dog. A dog owned and managed by a police service.
• Owner/Handler. Any individual who is responsible for the care and control of a service animal while at a college location.
• Pet. Any domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship. A pet is not a service animal.
• Service animal. An animal described in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards, Section 80.45, subsection (4): an animal is a service animal for a person with disability if: (a) the animal can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal; or (b) the person provides documentation from one of the following regulated health professionals confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability:
  • A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech/Language Pathologists of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Nurses of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Optometrists of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
  • A member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario.
• Support animal. An animal that meets the service animal definition found in Ontario Regulation 191/11 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, section 80.45 with supporting documentation from one of the regulated health professionals listed in the service animal definition above.

4. Policy

• 4.1 Service Animals
  • A student or an employee may seek accommodation for one service animal. Accommodation requests shall be submitted annually to Health and Equitable Learning or Human Resources, except for permanent accommodations, which may not require annual submission. Where health and safety concerns may exist, the Senior Director of Health and Equitable Learning or designate (for students), and the Vice President, Human Resources or designate (for employees), shall be consulted.
• 4.2 Service Animal Requirements
  • All service animals must be vaccinated, non-poisonous, and capable of effectively fulfilling the individual’s medical needs.
  • Applicable animals must be spayed or neutered.
  • The animal must be at least one year old and have an established bond with their handler (a minimum of six months).
    • Service animal requirements must be demonstrated through the completion of all relevant documentation requested by the college.
    • At the cost of the owner or handler, service animals must wear a harness that readily identifies the animal as a working animal. In cases where the animal is confined, an identification tag must be attached to its crate or cage.
    • In situations where students are on placement with a service animal, they must follow the practices of the specified organization. If the organization does not have established policies or practices in place, the student will adhere to this policy.
    • Visitors with service animals must be prepared to show documentation for use of an animal at a college location upon request.
• 4.3 Animals for Teaching Purposes
  • Animals approved for college teaching scenarios and creative activities are permitted at a college location for such purposes.
• 4.4 On-Duty Police Dogs
  • On-duty police dogs are allowed access to all areas of a college location with their handler.
• 4.5 Pets
  • Pets are not allowed indoors at a Loyalist College location. Pet owners/handlers are permitted to have their pet on outdoor college property. In keeping with municipal bylaws, pets are required to be licensed and kept on a leash. Pets may use designated pet relief areas and owners/handlers are expected to clean up after their pets.

5. College Locations where Animals are Excluded

All animals, including service animals, are excluded from the following areas of a college location:

• Food areas in accordance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Animals are prohibited from entering rooms where food is manufactured, prepared, processed, handled, served, displayed, stored, sold, or offered for sale, with the exception of service animals which may be in an area of the food premise where food is served, sold, or offered for sale.
• Where an animal’s presence would create a health and safety hazard or compromise college operations (e.g., inside a laboratory, Spa and Esthetics, and skills and technology areas).

6. Animals Present During Third-Party Events

There may be circumstances where an individual or group may be hosting an event and wishes to request permission to bring one or more animals onto a college location. The individual or group must include this information in the pertinent section of the college’s protocol on the use of college facilities by a third party, this policy, and the related procedure.

7. Competing Human Rights

In some situations, the presence of an animal may compete with someone else’s human rights within the Human Rights Code, such as in the instance of an allergic reaction to, or a fear of, an animal. All efforts will be made to respectfully accommodate individuals to the greatest extent possible while at Loyalist College.

The college adheres to the Human Rights Code when addressing issues of competing rights. In supporting the well-being of the entire college location, Loyalist College reserves the right to ask that any animal be removed from the college location if it is disturbing a college activity or jeopardizing the health and safety of others.

8. Handler/Owner Responsibilities

All handlers/owners must:

• Ensure that the animal always remains close to the handler and under their direct control by using a leash or other appropriate means, unless being unrestrained is necessary to perform their tasks or functions.
• Ensure that the animal can be visually identified as a service animal in all college locations, including residences.
• Ensure that the animal’s vaccinations and proper licensing, as required by provincial law and/or municipal by-law, always remains with the owner/handler while at a college location.
• Clean up after their animal and dispose of waste in the appropriate receptacle.
• Be responsible for the behaviour, welfare, and management of the animal, including any damage caused by the animal. This includes promptly removing the animal if it is causing disruptions or presenting an unmanageable threat to the health and safety of the college’s work, learning, or residence environment.

9. Animals in Student Residences

Pets are not permitted in student residences. Service animals are permitted, upon approval.

Students will be required to complete, submit, and receive approval for all necessary documents prior to bringing the service animal into residence.

10. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a disagreement about the appropriateness of an accommodation, service quality, or an animal exclusion, a student should confer with Health and Equitable Learning.

An employee with a disagreement should confer with the Human Resources department.

A visitor with a disagreement regarding the use of a service animal should contact the department responsible for the related event.

11. Enforcement

The Loyalist College Security has the right to enforce this policy and procedure.

12. Related Documents

• ADMIN 122 Animals Present at a College Location Procedure
• ADMIN 122 Appendix A: Service Animal Request for Medical Accommodation
• ADMIN 122 Appendix B: Service Animal Checklist
• ADMIN 122 Appendix C: Loyalist Residence Service-Animal Agreement
• ADMIN 122 Appendix D: Service Animal Veterinary Form

13. References

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
• Ontario Regulation 191/11: Integrated Accessibility Standards
• Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990
• Human Rights Code, 1990