Emotional Assistance Animal (ESA)

A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform a task(s) for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

An ESA is an animal that:

• is prescribed to an individual with a disability by a healthcare or mental health provider; and
• is necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy University Housing.

ADA Title II and III.

*Service animals in training are not covered by Title II and III of the ADA.WI Statutes, however, do cover Service Animals in Training.

FHA – Fair Housing Act

HUD – US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development

Only two questions may be asked:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

A public accommodation or facility is not allowed to ask for documentation or proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.

Students who plan to live in campus housing should contact Housing and Residential Life prior to moving in regarding making suitable arrangements for housing their service dog.

An individual with a disability who requests a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal may be asked to provide documentation so that the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility Services can properly review the accommodation request.

• Students requesting ESAs in University Housing begin by registering for services through Student Accessibility Services intake process and include a request for the ESA via the Public Accommodation Request form.  The form and additional documentation requirements can be found on the Student Accessibility Services website.
• Students requesting an ESA to live in University Housing should notify Student Accessibility Services at least 60 days prior to the desired move-in date for University Housing to best accommodate the student and the animal and secure permission by the roommate. If the roommate does not agree to the ESA in the room, efforts will be made to find a roommate who will agree.
• If all other criteria are met to establish the individual with a disability, as set forth by staff in Student Accessibility Services, a meeting will be arranged between the student and University Housing to discuss how to best accommodate the student, the Emotional Support Animal, and the campus community. 

Titles II and III of the ADA make it clear that service animals are allowed in public facilities and accommodations. A service animal must be allowed to accompany the handler to any place in the building or facility where members of the public, program participants, customers, or clients are allowed. Even if the business or public program has a “no pets” policy, it may not deny entry to a person with a service animal. Service animals are not pets.

ESAs are only allowed within a person’s dwelling in University Housing, or other areas on campus where domesticated animals are permitted (for example, outside for walk if a dog).

A service dog may be asked to leave a UWP facility, program, or dwelling if the animal’s behavior or presence is unduly disruptive or poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others (e.g., displays vicious or aggressive behavior towards people or other animals), or causes substantial damage to the property of other individuals or the University. 

A service dog or other service animal may also be excluded in areas where the presence of a service animal fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity. Examples may include, but are not limited to research labs, areas requiring protective clothing, food preparation areas or other sterile environments, or other research facilities where animals are present. 

ESAs may be excluded from all campus areas including University Housing:

• where its presence fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity.
• if the animal is disruptive.
• if its presence would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others; or
• if it substantially interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of the area by others.