Emotional Support animals are not allowed the same freedoms a service animal on campus, and it is dangerous for any other pets to be brought to campus.
“An emotional support dog is not required to be trained and is only allowed within the individual’s residence and not allowed in common areas or any additional spaces on campus (academic buildings, other residence halls, the Student Union, or the Nutter Center, to name a few),” according to Thomas Webb, director of the Office of Disability Services (ODS).
A service dog is an accommodation allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), while emotional support dogs are permitted under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
“Unlike an emotional support dog, a service dog can access anywhere on campus unless it presents a significant safety risk (for example, a chemistry lab with likely exposure to toxic substances). A service dog is trained for a specific task to assist the handler in mitigating the impact of their disability. A general example would be a trained guide dog for someone that is blind,” Webb explained.
If a student brings a pet to campus, it poses the risk of spreading illness to service dogs on campus and emotional support dogs in housing. There is also the danger of an animal becoming aggressive with either people or service animals. A few years ago, a 4PAWS service dog in training was attacked by someone’s pet on campus and had to be treated by a vet, according to Webb.
“The average cost of a service dog is $17,000, so the thought of one getting sick or hurt and potentially not being able to support their handler is very serious. Unfortunately, we have had a few of those cases and the students were referred to student conduct. In some extreme cases, the student may lose their ability to live on campus or other sanctions,” Webb shared.
Wright State policy outlines that non-service dogs are not allowed inside any Wright State buildings, and emotional support animals must go through an approval process involving ODS, Residence Life and Housing and and the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct.
