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Approval of Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

Emotional support animals that reside in a residence hall must be approved by the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) prior to move in. Residents with concerns about any animals living in their building should bring those concerns to the Resident Life staff. No ESA will be permitted in university housing that:

• Is not approved by the ARC prior to bringing the animal to campus
• Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others
• Would cause substantial physical damage to university property and other residents
• Would pose an undue financial and administrative burden to the university
• Would fundamentally alter the nature of the university’s housing operations

All animals that have not been approved for °®Éñ´«Ã½ (LU) Housing shall be removed by the owner within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving official notice, and a $100 fine shall be applied to their Residence Hall account. A $1,000 fine shall be applied, per semester, for failure to comply with a removal order after that time. Further instances of non-compliance will result in a Student Code of Conduct charge with the Dean of Students Office.

Standards for Approved Emotional Support Animals

Students in need of an ESA is limited to only one animal. All approved emotional support animals must comply with applicable laws regarding animals and their treatment and care and meet the following standards:

Dogs

• All required immunizations must be up-to-date, and a copy of the immunizations must be on file with the Housing Office.
• Collars and tags must be always worn. The dog must be always kept on a leash when outside the residence halls. Dogs must never be allowed to run freely.
• Dogs must possess friendly and sociable characteristics. A specific dog can be restricted from the premises by the Director, or their charge, based on any confirmed threatening or territorial behavior.
• Dog obedience and training programs are highly recommended.

Cats

• All required immunizations must be up-to-date, and a copy of the immunizations must be on file with the Housing Office.
• Collars and tags must be always worn. The cat must be always kept on a leash when outside the residence hall. Cats must never be allowed to run freely.

Standards of Behavior by Animal and Animal Owner

Health, sanitary, safety, and disruptive standards must be maintained as follows:

• Animals require daily food and attention, as well as a daily assessment of their general health, behavior, and overall welfare.
• Animals cannot be left unattended overnight at any time. If the owner must be away, they must either take the animal with them or plan for them to be cared for elsewhere.
• Emotional support animals must not be taken into the residence hall offices, administrative offices, common space, or kitchen areas.
• Animal feces, defined as cat litter box contents and any solid animal waste, must be disposed of properly. It is the owner’s responsibility to remove feces from university grounds, dispose of it in a plastic bag, and then place that bag in the garbage dumpsters outside. Cleanup must occur IMMEDIATELY. Animal feces may not be disposed of in any trash receptacle or through the sewer system inside any building at the university. Waste MUST be taken to any residence hall dumpster for disposal.
• Residents with cats must properly maintain litter boxes. In consideration of the health of the cat and occupants of the residence hall room, cat litter box contents must be disposed of properly and regularly. The litter box must be changed with new cat litter regularly as outlined by the manufacturer.
• Animal accidents within the residence hall room must be promptly cleaned up using appropriate cleaning products.
• Regular and routine cleaning of floors, kennels, cages, and litter boxes must occur. The odor of an animal emanating from the residence hall room is not acceptable. (see Cleaning Section below)
• Any flea or pest infestation must be attended to promptly by a professional extermination company at owner’s expense. Owners are expected to promptly notify the Housing Director and arrange for extermination when a flea or pest problem is noted.
• Animal owners may take some precautionary measures such as: flea and pest medications prescribed by veterinarians, flea and tick collars, taking your animal to the veterinarian for flea and tick baths. Because not all the precautions listed here can prevent flea and tick infestations, the owner is responsible for extermination costs after vacating the residence hall room.
• Animals must not be allowed to disrupt others (e.g., barking continuously, growling, yowling, howling, etc.). Animals which constitute a threat or nuisance to staff, residents, or property, as determined by the Director of Residence Life, the Director of Accessibility Resource Center and Risk Management or their charge, must be removed within three (3) days of notification.
• If LU Police determines that the animal poses an immediate threat, animal control may be summoned to remove the animal. If the behavior of an animal can be addressed by the owner and the owner can change the behavior of an animal so that the animal does not have to be removed, then a written action plan must be submitted by the owner. The action plan must outline the action that will take place to alleviate the problems and also must give a deadline as to length of time the plan will take. Any action plan must meet the approval of the Director or their charge. The day after the deadline for removal from the room, University staff will do a residence hall room inspection to check damages and infestation and then the mandatory cleaning and extermination will be scheduled. Any animal owner found not adhering to the removal directive will be subject to disciplinary action, which could include contract cancellation and conduct charges.
• An animal must not be involved in an incident where a person experiences either the threat of or an actual injury as a result of the animal’s behavior.
• The animal owner will take all reasonable precautions to protect university staff and residents, as well as the property of the university and of the residents.
• The owner will notify Residential Life if the animal has escaped its confines and is unable to be located within six (6) hours.
• All liability for the actions of the animal (bites, scratches, etc.) is the responsibility of the owner.
  Violations concerning any of the above may result in the resident having to find alternative housing off-campus for the animal and as warranted, may also result in a resident being in breach of their housing contract.

Cleaning and Damages

• When the resident moves out of the residence hall room, or no longer owns the animal the residence hall room will be assessed to determine if damage to department property can be attributed to the animal. Student Housing and Residential Life maintains the right to conduct residence hall room inspections annually for the purpose of assessing damage caused by the animal or otherwise determine the resident’s compliance with this procedure.
• The animal owner has an obligation to make sure that the residence hall room is as clean as the original standard. If the room has carpeting, this also includes regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. Damages and extraordinary cleaning caused by the animal are the responsibility of the resident. Replacement or repair of damaged items will be the financial responsibility of the owner.