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Policy/Procedure Information

PDF Version

Number: 5.35

Name: Animals on Campus Policy

Author: Policy Committee

Effective Date: May 15, 2025

Next Review Date: AY2029–2030

Regulatory Authority:

•  (2013) – Discrimination against blind, deaf, or other persons with physical or sensory disabilities prohibited.

Part 1. Policy Statement

In consideration of the personal safety and well-being of the NHCC campus community, and in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, this policy establishes requirements for accessibility, behavior, and treatment of animals on campus. With the exception of service animals for persons with disabilities, therapy animals, and animals used for educational purposes, animals are not allowed in campus buildings or in the campus courtyard. This policy and any related procedures apply to all buildings and all members of the campus community, as well as all individuals using campus buildings, including leased properties.

Part 2. Definitions.

Subpart A. Service Animals.

According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a “service animal” is defined as “canines and miniature ponies trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals to an impending seizure or protecting individuals during one, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to danger, or pulling a wheelchair and fetching dropped items.” For the purposes of this policy, Service Animals in training are categorized as Service Animals. Service Animals do not include “emotional support or comfort” animals.

Subpart B. Emotional Support or Comfort Animals.

Emotional support or comfort animals are a category of animal that may work, provide assistance or perform physical tasks for an individual with a disability and/or provide necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of the individual's disability, but which are not considered service animals under the ADA.

Subpart C. Therapy Animals.

Certified therapy animals provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working with people who have disabilities. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide services to others. Therapy animals usually are not service animals.

Subpart D. Animals Used for Educational Purposes.

Approved animals used directly in support of NHCC’s mission of teaching.

Subpart E. Feral or Wild Animals.

Feral or Wild Animals are animals that are not socialized or domesticated.

Part 3. Campus Review

History

• New policy January 2015
• Reviewed Fall 2019
• Reviewed Spring 2025, added Subpart B. Emotional Support and Comfort Animals