Service & Assistance Animals

CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ recognizes that individuals with certain types of disabilities may require animal assistance while on campus. There are two categories of animals that may be allowed on campus to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities: service animals and assistance animals.

Service Animals

A service animal refers to any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the person's disability. Subject to some limitations, service animals may accompany students or the general public throughout campus. Employees who have a need for service animals as a workplace accommodation must contact the Center for Disability and Access or email adacoordinator@colorado.edu to go through the accommodation process. If an employee requests to utilize a service animal through their supervisor, the supervisor should refer the employee to the Center for Disability and Access, while also contacting the ADA Coordinator directly to communicate the request.

When it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, it is recommended that students and employees make an appointment with the Center for Disability and Access to assist in easing a service animal’s transition to campus and go through the accommodation process.

When it is not obvious a dog is a service animal, the following inquiries are permitted: 

  1. Is the dog required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Service Animals in Training: Colorado law allows dogs on campus who are being trained specifically as service animals for individuals with disabilities. 

Assistance Animals

An assistance animal provides emotional or other support that minimizes one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. This group includes therapy animals, emotional support, or comfort animals. Unlike service animals, assistance animals are not required to be trained to perform work or tasks, and they include species other than dogs and miniature horses.

Assistance animals are generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in any academic or public areas of campus. An assistance animal may be allowed in an academic or public area of campus if it is approved as a reasonable accommodation. In addition, and in accordance with the Fair Housing Act, students with disabilities may be allowed to have an assistance animal within campus housing facilities with prior approval.

For more information on service animals and assistance animals, the Center for Disability and Access can offer training on this topic. Training will address associated laws, campus policies, and how to assist individuals with disabilities who have a service or assistance animal. Additional information, including guidelines, animal behavior, and handler responsibilities can be found through the Center for Disability and Access.