Service & Emotional Support Animals

• A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. 
• An emotional support animal belongs to a person living with a disability. The person’s mental health professional has determined that the presence of the animal is necessary for the disabled person’s mental health and has written a prescription stating the pet is necessary. 

No; however, service animals may be permitted as an accommodation. 

It is recommended to put your request in writing, identifying the need for a service animal and the task(s) the service animal assists the student with. 

• If the disability is visible (blindness, paraplegia, etc.) the school cannot request medical documentation. 
• If the disability is unknown, the school has the right to request medical documentation which states the need for a service animal and how the service animal will assist the student. The documentation need not disclose the disability. 
• Schools are permitted to ask what work or task the animal has been trained to perform.
• No certification or proof of training for the service animal is required.

• The service animal poses an actual (not perceived/assumed) direct threat to the health or safety of others; or
• The service animal is disruptive; or
• The service animal is not housebroken.