Animals on Campus
Animals usually aren’t allowed in university buildings, but there are some exceptions. Disabled people can use service animals, service animals in training, or assistance animals approved as a reasonable accommodation. Service animals help disabled people join in programs or use services at the university.
The information below explains the different types of animals, where they’re allowed, and when they may be asked to leave.
What Is a Service Animal?
A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is specially trained to perform tasks for a disabled person. Service animals can help in many ways, such as:
- Alerting a disabled person when their blood sugar is too high or low
- Reminding a disabled person to take medicine
- Picking up things for a disabled person
- Noticing if a disabled person is about to have an anxiety attack and helping them in a specific way, like leading them away from the situation
Service animals do not need a special vest or ID. Any breed of dog or miniature horse can be a service animal if it’s trained to help a disabled person.
Where Service Animals Can Go
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disabled people with service animals can’t be kept out of places where the public is usually allowed. While in these areas, disabled people must care for their service animal, ensure it uses the designated relief area, and always keep it under control. The service animal should be on a leash, harness, or tether unless that would stop the animal from working. If so, the person can control the animal through commands.
People at the university must:
- Let disabled people go anywhere on campus with their service animals
- Not ask about a person’s disability
- Not pet, feed, or distract a service animal
- Not tease or try to scare a service animal
- Not try to separate a disabled person from their service animal
- Give disabled people with service animals the right of way, including cyclists and skateboarders
If it’s not clear whether the animal is a service animal, staff can ask two questions:
- Is the service animal needed because of a disability?
- What task or job is the animal trained to do?
If the answer is "no" or the animal isn’t trained for a specific task, the person may be asked not to bring the animal. If the answer is "yes" and a task is described, the person and animal must be allowed in.
Staff cannot ask for special ID or paperwork, make the animal show its skills, or ask about the disabled person’s medical details.
Reasons a Service Animal Can Be Asked to Leave
Sometimes a service animal must be removed from a space. This happens when:
- The animal is out of control and the person doesn’t fix it right away
- The animal isn’t housebroken
- The animal puts other people’s health or safety at risk (not just because of its breed or someone’s fears/allergies)
Fear of dogs or allergies are not enough to keep a service animal out. If someone is worried about dogs or allergies, the university will try to accommodate everyone as much as possible, but the service animal should only be removed for the reasons above.
Other Types of Support Animals
Support animals (also called comfort animals or emotional support animals) are different from service animals. Support animals can be any animal, like a dog, cat, or rabbit. Disabled people can request a support animal in their campus housing, but these animals aren’t allowed in public areas such as dining halls, classrooms, or gymnasiums.
To ask for a support animal in university housing, students should contact Services for Students with Disabilities.
For other disability or accessibility questions, use the Disability Equity Office. If you have questions about service animals or appeals, please email ADACoordinator@umich.edu. You can learn more from the Department of Justice’s FAQ about Service Animals and the ADA.