Service animals and dogs under the Carleton Therapy Dog Program are permitted on campus under the Domestic Animals on Campus Policy as part of Carleton’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive community for students and staff alike. While both service and therapy animals play vital roles in supporting individuals on campus, they are here to fill distinct roles and have different levels of training.
Service animals are working animals who function as a vital support system for persons with disabilities in their daily lives. They are trained to perform specific tasks to assist individuals with disabilities, such as guiding those who are blind, alerting of an impending seizure, or providing physical/emotional support. Service animals often wear a harness or a vest as a visual indicator of their function. At Carleton, they can be identified by the registration card worn by their owner/handler as part of the service animal registration process.
Therapy animals, on the other hand, provide emotional and wellness support in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. The Carleton Therapy Dog Program is designed to bring positive or “paws-itive” mental health and wellness supports to the university community.” The therapy dogs are handled by professional staff and faculty members at Carleton and can be identified by their red vests with the CU Therapy Dog logo.
Basic Guidelines for Interacting with Service Animals
- Remember that service animals are working animals. They are on-campus to perform a job and it is important that they are given the space and respect to do that job.
- Always speak to the owner/handler, not the service animal.
- Look for visual indicators whether the animal is a “service” or “therapy” animal and act accordingly. If you are not sure, ask the owner/handler.
- Respect the space and boundaries of a service animal and its handler.
- When encountering a service dog team on sidewalks or paths, always give them the right-of-way. This helps them navigate through pedestrian traffic smoothly. Never walk directly beside the service dog without the handler’s permission.
- Avoid offering food or treats to service animals which will cause unnecessary distractions.
- Respect the handler’s right to privacy. Never pry into a handler’s privacy with questions about their disability.