Service animals & assistance animals

Service Animals

The Office for Disability Equity (ODE) is available for questions or clarification regarding service animals. We do not issue identification or verification for service animals.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Montana Human Rights Act, individuals with disabilities may be accompanied by their service animals on all University of Montana campuses.

What is a Service Animal?

A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks related to the individual’s impairment. If the animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless of whether it has been certified or licensed as a service animal by a training program or by a state or local government.

Federal law does not require the individual to provide documentation that an animal has been trained as a service animal.

A service animal in training must wear a leash, collar, cape, harness, or backpack that identifies in writing that the animal is a service animal in training. The written identification must be visible and legible from at least 20 feet.

Although it's not required, we recommend that service animals wear a visible identification regardless of their training completion.
 
Service animals must be under control at all times. The university expects owners' responsibilities. Suppose the service animals are disruptive or interfere with university business or community behavioral expectations. In that case, the owner may be asked to correct the animal’s behavior or remove it from the environment. 

Resources

Assistance Animals or Emotional Support Animals (ESA) in housing

Individuals with disabilities may have assistance animals within university housing facilities. In partnership with UM Housing, the Office for Disability Equity (ODE) serves as the campus authority to verify the disability of students or their family members who plan to bring an assistance animal to UM Housing's facilities, including residence halls, Lewis and Clark Village, and University Villages.

What is an Assistance Animal?

Assistance animals in housing provide emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. Assistance animals are often referred to as emotional support animals (ESA). Please note we do not use the term "companion animal."

Where is an Assistance Animal allowed? 

Approved assistance animals are allowed in the Owner’s on-campus housing facility as a reasonable accommodation. However, the animals are not permitted in the private rooms of other residents of that facility without the consent of the residents of such rooms. Approved assistance animals are only allowed in the common areas of the owner’s on-campus housing facility and the private rooms of other residents in the owner's on-campus housing facility if they are under control. 

Assistance animals are not permitted in other university areas, such as dining facilities, academic buildings, athletic buildings and facilities, classrooms, labs, and libraries.

Approval Process

Students must receive approval from UM Housing before moving into any university housing facility with an animal. There are two steps listed below. 

  • Review Owners' responsibilities

  • Schedule and meet with an ODE consultant.

  • Provide ODE with your documentation produced by a healthcare provider. Documentation must verify the disability and that the assistance animal is necessary for the individual. 

  • After ODE notifies UM Housing via email, call UM Housing at 406-243-2611 and schedule a follow-up meeting. 
  • Complete a follow-up meeting with UM Housing. UM Housing will address prior violations in university housing and roommate compatibility.
  • Provide UM Housing with the animal's vaccination records. 

Please note

  • Curry Health Center does not provide documentation for assistance animals. 
  • UM Housing may disclose the assistance animal request to roommates or individuals with conditions, such as animal allergies, which the animal's presence may impact. These disclosures are permitted to assist UM Housing in preparing for the animal's presence and proactively resolve any potential issues associated with the animal. 
  • ODE does not provide assistance animal verification for off-housing accommodations. 

Resources