Procedure

ADA regulations state Service Animals are allowed to accompany individuals in all areas where employees are permitted, with rare exceptions for health and safety reasons. Emotional Support Animals and pets are not permitted in campus buildings, unless a qualified exception is approved by the Human Resource office in coordination with the Office of Disability Services as outlined in A.1.b, and may not be left in vehicles on College property. There are occasions when an employee may need to bring an animal with them for the purpose of meeting an educational objective. Such requests should be made to the appropriate academic Dean, the Human Resource office, and the Office of Disability Services (i.e., emotional support animals) prior to the animal being allowed inside WPCC’s buildings. Individuals who bring their pets to enjoy the WPCC’s grounds and trails must abide by the City of Morganton’s animal control ordinances.

RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING ANIMALS ON CAMPUS

1. 1. Responsibilities of the Animal Owner/Handler
      1. Registration
         1. Employee may contact the Human Resources office to voluntarily register their Service Animal prior to bringing the service animal onto campus. In coordination with the Office of Disability Services, Human Resources can support employees with Service Animals by informing appropriate College faculty and staff of the animal’s presence, informing first responders, and to assist with the service animal’s access to areas within the College campus.
         2. Employees who wish to bring an emotional support animal to campus must request a reasonable accommodation through the Human Resources office. Documentation from a qualified treatment provider verifying a qualifying disability and the need to have an emotional support animal as an accommodation will be needed for consideration prior to approval determination.
      2. Care and Supervision
         1. The care and supervision of any animal is the responsibility of the animal’s owner and/or handler. The handler must ensure the animal is in good health and has been inoculated and licensed in accordance with local regulations with the burden of proving licensure and inoculation on the owner and/or handler.  Animals must wear a rabies tag at all times.
         2. The animal must be under the control of the handler at all times and may not be left alone. A Service Animal must be restrained by a leash or other appropriate device that does not exceed six (6) feet in length or otherwise be under the control of the handler if the leash or tether will interfere with the ability of the Service Animal to perform required tasks.
         3. The owner and handler of the animal is responsible for any damage of personal property or any injuries to an individual caused by the animal.
         4. The handler must ensure the animal is “housebroken” and trained and must clean up and remove all animal waste created by the animal.
         5. If the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, the college may ask that the animal be removed.
   2. Responsibilities of the College Community
      If the need for a Service Animal is obvious, College officials may not question the presence of the animal on campus.  If the need for a Service Animal is not obvious, College officials are permitted to ask the handler two questions:
      1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
      2. What work or task(s) has the animal been individually trained to perform?

      At no time may a College official require a Service Animal to demonstrate the tasks for which they have been trained nor may they inquire as to the nature of the individual’s disability.

      If another employee or a student on campus has a covered disability under the ADA and it includes an allergic reaction to animals and that person has contact with a Service Animal, a request for accommodation should be made by the student to the Office of Disability Services and/or Human Resources office.  All facts surrounding the concern will be considered in an effort to resolve the concern and provide reasonable accommodation for both individuals.

      Additionally, any employee or student who violates any portion of this procedure is subject to disciplinary action.

   3. Removal of Service Animals
      The College has the authority to remove a Service Animal from its facilities or properties if the Service Animal becomes unruly or disruptive, unclean and/or unhealthy, and to the extent that the animal’s behavior or condition poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or otherwise causes a fundamental alteration in the College’s services, programs, or activities.

      It is a Class 3 misdemeanor “to disguise an animal as a service animal or service animal in training”.  N.C.G.S. § 168-4.5.  In other words, it is a crime under North Carolina law to attempt to obtain access for an animal under the false pretense that it is a Service Animal.