Support animals increasing on campus
The Disability Resource Center reports that the number of animals legally kept as pets on campus has been increasing over the past three to four years.
While the number of service animals has remained at relatively the same level, the number of support animals has increased.
“Certainly we have more support animals now than we did four years ago,” said David Pruden, Interim Director of the Disability Resource Center. “So far this semester we’ve probably had just under 20 support animals approved. My rough guess is that we have around 45 animals total living on campus, but that’s rough.”
The reason for the increase in support animals over the past few years is the enforcing of newer laws that allow them to be kept on campus.
“When those laws first went into effect, most people’s interpretation was that they did not apply to university housing, so it’s only in the last few years that there have been court rulings that show the fair housing act really does apply to university-type housing,” Pruden said. “Before that we didn’t really have a procedure for support animals. There would not have been support animals prior to that.”
While the DRC has the right to question a student’s need for a support animal, they are not allowed to seek certification for students with service animals.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the difference between service and support animals is that “a service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability,” whereas a support animal does not need to be trained and does not have to be a dog.
Shandrea Hickok, a junior majoring in psychology and environment studies, said that she has had issues with people and institutions in Logan not recognizing her right to have a service animal in the past.
“It has been a big challenge for others to accept that Molly is a service animal because my disability isn’t as visible as others, like blindness or being in a wheelchair,” Hickok said. “It also doesn’t help that she is a Yorkie because when most people think of service animals they think of golden retrievers and bigger dogs like that.”
Hickok said her dog has helped her emotionally and physically as well for the past two years.
“Having a service animal allows me to live by myself and go and do things that I wouldn’t have been able to do before like use the bus,” Hickok said.
For students who want to have a support animal living with them on campus, they must gain approval from the DRC. In order to get approval, a student must provide a letter from a qualified physician or therapist stating that there is a need for the support animal.
Kenzi Tobyne, a junior majoring in marketing, has had a support animal living with her in the Blue Square apartments.
“Lola has helped me a lot,” Tobyne said. “People who grow up without a dog don’t understand the impact that they can have on you. She can sense when I am stressed out and will come and cuddle with me. Growing up is hard enough. I think that everyone should have one.”
Despite the fears the DRC originally had about allowing students to own support animals on campus, the process has been very smooth with only minor issues.
“There have been a few occasions that people had a support animal that they didn’t clean up after and other residents in married housing were frustrated at the mess,” Pruden said. “There certainly are some challenges, but by and large things go very smoothly and there’s no problem or issues at all.”
Tobyne said that many students on campus like to play with Lola. She said Lola gives them the opportunity to interact with animals, which is a rare occurrence for many students.
“I get a great reception from people on campus,” Tobyne said. “Most people get really excited and they all want to pet her because they miss their dogs from back home.”
— christopherfarnes@aggiemail.usu.edu