UCLA Policy 135: Animals on Campus - DRAFT FOR REVIEW, to be posted for 30 days for review.
UCLA Policy 135: Animals on Campus - DRAFT FOR REVIEW
Issuing Officer: Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environment, Health and Safety
Responsible Dept: Environment, Health & Safety
Effective Date: TBD
Supersedes: UCLA Policy 135, Pets on Campus, dated August 18, 2003
I. PURPOSE & SCOPE
II. DEFINITIONS
III. POLICY STATEMENT
IV. REFERENCES
V. PURPOSE & SCOPE
Members of the campus community and visitors may bring their Pet dog, Service Dog, or Assistive Animal to campus. While this practice is not prohibited, particularly as it relates to Service Dogs and Assistive Animals, there are regulations to insure that one’s animal does not become a threat, nuisance, or significant distraction to others or to activities occurring on campus. State and local regulations provide the basis for University policies whose intent is to protect the campus community from potential health and safety hazards posed by animals brought to campus.
This Policy outlines the circumstances that a Pet dog, Service Dog, and Assistive Animal may be allowed on campus property and in campus facilities. This Policy supplements and does not replace other applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing the presence of a Pet dog, Service Dog, or Assistive Animal on public property (so-called “leash” laws) or in eating establishments. This Policy applies to faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the campus.
II. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Policy:
Assistive Animal means a trained animal, including a trained dog, necessary as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability. Specific examples include, but are not limited to guide dog, signal dog, service dog, and support dog or other animal that provides emotional or other support to a person with a disability, including, but not limited to, traumatic brain injuries or mental disabilities such as major depression.
Pet means a domestic animal, sufficiently tamed to live with a family that is kept and cared for as a companion.
Service Dog means a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by the Service Dog must be directly related to the individual’s disability. This does not include: 1) non-dog animals, except miniature horses; 2) animals that solely serve to deter crime; 3) emotional support, comfort, and companion animals.
III. POLICY STATEMENT
An individual bringing their animal to campus is expected to be mindful that their animal may constitute a hazard to others, especially in confined or closed spaces. Such threats may include allergies, falls, and bites. In addition, the presence of an animal in certain areas may distract or interrupt activities or may create a nuisance, including the nuisance caused by animal waste, noise, or damage to property.
An individual bringing their animal to campus is required to exercise reasonable control over their animal in order to minimize the risk to others and property. The animal owner is responsible and liable for their animal at all times while the animal is on campus. Any injury to a member of the UCLA community or damages to UCLA property by an animal will be the responsibility of the animal owner.
A. Requirements for Animals on Campus
The UCLA campus shall adhere to the intent of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code concerning the restraint of dogs (leash laws), related statutes of the State of California Penal Code (animal cruelty and rights of the disabled), Code of Federal Regulations, UC policies concerning the use of University facilities and any other applicable laws or regulations.
- A Pet dog is not allowed on campus unless under the control of a competent person and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length.
- A Pet dog or other Pet animal (leashed or otherwise) is not permitted in any campus building or campus transportation vehicle (Campus Shuttle, Fleet vehicles, etc.).
- A Service Dog and Assistive Animal are typically permitted in areas where Pet dogs are not otherwise allowed. A Service Dog and Assistive Animal must be under the control of their owner at all times – via harness, leash, tether, or voice control, depending on the task/work performed.
- Any dog or other animal shall not be confined in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
- Any dog or other animal cannot be tethered unattended on campus for any period of time.
- Any dog or other animal shall not be abandoned on campus property. Abandonment of any animal anywhere is a cruel and illegal act under California’s anti-cruelty statutes.
- A valid dog license tag from the owner’s county of residence as evidence of current rabies vaccinations must be worn at all times by any dog on campus.
- Any animal must be free from offensive odors and display behavior appropriate for the environment.
- Any animal must not engage in behavior that endangers the health and safety of others.
- Owners are responsible for disposing any fecal waste left by their animal on campus property.
- Any dog or animal on campus in violation of this Policy may be subject to apprehension and impounding by the Los Angeles City or County department of animal control. Owners of impounded animals are responsible for any fees or fines that may be assessed by the city or county.
B. Service Dogs and Assistive Animals
UCLA is committed to maintaining a campus that is open and accessible to all its community members, this includes students, employees, and visitors. The following campus departments are available to assist community members with requests, questions, and concerns regarding Service Dogs and Assistive Animals.
- Faculty and Staff requesting an Assistive Animal in the workplace must contact the Office of Insurance and Risk Management at 310-794-8012.
- Students requesting reasonable accommodations for their Service Dog must contact the Center for Accessible Education at (310) 825-1501.
- Visitors with questions or concerns pertaining to a Service Dog, Assistive Animal, or Pet on campus may contact the Office of Environment, Health and Safety.
- University Housing for Faculty requesting an Assistive Animal, refer to the University Apartments Handbook for information regarding animals in University Apartments.
- University Housing for Students requesting a Service Animal, must contact the Disabled Student Housing Appeals Board at (310) 825-1501.
- UCLA Hospital System requests, refer to the UCLA Hospital System Policy on Assistive Animals and Pets or call 310-794-3500 or 310-794-3138.
- Students enrolled at UCLA Extension, contact Extension at (310) 825-7851.
- Laboratories, research facilities, and food preparation areas are areas where a Service Dog or Assistive Animal poses a substantial and direct threat to health and safety that cannot be reduced or eliminated by a reasonable accommodation. Departments may require reasonable safety precautions such as booties and/or lab coats for Service Dogs and Assistive Animals in these areas. Requests in these areas will require an individual assessment, contact the appropriate campus department above for assistance.
C.Responsibilities
All faculty, staff, students, and visitors are expected to abide by this Policy. Staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to resolve perceived violations of this Policy locally whenever possible.
IV. REFERENCES
- City of Los Angeles Municipal Code § 53.06, 53.15, 53.34,53.49, 53.70;
- California Health and Safety Code, § 121575 - 122335;
- State of California Penal Code § 365.5 and 597s;
- California Code of Regulations § 7293.5, § 7293.6, § 7294.0 (e) and 2CA ADC §11065-11073;
- Code of Federal Regulations § 35.104, 35.136, 35.109;
- Food & Agriculture Code § 30850-30854;
- UCLA Regulations on Activities, Registered Campus Organizations, and Use of Properties;
- UCLA Office of Residential Life, On Campus Regulations;
- University Apartments Handbook;
- UCLA Hospital System Policy 1332, Service Animals, and Pets.
Issuing Officer
/s/ Colin Dimock
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environment, Health and Safety
Questions concerning this policy or procedure should be referred to the Responsible Department listed at the top of this document.
