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Animal Guidelines

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. An 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.

yellow background, in the center is a drawing of a white and blue computer, and underneath reads "accommodation request form"    supporting documentation guidelines    yellow background, in the center is a lowercase letter i in a blue circle, underneath reads "important definitions"

emotional support animals

Included in Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Guidelines is a checklist on how to obtain an ESA, which includes completing the following:

yellow background. in the center is a silhouette of a man walking a dog. underneath reads "ESA policy owner form"     yellow background. in the center is a clipboard with a checklist. beneath reads "ESA policy roommate agreement form."    yellow background with a silhouette of a person walking a dog, and underneath reads "emotional support animal guidelines"

veterinary information

Proper documentation for an ESA includes veterinary records. The student should obtain this information by doing the following:

  1. Complete the student portion of the Veterinarian Form.
  2. Share the Veterinarian Form with the ESA’s veterinarian to complete the remaining portion of the form.
  3. Provide the completed form to accessibility@shepherd.edu

veterinarian 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.

yellow background with a drawing of a house in the center, and underneath reads "contact residence life!"    yellow background, in the center is a blue circle with a diagonal line going across it, and below reads "removal of animals"