Handler Responsibilities

In this section, “animal” refers to a service animal or emotional support animal, as described in the Service Animal Policy and the Emotional Support Animal Policy.  “Handler” refers to the student who is training or utilizing a service animal or emotional support animal as an accommodation on the Cornell College campus.

Handlers are responsible for any damage caused by their animals and must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury to others. The care, supervision, and well-being of animals is the sole responsibility of the Handler.

Handlers must:

1. Meet local legal requirements regarding vaccinations and licensing of the animal.
2. Ensure their animal is under control at all times. If an animal exhibits behavior that poses a health or safety risk to others or if the animal cannot be controlled (e.g., destruction of College or personal property, exhibiting aggressive behavior), the Handler must take effective action to correct the behavior.
3. Emotional Support Animals Only: Maintain the Emotional Support Animal in their assigned room, suite common area (if applicable) or in the hallways while entering or exiting the building and taking the most direct accessible route from the Handler’s room to and from the outside.  If the Handler will be off-campus overnight for one night the Handler may designate one person to attend to the ESA’s needs during their absence. The name and contact information for this person should be sent to the Director of Residence Life in advance of the Handler leaving campus. If the Handler will be off-campus for 48 hours or more they must take the ESA with them, make arrangements for the ESA to stay off-campus, or the emergency contact will be called to retrieve the ESA from campus until the Handler is able to return.
4. When the Handler is not present the animal should be housed and secured in the Handler’s room in an appropriately sized kennel or container.  
5. Ensure that the animal is provided with adequate clean food and water, exercise and toileting, as well as veterinary care and treatment. Handlers must also ensure that their animals are kept clean and well-groomed.  Although animals may sometimes become ill unexpectedly, the College recommends that animals that are sick should not be brought into College facilities. Cornell College reserves the right to intervene on behalf of an animal in situations of perceived abuse, neglect, a visible need for veterinary intervention, or for other concerns about the animal’s well-being.
6. Adhere to cleanup rules: Handlers must follow Mt. Vernon’s Animal Waste cleanup ordinance (Section 55.05)  when their animals defecate. Waste should be disposed of in a sealed bag and placed in an outdoor trash receptacle. Handlers who are unable to clean up after their own service animal or emotional support animal because of their disability may not be required to pick up and dispose of feces but are responsible for using marked service animal toileting areas where provided.
7. Animals outside on campus grounds must be leashed in accordance with local ordinance (Section 55.06). In addition, animals cannot be left unattended on a leash, stake in the ground, or tied to a tree or other structure. Any stakes, ropes, or ties must be removed and taken with the handler to prevent from interfering with the campus ground's maintenance and beautification efforts. 
8. Take responsibility for property damage: Costs associated with any damage to campus facilities or properties resulting from the animal’s behavior are the sole responsibility of the Handler. Damage from an animal that occurs in a residence hall will be resolved according to the Residence Life damage policy.

Removal/Relocation of Service/Assistance Animals

Animals may be removed from any campus facility for the following reasons:

1. Out-of-control Behavior: A Handler may be directed to remove an animal that poses a health or safety risk to others or that cannot be controlled (e.g., destruction of College or personal property, exhibiting aggressive behavior).  Repeated instances of such behavior may result in exclusion from College facilities until the handler can demonstrate that they can effectively control the animal.
2. Not Housebroken: Animals must be housebroken.

If an animal is excluded from the premises, the Handler will be offered the opportunity to attend Cornell College and/or reside in campus housing with other accommodations, where possible. Conflicts between animals and others’ severe allergies, phobias, etc., will be addressed on a case-by-case basis (e.g., relocation of one student to another College housing facility or an alternate office location).

Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, college officials and emergency responders will prioritize human life and will first ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and guests to campus before animals.  Officials and responders are not responsible for removing animals during an emergency, and may not be held responsible for the care, damage to, or loss of the animal.  

Cornell College reserves the right to amend this policy at any time, as circumstances require.

Forms

City of Mount Vernon Dog Licensing Form

Emotional Support Animal Request Form