Emotional Support Animals
Shepherd University is dedicated to making reasonable accommodations to afford students with disabilities equal access to campus housing. Assistance Animals include both Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESA).
- Any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability and meets the definition of “service animal” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Emotional Support Animal is an animal that fosters emotional or other support that provides relief for one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.
If there are questions concerning these guidelines, you may contact The Office of Accessibility Services or The Office of Residence Life.
To apply for an Emotional Support Animal, students will need to complete all of the following forms. An ESA is not permitted on campus until officially approved by Accessibility Services.
-
Submit the Accommodation Request Form
- if you are already registered with Accessibility Serivces, you will complete a Supplemental Accommodations Request
-
Have supporting documentation for your ESA request
-
Submit the Emotional Support Animal Policy – Owner
- Owners of an ESA must stay in compliance with laws regarding the treatment of animals
-
Submit Veterinarian Information
- There is a student (owner) portion and a veterinarian portion
- Proper documentation for an ESA includes veterinary records. Any ESA on campus must be vaccinated in compliance with West Virginia Laws, and students must provided updated vaccination records to Accessibility Services when appropriate.
- Please have the veterinarian or owner submit to accessibility@shepherd.edu
-
Submit the Emotional Support Animal Roommate Agreement
- The owner should notify their roommate(s)/suitemate(s) about the ESA and ask them to fill out this form
Note: Established Accessibility Services and Residence Life housing procedures and deadlines are still relevant to students who keep assistance animals in their University residence. This includes, but is not limited to the availability of rooms, room assignments, and fees.
