Service Animals in Animal Research and Teaching Spaces
Animal Care and Use Program
Western Washington University recognizes the valuable contributions that service animals provide to the lives of disabled individuals. However, the presence of service animals within animal research/teaching facilities can pose risks to service animals, the animals used in research/teaching, and to the integrity of the research/teaching activity itself. Prey animals such as mice, rats, and birds used in research/teaching activities are particularly at risk due to stressors from predator species like dogs. Because of these concerns, entry of a service animal into animal facilities or laboratories conducting animal research or teaching activities is restricted. Any service animal accommodations must be preauthorized by the Attending Veterinarian (AV), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and any other applicable office such as Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). The Disability Access Center (DAC) and Civil Rights and Title IX (CRTC) offices are available to assist in evaluating reasonable accommodations for the disabled individual.
Steps for service animal users who wish to enter animal teaching spaces on WWU campuses or satellite locations
- Service Animal Handlers should identify the need for a service animal present in an animal teaching space such as a classroom to one of the following:
- Course Instructor (e.g. faculty member who is teaching the class where teaching animal will be present in the classroom) or Principle Investigator (PI)
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Administrator researchintegrity@wwu.edu
- WWU Disability Access Center (DAC) staff
- WWU Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (CRTC)
Tips for communicating service animal access requests:
- Because there are several stakeholders and different conversations involved in authorizing access to restricted animal teaching spaces, we strongly recommend that students begin this process at the beginning of the quarter when they receive the course syllabus that includes animal teaching activities.
- To help expedite the next steps it will be helpful to include what duties the service animal provides and what space is needed to do so (e.g. how far away from the handler the service animal can be), what animal teaching spaces you are requesting access to (room numbers), what class the animal teaching or lab activity will take place in (e.g. BIOL 206) and who the instructor (or PI) is in your initial message.
- The Course Instructor/PI will work with the IACUC Administrator who will consult with the IACUC Attending Veterinarian, EHS, and the DAC to determine what accommodations may be appropriate to mitigate risks to the service animal, disabled individual, teaching animal and maintain the integrity of the teaching activity.
- Examples of possible accommodations: The following examples are intended to show may be possible. Remember, all service animal accommodations in animal teaching/research spaces must be approved by the IACUC before implementation.
- If a service dog is needed for physical stability support: Modifying the teaching activity to limit movement between stations, so the service dog is not needed in the animal teaching space.
- If it is determined that the service dog’s assistance is necessary and that the animal and handler must be together at all times:
- The service dog may be approved to enter the classroom only during specific portions of the activity when scents or pheromone exposure is minimal.
- An alternate teaching activity may be provided by the course instructor.
- Examples of possible accommodations: The following examples are intended to show may be possible. Remember, all service animal accommodations in animal teaching/research spaces must be approved by the IACUC before implementation.
- If the IACUC determines that the service animal can enter the animal teaching space the IACUC Administrator or DAC/CRTC staff will contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for an assessment of the disabled individuals’ service animal needs and what EHS accommodations may be possible for the specific situation.
- After assessing risk, animal welfare concerns, and access needs, the stakeholders will communicate with the Service Animal Handler and the Course Instructor about what accommodations may be available.
Roles and Responsibilities of Specific WWU Offices and Stakeholders
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): The WWU IACUC oversees the university's animal programs, facilities, and procedures ensuring the appropriate care, use, and humane treatments of animals involved in research and education. Any ownership or use of animals for research or teaching by or for WWU must be approved by the IACUC. This includes any research or teaching conducted by faculty, staff, or students in on-campus labs, satellite facilities, or in the field.
- IACUC Attending Veterinarian (AV): The IACUC includes an AV who helps ensure legal and ethical compliance in animal teaching and research activities by providing expert guidance on animal welfare, veterinary care, and protocol review.
- IACUC Administrator: The IACUC Administrator serves as a point of contact and liaison to the IACUC and AV for students, staff, and faculty.
Disability Access Center (DAC): The DAC determines student eligibility for reasonable disability-related accommodations and services and facilitates their implementation across campus by working with other stakeholders.
Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (CRTC): The CRTC implements University policies that prohibit discrimination and ensure compliance with state and federal civil rights obligations.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS): EHS helps ensure safe, compliant environments for students, staff, faculty and visitors by managing risks and enforcing regulations. In conjunction with the IACUC, EHS may perform an individualized assessment before a service animal is denied entry to an animal teaching/research space to minimize risks. The assessment may include reviews of the nature, duration, and severity of the risks, the probability of harm or injury, and the availability of modifications to minimize risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to RCW 49.60.040 a "service animal" means any dog or miniature horse, as discussed in RCW 49.60.214, 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 the service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability.
The earlier you can start this process, the better. For classes that have lab activities involving animals, please initiate contact (step 1 above) at the beginning of the quarter.
IACUC provides federally mandated oversight of all vertebrate animal teaching and research spaces in WWU facilities (main campus and satellite facilities). These spaces can include but are not limited to animal housing areas, areas where animal research takes place like procedure rooms, and laboratory spaces where animals are used for teaching activities (e.g. instructional laboratory rooms).
IACUC oversight includes all vertebrate animals used for teaching or research activities. These animals can include but are not limited to fish, rodents, and birds.
The IACUC oversees all teaching animals to ensure compliance with federal laws, such as the Animal Welfare Act (AWR), which require humane care and ethical use for all vertebrate animals used in research and instruction at WWU. This oversight helps ensure that animals in educational settings receive the same ethical standards of care as research animals.
We have an Educational Outreach page that answers common questions about animal use at WWU.