Service Animals

A service animal is a working animal that assists a person with a disability. Other terms may include guide dogs, assistance/helper animals, and emotional support, therapy or comfort animals. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act uses “service animal” as an umbrella term for all types of service animals.

Service animals provide a range of services to their owners/handlers, which may include:

• A guide dog serves as a travel aid for a person with vision loss.
• A hearing or signal animal alerts a person with hearing loss when a sound occurs.
• A mobility assistance animal assists a person with mobility or navigational support. They may carry, retrieve items, open doors, ring doorbells, activate elevator buttons, steady a person while walking or help someone get up after a fall.
• A seizure response animal warns of an impending seizure or provides aid during a seizure such as going for help or standing guard over the person.
• An emotional support animal aids a person who may have mental health disabilities, Autism or sensory conditions. They may calm someone who experiences anxiety or assist someone with panic disorder coping in crowds.

Whether an animal will qualify as a service animal for a person with a disability is defined by law in Ontario, primarily in the Customer Service Standards of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Those standards indicate that some service animals may be readily identifiable as a result of "visual indicators" worn by the animal that indicate that the animal is being used by a person "for reasons relating to that person's disability". An example of such a service animal might be a guide dog with a vest or harness, which is trained to work with a blind person, and which has the qualifications outlined in provincial laws. In other cases, if it is not readily obvious how the animal is providing support to a person with a disability. In such cases, under Ontario provincial law set out in the AODA, an animal, including an 'emotional support' animal, will qualify as a service animal if a person "provides documentation from one of the following regulated health professionals confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability":

• A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario.
• A member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario. • A member of the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• A member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. • A member of the College of Optometrists of Ontario.
• A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. • A member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
• A member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. • A member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario.

*See: https://people.utoronto.ca/inclusion/accessibility/policies/service-animals-guideline/  

Under the AODA, service animals themselves do not need to have a certificate, an identity card, or specialized training to be considered a service animal. Qualification is based on confirmation from a regulated health professional as identified in the AODA. However, under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, there are specifics requirements for guide dogs which are classified as a service animal under the AODA. It is readily apparent that guide dogs are a service animals due to the vest/harness required.

If it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal and it is necessary to verify, it is okay to ask the handler. While it is permissible to ask for verification, it may not always be appropriate for the situation. In general, individuals should only be asked to verify whether the animal is a service animal by employees of the University, particularly where necessary for health and safety or operational reasons. Service animal handlers should have documentation ready to assist with the verification process in these situations (see question #3).

• Service animal must always be handled on a leash or by other appropriate means.
• Service animals are expected to be fully vaccinated and treated for fleas and ticks as appropriate to their species.
• If your service animal is a dog, take them to an appropriate, off-campus location to run and play to avoid behavioral problems. You are required to supply what is needed by your animal and clean up after them.
• Our campus presents many opportunities for your service animal to encounter novel situations. It is in your best interest to ensure your service animal is well trained to behave appropriately. (i.e. crowds, cafeteria or loud noises)

Situations where a service animal causes disruption to the campus community or damages property will be regarded the same as if the owner had directly engaged in the behaviour themselves. The cost of repairing or replacing any damaged property falls entirely to the owner of the animal. It is also the responsibility of the owner to avoid or remedy any disruptions caused by the service animal.

• When a person is accompanied by a service animal, allow access, at all times, in all areas on campus, where members of the public (visitors and students) customarily have access, or in the case of an employee, where employees customarily have access.
• Speak to the individual before giving attention to the animal.
• Maintain a respectable distance from the service animal. It is not appropriate to pet, feed, or startle a service animal while it is working. Ask permission before touching the animal as this might distract it from its work
• Ensure that a person using a service animal is included and not isolated from others.

Service animals are permitted in all areas on campus to which the public normally have access except for places where food is manufactured, prepared, processed, handled, served, displayed, sold or offered for sale, as per Ontario Regulation 562 under the Health Protection & Promotion Act. One exception to this is for service dogs only, allowing them to accompany their owners into areas where food is served sold, or offered for sale, which would include places like the CAW Centre dining area.

There may be circumstances where an individual’s accompaniment by a service animal must be balanced with the health and safety needs of others in the University community. These situations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by Student Accessibility Services (students) or with appropriate departments (employees).

There may be circumstances where an individual’s accompaniment by a service animal must be balanced with the health and safety needs of others in the University community, such as the case of extreme allergic reaction or phobia. These situations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis consulting the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Policy on Competing Human Rights.

Non-Service Animals are permitted on University outdoor grounds but are not permitted inside any University building or facility, in controlled areas, food eating areas or meal service areas.

For more information, follow the link to the University of Windsor’s Non-Service Animal Policy

If you have questions about service animals on campus, contact the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation (hrcrm@uwindsor.ca) or follow the link to the University of Windsor’s Service Animals on Campus Policy. 

If you have questions about non-service animals on campus, contact Campus Safety and Emergency Planning (campussafety@uwindsor.ca) or follow the link to the University of Windsor’s Non-Service Animal Policy.