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Animals on Campus Policy

I.    Purpose

The University is committed to promoting an inclusive, healthy, and safe teaching, learning, working, and living environment for all members of the University Community, including persons with disabilities who require the assistance of a Service Animal. The University recognizes that animals can be conducive to a healthy environment on campus, but can also be disruptive, and could contribute to an unsafe environment.   

The purpose of this Policy is to manage the presence of animals on University Premises in a healthy and safe manner that supports individual accommodations and fosters community well-being. 

II.    Scope and Application

This Policy applies to the University Community and activities on University Premises in support of Senate Policy 159: Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities and the Accommodation for Employees with Disabilities Policy.

This Policy does not apply to the use of animals on University Premises for teaching or research purposes, which is approved through the University’s Animal Care Committee in accordance with Senate Policy 52: Ethics Review of Research Involving Animals.

III.    Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy, the following words have the following meaning:

“Disability” has the meaning set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code.

“Guide Dog” means a dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications set out in regulations made under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act.

“High-Risk Area” means a non-public area of the University Premises whose access is normally restricted to approved persons, and which poses a higher level of risk of injury based on the nature of work being performed or the nature of the area as determined by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). This may include but is not limited to laboratories containing biological, radiological, or chemical hazards and workshops with machinery or tools used for fabrication, and mechanical spaces. 

“Policy” means the Animals on Campus Policy.

“Regulated Health Professional” means a member of a health professional enumerated in section 80.45.4(b) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

“Residence” means a University building that provides accommodation for students,including but not limited to Pitman Hall, the International Living/Learning Centre, and the Daphne Cockwell Complex. 

“Service Animal” means an animal other than a Guide Dog that is used by an individual for reasons relating to the individual’s Disability that (i) is registered with the University for the purposes of providing accommodations and (ii) is documented by a Regulated Health Professional as being required by the individual for reasons related to functional limitations arising from the individual’s Disability.

“University” means Toronto Metropolitan University. 

“University Community" means students, faculty and staff of the University, and includes contractors and visitors to the University Premises.

“University Premises” means any physical indoor space or outdoor grounds that are owned, leased, licensed, operated, or otherwise occupied by the University, but does not include premises leased or licensed to external parties for their exclusive use by the University. 

IV.    Policy

1.    An individual may only bring an animal on to University Premises as permitted under this Policy, or as approved by the University’s Animal Care Committee in accordance with Senate Policy 52: Ethics Review of Research Involving Animals.

Guide Dogs

2.    An individual may bring their Guide Dog on to University Premises.

3.    Individuals are not required to register their Guide Dog with the University.

Service Animals

4.    Faculty, staff, students and contractors may bring their Service Animal on to University Premises if the Service Animal has been registered with the University in accordance with the Procedures and as follows: 

a.    Students must register their Service Animal with Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) for access to University Premises that are not Residences; 

b.    Students must register their Service Animal with Housing and Residence Life for access to Residences;

c.    Employees must register their Service Animal with Workplace Wellbeing Services (WWS).

5.    Service Animals of faculty, staff, students and contractors that are registered by the appropriate University administrative department are only permitted on University Premises in accordance with any restrictions set out by the University. 

6.    All Service Animals of faculty, staff, students and contractors must be registered with the University on an annual basis. The individual requesting access for a Service Animal has the responsibility of ensuring registration each year. 

7.    Visitors (including contractors) who are visiting the University Premises may bring their own Service Animal on to University Premises in accordance with this Policy and any specific requirements or directions of the University based on the event or activity. All such Visitors seeking to bring a Service Animal on to University Premises must provide documentation to the University upon request by the event or activity host(s) in a form that is satisfactory to the University, from a Regulated Health Professional that confirms that the Visitor requires the Service Animal for reasons relating to functional limitations arising from a Disability. Visitors who are visiting University Premises for more than a 24-hour period may be required to Register their Service Animal through the relevant event or activity host(s), AAS, WWS, or Housing and Residence Life as the case may be.

Other Animals

8.    An individual must obtain prior consent on a case-by-case basis from the relevant administrative office in order to bring an animal, other than a Guide Dog or Service Animal, on University Premises, including a therapy dog or a dog that is in training to become a Guide Dog or a Service Animal that is being trained to support the functional limitations arising from an individual’s Disability. 

Limitations

9.    The University may deny access to University Premises to a Service Animal or Guide Dog, on the basis of any of the following limitations:

a.    In accordance with the regulations applicable to food premises under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (1990); 

b.    In accordance with municipal laws respecting the prohibition of certain species or breeds of animals;  

c.    Where University Premises have been deemed a High-Risk Area; and 

d.    Where the presence of an animal on University Premises must be balanced with the health and safety needs of others in the University Community, as evaluated by Academic Accommodation Support or Workplace Wellbeing Support, on a case-by-case basis.

10.    In the event that the University denies access for a Guide Dog or Service Animal to University Premises, the University shall provide the individual who requires the Service Animal or Guide Dog with reasonable alternative accommodation for their Disability in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

11.    Notwithstanding whether an animal has been registered and approved to attend on University Premises in accordance with this Policy, the University may in its sole discretion restrict or revoke permission for any animal to be on University Premises in circumstances where the animal is disruptive to the University’s teaching, learning, working or living environment, or the individual responsible for the animal is unable or unwilling to control the animal or otherwise violates this Policy including the roles and responsibilities, or other applicable University policies or legal obligations.

Damage

12.    Any individual bringing an animal onto the University Premises is responsible for any cost or consequences of damage or bodily injury caused by the animal.

V.    Roles and Responsibilities

1.    Individuals bringing an Animal on Campus shall:

a.    Register the animal with the appropriate office in the University in accordance with this Policy and Procedures;.

b.    Maintain physical control over the animal by not allowing the animal to be at large, remaining with their animal at all times, and cleaning up after the animal as applicable while at a University facility.

c.    Ensure their animal does not impede the normal movement of any person on the University Campus.

d.    Ensure their animal does not interfere with the ability of any member of the University Community to work or study on campus.

e.    Ensure their animal does not jeopardize the health and safety of any member of the University, including other animals.

f.    Follow the provincial and local municipal laws related to ownership of animals including immunization, licensing, noise, large animals and dangerous animals.

g.    Ensure appropriate animal care.

2.    Members of the University Community shall:

a.    Provide an inclusive environment for those being accompanied by Service Animals or Guide Dogs.

b.    Refrain from petting, talking to, or attempting to feed a Service Animal or Guide Dog without the owner’s express permission.

c.    Refrain from providing assistance or otherwise interfere with the Service Animal or Guide Dog unless expressly requested by the owner.

3.    Community Safety and Security shall:

a.    Attend to situations where reports are made about aggressive or threatening animal behavior and forward these reports, with the specifics of the time, date and locations of the infraction as well as the name of the animal's owner and their relationship with the University, to appropriate University authorities, including Environmental Health and Safety.

4.    Environmental Health and Safety, a unit within Facilities Management and Development, shall:

a.    Consult with, and obtain information from, subject-matter experts, relevant departments, and relevant University constituents to conduct risk assessments in circumstances where animals have the potential to pose risks to health and safety and/or require access to High-Risk Areas. 

b.    Develop risk-mitigation plans for any hazards identified in its risk assessments. 

5.    Academic Accommodation Support shall:

a.    On an annual basis, register and maintain appropriate records for all Service Animals approved for students with disabilities who require academic accommodations.

b.    Verify that documentation and information on file confirms the owner’s need for a Service Animal as an accommodation while on campus.

c.    Provide Environmental Health and Safety with the information it requires to conduct and develop its risk assessments and mitigation plans.

6.    Student Housing and Residence Life shall:

a.    On an annual basis, register and maintain appropriate records for all Service Animals approved by Housing and Residence Life for students with disabilities who live in residence and require accommodation.

b.    Provide Environmental Health and Safety with the information it requires to conduct and develop its risk assessments and mitigation plans where applicable. 

7.    Workplace Wellbeing Services shall:

a.    On an annual basis, register and maintain appropriate records for all Service Animals approved by Workplace Wellbeing Services for employees with disabilities who require a workplace accommodation.

b.    Provide Environmental Health and Safety with the information it requires to conduct and develop its risk assessments and mitigation plans where applicable.

c.    Receive and maintain documentation from Regulated Healthcare Professionals who verify the employee’s need for a Service Animal as an accommodation in the course of their employment.

d.    If appropriate, facilitate dialogue between the employee, the manager or supervisor, Environmental Health and Safety, and the union representative, if applicable, to determine if the suggested accommodation is reasonable and feasible in the work environment.

e.    Facilitate the employee’s involvement when addressing and resolving any complaints or issues related to an employee’s use of Service Animal on University Premises.