APL Title: University of Maine System Administrative Practice Letter on Service Animals
Organizational Area: Human Resources
Proposal Date: 9/2025
Effective Date: 9/2025
Review Cycle: 3-year cycle
Revision and Review History:  5/2012, 2018, 2025
Corresponding BOT Policies:  401

Section 1: General Information

The Administrative Practice Letter on Service Animals (APL)) outlines the processes for handling, managing, and accommodating service animals on University of Maine System (UMS) property (See Section 2). This APL aims to provide the UMS community with a clear and comprehensive framework for understanding the rights and responsibilities of individuals who use service animals.

This policy applies to all individuals on University property—including students, staff, faculty, visitors, and members of the general public—who use service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This APL covers only service animals as defined under the ADA. For Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), please refer to the UMS APL on Emotional Support Animals –
https://www.maine.edu/apls/apl-x-t/

Service animals are permitted in all areas of University property where members of the public, students, and employees are allowed to go, except in specific locations where the presence of the animal would compromise safety or pose a risk, such as certain laboratories, sterile medical environments, or areas involving food preparation.

If an individual requires a service animal in an area where it is not typically permitted, they should work with a disability or accessibility services provider to request an accommodation.

Section 2: Definitions

University Property University property refers to any land, buildings, facilities, structures, equipment, and vehicles owned, leased, controlled, or operated by the University of Maine System or any of its campuses, centers, or affiliates. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Academic and administrative buildings
  • Residence halls and campus housing
  • Athletic and recreational facilities
    • Athletic Fields
    • Pools (if applicable)
    • Stadium and Arenas 
    • Gymnasiums
  • Libraries, laboratories, and research spaces (See Section 1 for exemptions)
  • Parking lots and garages
  • Sidewalks, green spaces, and campus roadways
  • University-registered vehicles and mobile units
  • Temporary or off-site locations used for official University business, housing, or educational purposes

Service Animal Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks performed by the dog must be specific and directly related to the person’s disability. Examples include:

  • Guiding individuals who are blind
  • Alerting individuals who are deaf
  • Alerting and protecting a person during a seizure
  • Alerting individuals who are diabetic
    • Alerts may be physical, auditory, both, or otherwise
  • Pulling a wheelchair
  • Reminding someone to take medication
  • Providing assistance to someone with PTSD or sensory challenges during an anxiety attack
  • Providing social barriers, especially in crowded areas

In some cases, miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities are also recognized as service animals under the ADA. Requests for use of miniature horses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may depend on factors such as the animal’s size, weight, and whether the facility is equipped for their safety.

Service Animal in Training The ADA does not recognize animals in training as service animals. However, Maine state law (7 MRS §1312 subsection 4) provides access rights for “especially trained service dog trainers.” At UMS, generally a dog is considered in training when it is an adult dog actively learning specific tasks to assist an individual with a disability and is under the supervision of an especially trained service dog trainer.

Puppies or dogs undergoing socialization or basic obedience training are not considered service animals in training and are not permitted in University buildings or housing unless they are part of an approved accommodation.

Handler The individual with a disability who uses a service animal or the trainer responsible for a service animal in training. This can include students, faculty, staff, visitors, or other community members.

Alumni/Guest/Visitor/Community Member Any individual who is not a current student, staff or faculty member but is present on University property.

Work or Task A service animal must be trained to perform a specific action directly related to the handler’s disability. Providing emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks under the ADA.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) An ESA provides emotional or psychological support to an individual with a disability and is not required to be trained to perform specific tasks. ESAs are not considered service animals under the ADA and are only permitted in University housing as part of a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. See the ESA APL (External Site) for more information.

Section 3: Use of Service Animals on Campus

Informing the University 

While individuals are not required to register a service animal, students are strongly encouraged to inform their institution’s Disability/Accessibility Services Office (DSO) of their use. This allows faculty and staff to be appropriately informed and supportive. Faculty and staff are encouraged to consult DSO or the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services office if they have questions or concerns about a student’s service animal. 

Faculty and staff who have service animals may have them with them in their office and other areas of University property. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective means. Employees with service animals are encouraged to contact the ADA Coordinator if they require accommodations in the workplace. The employee ADA request form can be found at this link (External Site). 

Permissible Questions 

University staff, faculty, and students may only ask two questions to verify a service animal:

  1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

They may not:

  • Ask about the person’s disability
  • Require medical documentation
  • Require a special identification card or training documentation for the animal
  • Ask that the animal demonstrate its task

Handler Responsibilities

  • The handler must maintain control of the service animal at all times (leashed, harnessed, and/or under voice control).
  • The handler must care for and supervise the animal at all times.
  • The handler must clean up after the animal and properly dispose of waste.
  • The handler is responsible for any property damage or injuries caused by the animal.

Service Animals in Training: Only individuals recognized as “especially trained service dog trainers” under Maine law may bring a dog in training onto campus. These animals must be actively learning disability-specific tasks and must be under the control of the specially trained service dog trainer at all times. Puppies and animals undergoing basic training are not permitted in campus buildings or housing.

Section 4: Service Animals in University Housing

While individuals are not required to disclose the presence of a service animal in housing, doing so is encouraged to ensure appropriate accommodations and support. Service animals must be licensed and vaccinated in accordance with state and local requirements. 

Liability & Property Damage

  • The handler is liable for any damage or injury caused by the service animal.
  • The handler may be billed for cleaning or pest control if the service animal causes damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Care & Control Requirements

  • The handler must feed, clean, groom, and care for the service animal.
  • The service animal must be housebroken and may not be bathed in University housing facilities.
  • The service animal must not be left unattended in residence halls for more than five hours.
  • The service animal must be removed from campus during extended absences or breaks.
  • The service animal must not cause noise or disturbance(s) in University housing facilities.

Section 5 Emergency Situations and Removal

  • University staff are not responsible for removing or caring for the service animal during emergencies.

Removal of Animals 

A service animal may be removed if:

  • It is out of control, including causing noise disturbance(s), and the handler does not take effective action.
  • It is not housebroken.
  • It poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

Decisions regarding removal may be made in consultation with the offices including, but not limited to, Residential Life, Community Standards/Student Conduct, Office of General Counsel, Human Resources, Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, and/or Disability/Accessibility Services. In cases of noncompliance, the individual may lose the privilege of having the animal on campus.

Possible Reasons for a Service Animal to be asked to Leave University Property

*Please Note: This list is not exhaustive. Each incident will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure equitable treatment for the individual, the service animal, and the rest of the University community. 

The animal is out of control

  • Handler does not take effective action to control the animal (e.g., excessive barking, lunging, disruptive behavior, or ignoring commands)

The animal is not housebroken

  • Repeated incidents of urinating or defecating indoors without proper management

The animal poses a direct threat to health or safety

  • Aggressive behavior, biting, or other threats that cannot be eliminated through reasonable modifications

The animal causes significant disruption to the learning environment

  • Persistent disturbances in classrooms or labs that interfere with instruction after  attempts between the faculty/staff and the individual with a service animal have already been made to address the disruption(s).

Fraudulent misrepresentation of a service animal

  • Claiming a non-service animal (such as an emotional support animal) is a service animal for public access

Section 6: Appeal Process

Any individual who feels they have been unfairly denied the use of a service animal, their service animal has been unfairly excluded, or they feel they have been denied reasonable accommodation may contact:

Office of Equal Opportunity
Phone: 207-581-1226 or 711 (Maine Relay)
Email: equal.opportunity@maine.edu

Link to Equal Opportunity Complaint Procedure

Section 7: Revisions to this APL

This APL will be reviewed regularly and revised as needed to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, as well as best practices in disability services.

Section 8: Campus Disability/Accessibility Contacts

For questions or support at specific campuses, please contact the designated office below:

System-wide ADA Coordinator (Employees & Community Members):
Amanda Paradis – Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services (UMS)
Phone: 207-581-1226 | TTY: 711
Email: equal.opportunity@maine.edu

Section 8: Resources