Use of Service Animals

The following procedures support Board Policy 5140 and apply to students, faculty, staff and members of the community who use any Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community District property or facility. Title III (4.2300) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states “a public accommodation must modify its policies to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability, unless doing so would result in a fundamental alteration or jeopardize the safe operation of the public accommodation.”

What is a Service Animal?

Service animals include any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. To be considered a service animal, such as a dog, it must be trained to perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability. A service animal is defined in Title III of the ADA as: 

Any 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.”

If an animal meets this definition it is considered to be a service animal as defined in the ADA regardless of whether or not it has been licensed or certified by a state or local government or by a private agency. Service animals must be permitted to accompany a person with a disability everywhere at a District facility. If there is a question about whether an animal is a service animal, the Partners in Access to College Education for students with disabilities Director or ADA Coordinator will resolve the question after consulting with the student.

Responsibilities of Persons Using Service Animals  

  1. Dogs must be licensed in accordance with county regulations and wear a current and valid vaccination tag.  Other types of animals must have vaccinations appropriate for that type of animal.
  2. Animals must be on a leash at all times.
  3. The handler must clean up after the service animal.
  4. The handler must be in full control of the animal at all times.
  5. Disruptive or aggressive animals may be asked to leave Shasta College facilities.  If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the handler may be told not to bring the animal into any facility until the handler takes significant​ steps to mitigate the behavior.  This mitigation may include muzzling a barking dog or refresher training for animal and handler.  Failure by the handler to abide by these responsibilities may lead to the dismissal of the animal and subject the handler to College discipline. 

What is a therapy animal?

A therapy animal is one that provides emotional or psychological support to an individual, functioning as a therapy tool. A therapy animal may be an integral part of therapy treatment. The therapy animal does not accompany a person with a disability all the time. Laws protecting service animals do not cover therapy animals, and therefore therapy animals are not permitted at any District facility.

Reference:

Education Code Sections 67310, 84850; Title 5, Sections 56000 et. seq.;
Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title 2, Americans with Disabilities
Act Title III-4.2300