Register with Disability Services as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

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1 Assistance Animal Plicy and Agreement RESIDENTIAL LIFE Residential Life Assistance Animal Plicy UMass prvides reasnable accmmdatins t n-campus residents with a dcumented disability. University plicy allws assistance animals t live with residents in their n-campus accmmdatin upn apprval by Disability Services (DS). The resident will be asked t prvide dcumentatin verifying: 1) the persn has a disability, 2) the animal is necessary t affrd the persn with a disability an equal pprtunity t use and enjy a dwelling; and 3) there is an identifiable relatinship r nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal prvides. Residential Life may exclude an assistance animal frm husing if it 1) pses a direct threat t the health r safety f thers, 2) wuld cause substantial physical damage t the prperty f thers, 3) wuld pse an undue financial and administrative burden, r 4) results in a fundamental alteratin f the University s prgram(s). The fllwing tasks will cmprise the prcess fr apprval under this plicy: Register with Disability Services as a qualified persn with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) f Meet with Disability Services t request eligibility fr use f an Assistance Animal while living in campus husing. Disability Services will determine eligibility n a case-by-case basis, and denials may be appealed via the accmmdatins Grievance Prcedure, available nline (URL t be determined). Disability Services will rient eligible residents t any pertinent campus-wide plicies that may relate t the assistance animal. Review, initial and sign the University s Assistance Animal Agreement Cmplete and submit Residential Life s Animal in Residence Registratin Frm Meet with a Residential Life liaisn prir t the animal taking ccupancy in rder t review the agreement and expectatins. Prvide dcumentatin that the animal is in gd health and has been vaccinated against diseases cmmn t that breed f animal as recmmended by the American Veterinary Medical Assciatin. The Assistance Animal Accmmdatin frm must be submitted and apprved prir t the animal taking residence.

2 Assistance Animal Agreement First Name: Last Name: Campus ID: Cntact Phne: Please review each area and initial each paragraph. The resident (Owner) requesting an assistance animal must cmplete this frm. If the Owner is under the age f 18 then the parent/guardian will als sign the agreement. Animal Name: Animal Type: Animal Breed: Hair Length: Animal Weight: Veterinarian name: Veterinarian phne: Standards fr Maintaining an Apprved Assistance Animal The fllwing guidelines apply t all Apprved Animals and their Owners, unless the nature f the dcumented disability f the Owner precludes adherence t these guidelines, and permissin fr a variance frm the guidelines has been granted by Disability Services and Residential Life. Apprved Animals must be husebrken. The Owner is respnsible fr prperly cntaining and dispsing f all animal waste. Indr animal waste must be placed in a sturdy bag and tied securely befre being dispsed f in utside trash dumpsters. Outdr animal waste, such as dg feces, is nly allwed in the area defined by yur Residential Life Liaisn and must be immediately retrieved by the Owner, placed in a plastic bag and securely tied befre being dispsed f in utside trash dumpsters. In accrdance with lcal rdinances and regulatins, the Apprved Animal must be immunized against diseases cmmn t that type f animal. Rutine maintenance f the animal is expected and includes flea and tick preventin, de-wrming, and annual examinatins. Assistance Animals health must be dcumented annually by a licensed veterinarian. The University has authrity t direct that the Assistance Animal receive veterinary attentin. Dgs must have current vaccinatin against rabies and wear a rabies vaccinatin tag. Lcal licensing is als required fr all dgs. I give permissin t the Directr f Disability Services r his/her designee t cntact my animal s veterinarian t request additinal medical dcumentatin if needed. All Assistance Animals shuld have a tag that identifies the Owner and cntact inf in case f emergency. 1

3 Animal Abuse and Cruelty is defined by Massachusetts law and reprting animal abuse fllws the prtcl belw: Under Massachusetts law an wner r custdian f an animal must prvide (1) prper fd and water, (2) shelter r prtectin frm the weather, (3) veterinary attentin needed t reduce r end suffering frm disease r injury, and (4) a sanitary. An wner r custdian f an animal is prhibited frm (a) willfully abandning an animal, (b) carry r cause an animal t be carried in r n a vehicle in a manner that endangers that animal including transprt f an imprperly secured animal, r (c) willfully permit an animal t be subjected t unnecessary trture, suffering, r cruelty. Vilatrs may be frced t frfeited their animal and/r be subject t a sentence f up t five years in state prisn, r up t 2.5 years in state prisn and/r a fine f up t $2,500. Disability Services and Residential Life may place ther reasnable cnditins r restrictins n the Assistance Animal depending n the nature and characteristics f the Assistance Animal. Standards fr Interactin with Rmmates and the Cmmunity The Owner must effectively cntrl the animal at all times. The animal cannt pse a direct threat t the health r safety f thers. If the Owner cannt effectively cntrl the animal r if it pses a direct threat t the health r safety f thers, the University may suspend the accmmdatin made fr t keep that particular animal in Residential Life until such time that the prblem is rectified. In the event that the University determines that the animal pses a serius direct threat t health r safety, the University may rescind the accmmdatin made fr that particular animal. The Owner must keep the assistance animal n a leash/lead r in a carrier when the animal is in a public area (i.e. exiting a residence hall, utdrs n campus, etc.). The Owner is respnsible fr assuring that the animal des nt interfere with the rutine f the residence r cause difficulties fr individuals wh reside in the unit. Sensitivity t residents with allergies and t thse wh fear animals is imprtant t ensure a psitive residential cmmunity. The Owner is respnsible fr any drs, nise, damage, r ther cnduct f his r her animal that disturbs thers r damages the premises. Residential Life has the right t reassign the Owner t anther accmmdatin if care f the animal r interactins interfere with ther s educatinal experience. The Owner is respnsible fr instructing thers n apprpriate interactins with the animal and setting clear expectatins. Rmmates, suitemates and apartment mates will be ntified abut the animal. The ntificatin will include the type f animal and size. Rmmates, suitemates and apartment mates retain the right t request a rm change frm Residential Life if they have a desire t d s. Apprved Animals may nt be left vernight in University husing t be cared fr by anther individual. Apprved Animals must be taken with the Owner if they leave campus fr a prlnged perid. 2

4 The Owner's residence may be inspected fr pests nce a semester r as needed. Residential Life will schedule the inspectin. If pests are detected thrugh inspectin, the residence will be treated using apprved fumigatin methds by a University-apprved pest cntrl service. The Owner will be billed fr the expense f any treatment abve and beynd standard pest management in the residence halls. The Owner is financially respnsible fr the actins f the Apprved Animal including bdily injury r prperty damage. The Owner s respnsibility cvers but is nt limited t additinal cleaning, repair, r replacement f furniture, carpet, windw, wall cvering, and the like. The Owner is expected t cver these csts at the time f repair and/r mve-ut. Additinal Agreements The Owner will be assigned a liaisn within Residential Life wh will versee any mves frm ne lcatin t anther, arranging fr staff ntificatins and trainings and assisting with re-intrductin f the animal t a new cmmunity. The Owner must ntify Disability Services in writing if the Apprved Animal is n lnger needed as an Apprved Animal r is n lnger in residence. T replace an Apprved Animal, the Owner must file a new Assistance Animal Accmmdatin Frm. The Owner agrees t cntinue t abide by all ther residential plicies. Reasnable accmmdatin which may cnstitute an exceptin t a plicy that therwise wuld prhibit having an animal des nt cnstitute an exceptin t any ther plicy. Any vilatin f the abve rules may result in immediate remval f the Apprved Animal frm the University and may be reviewed thrugh the Cde f Student Cnduct and the Residence Hall Cmmunity Standards and the Owner will be affrded all the rights and prcedures prvided by that prcess. Shuld the Apprved Animal be remved frm the premises fr any reasn, the Owner is expected t fulfill his/her husing bligatins fr the remainder f the Residence Hall Cntract and lease. Areas Off Limits t Animals Assistance animals are nt permitted in any area ther than the resident s n-campus assigned residential rm. In suite and apartment style buildings this includes cmmn lunge space within the suite and apartment. Assistance animals are nly allwed in ther residential cmmn indr areas (i.e. lbbies) as needed t enter r exit the building. Exceptins may be granted n a case-by-case basis. T request an exceptin, the Owner must cntact Disability Services; the persn directing the restricted area has the final decisin. Infrmatin and Requirements fr Members f the University Cmmunity Residents with medical cnditin(s) wh are affected by animals (e.g., respiratry diseases, asthma, severe allergies) are asked t cntact Disability Services if they have a health r safety related cncern abut expsure t an Assistance Animal. The University is prepared t als reasnably accmmdate individuals with such medical cnditins that require accmmdatin when living in prximity t Assistance Animals. 3

5 Disability Services and Residential Life will reslve any cnflict in a timely manner. Staff members will cnsider the cnflicting needs and/r accmmdatins f all residents invlved. Upn apprval f an Assistance Animal, the Owner s rmmate(s), suitemate(s) r apartment mate(s) will be ntified (if applicable) that the apprved animal will be residing in shared assigned living space. Members f the University cmmunity are required t abide by the fllwing practices: They are t allw the Apprved Animal t accmpany its Owner at all times in the Owner s residence hall. The Apprved Animal will nt be given access t cmmn indr spaces except as needed t enter and exit the building. They are nt t tuch r pet the Apprved Animal unless invited t d s. They are nt t feed the Apprved Animal. They are nt t deliberately startle the Apprved Animal. They are nt t separate r t attempt t separate an Owner frm Apprved Animal. They are nt t inquire fr details abut the Owner's disabilities. The nature f a persn's disability is a private matter. I have read and agree t all f the terms f the University s Assistance Animal Agreement. I understand that if I have questins, cncerns, r need assistance that I will cntact my cnsumer manager in Disability Services. Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Signature (fr students under 18) Date Office Use Only Current Assignment Date f Meeting Initials f Assistant Directr Edited 10/14/15 4