The University of Texas at Tyler: Housing & Residence Life Pet, ESA, & Service Animal Policy

Animals in Housing Policy

This policy is for all animals that will reside with residents in housing at the University of Texas at Tyler. While exceptions may be made, this will be the basis for requirements and registration of animals. 

PETS 

A pet is any animal that is not an Emotional Support or Service Animal.

(Beginning in Summer 2022, SAR registered ESA and Service Animals will be the only authorized animals in housing.)

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

All Emotion Support Animals must be registered with and approved by the Student Accessibility and Resources (SAR) office before the resident brings an animal to campus. There is a specific form that you obtain from the SAR office for your medical or mental health provider to fill out. You will submit that form with your application for services. ESA provide comfort for the owner. They are not allowed in any building on campus other than the owner’s personal residence. ESA are subject to all city and/or county ordinances including vaccination, licensure, animal health and leash laws, as well as the University’s rules in lease provisions regarding the above, and cleanup and community relationships. 

Service Animals

According to the ADA, Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting, and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Students with service animals are encouraged to register with the SAR Office. 

Animal Care Guidelines and Responsibilities

 Animal Policy Violation Matrix

• As required by Texas state law, the animal must always wear a collar with current rabies tag and current residence life approved animal tag.(This includes cats)      
• Animal owner must have the animal on a leash whenever the animal is not inside the room/apartment. Animals are not permitted to roam freely outside of the room/apartment, unless performing the specific task of a service animal.
• The animal owner must clean up and properly dispose of animal waste when they are out on property.
• Each animal owner must properly maintain the hygiene, health, and vaccinations of their animal.
• The animal must be fed and watered inside the apartment. Animal food and water is not to be left outside the room/apartment at any time. 
• Animal must be properly kenneled/crated(solid structure only) when the owner is in class or otherwise away from the room/apartment. Animals cannot be placed on the patio without the owner present. If the animal is to be left unattended for more than 12 hours at a time, the owner must make appropriate accommodations for care. Acceptable accommodations include having the animal boarded, monitored and cared for every six to eight hours by a roommate, or kept off campus. 
• The animal should never be left alone outside the animal owner’s apartment, including on the balcony/patio. Animals may not be tied to any fixed object anywhere outside the room/apartment.
• The animal owner is responsible for updating all animal records by uploading the documents through the housing portal of their myUTTyler student account. It is the responsibility of the animal owner to keep all records up to date. 

Registration Process: (Required each Academic Year)

Emotional Support Animals 

1)    Residents are required to register Emotional Support Animals with the Student Accessibility and Resources (SAR) office  prior to bringing the animal into campus housing. 

2)    As well as registering the animal through the SAR office, the resident will need to fill out the animal registration form on the Housing Portal, through “MyUTTyler”

3)    Once the ESA has been approved, resident will stop by the housing office to pick up an “Approved Animal” tag for their ESA. 

4)    If the condition of the room found at check-out is beyond normal wear and tear, resident will be assessed additional charges to their student account. 

Service Animals

1)    Residents are encouraged to register Service Animals with the Student Accessibility and Resources (SAR) office.

2)    Resident will need to fill out the animal registration form on the Housing Portal, through “MyUTTyler” 

3)    Resident will stop by the housing office to pick up an “Approved Animal” tag for their Service Animal. 

4)    If the condition of the room found at check-out is beyond normal wear and tear, resident will be assessed additional charges to their student account.