Purpose
This policy specifies the requirements for the presence of Guide Animals, Trained Assistance Animals (TAA), Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and Pet Animals on all Loyola campuses. This policy also addresses behavioral requirements for all members of the Loyola University Chicago community regarding the animals.

Scope
This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, visitors, and guests on any property owned, leased, or managed by any entity or component of Loyola University campuses.

Definition
GUIDE ANIMALS are defined as trained to assist an individual in daily navigation. By law, a guide animal is permitted to accompany an individual in any location unless a specific safety or health issue is identified by campus authorities.

TRAINED ASSISTANCE ANIMAL (TAA) is defined as an animal that is trained to do work or perform a specific task as an accommodation for an individual with a disability including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a TAA must be directly related to the person’s disability. The provision of emotional support, wellbeing, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this definition.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL (ESA) is identified as an animal providing emotional or other support to ameliorate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a disability. Unlike Guide or Trained Assistance Animals, ESA Animals are not required to be trained to perform work or tasks and include species other than dogs and miniature horses.

ESA Animals are not automatically allowed to accompany persons in any public areas, but ESA Animals may reside in campus housing, when it is necessary, so the person with has an equal opportunity to use and enjoy campus housing, as required under the Federal Fair Housing Act.

PET ANIMALS are any animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. Guide Animals, Trained Assistance Animals and Emotional Support Animals are not considered pets. Pet Animals are prohibited in any University facility.

Expectations and Exceptions
Any animal may be excluded from an area in which it was previously authorized to be if it is out of control or disruptive, and effective action is not taken to control it. Campus Safety will assist in determining if an animal is disruptive through reasonable judgement, current medical knowledge or the best available evidence, and review of the concerns to determine:

• The impact of the animal’s behavior
• The probability that potential injury will actually occur
• Whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, procedures, or the provision of auxiliary aids or services, will mitigate the risk

Campus Safety will respond to any situation involving a direct threat to the health and safety of others, and written notice will be provided to the person with the individual if the animal poses a direct threat, as determined by Campus Safety. The University may require an individual to remove any animal from University Property if the animal is out of control and the individual does not take effective action to control it.

Additional Information

• ESA are limited to the on-campus/off-campus dwelling and are not allowed in other campus locations/ buildings including buildings used just to pass through.
• Pets are not permitted in any campus building.

Damage Caused by Animals
Individuals are solely financially responsible for the actions of the animal, including bodily injury, property damage, and any expenses incurred above standard cleaning or repairs to University property.

Misrepresentation of an Animal’s Status
Loyola University prohibits individuals from misrepresenting an animal as an Assistance Animal. Individuals who misrepresent their animals may be subject to discipline through OSCCR for students and HR for faculty/staff, Campus Safety for Guests and/or punishment under applicable law.

Updated: 6/21/24