By: Maddie Schmidt
After a tough day, Isabel Williams, a junior double-majoring in archaeology and museum studies, finds comfort in Peri, her emotional support dog. Williams said Peri uplifts her mood and keeps her busy with her playful and energetic spirit.
According to the university’s website, Southern complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and state and local laws that allow students to have service animals on campus. Southern also follows the Fair Housing Act, so students can keep their Emotional Support Animals (ESA) in on-campus housing.
These policies apply only to service animals and ESAs documented with Disability Support Services (DSS), according to Southern’s website. These stipulations ensure that animals are allowed on campus only for disability purposes.
According to Jahnil Ancheta, DSS coordinator, Southern currently has 10 approved ESAs and two service animals on campus.
Southern’s website states that an individual must have a disability confirmed by the ADA to qualify for a service animal on campus and must provide proof that the animal is trained for the handler’s disability. Keeping an ESA on campus is permitted when a medical professional has confirmed that a student qualifies for an ESA, and that the animal is approved by DSS.
Ancheta explained the difficulties that DSS faces regarding service animals and ESAs.
“The biggest challenges are usually helping students understand the difference between an emotional support animal and a service animal,” said Ancheta. “It can also be challenging when students don’t have all of the required documentation for approval. That’s why I make it a point to meet with students one-on-one to walk them through the process and help them get what they need.”
Southern’s website explains the difference between a service animal and an ESA. A service animal is trained to help someone with a physical disability, whereas an ESA does not need to be specifically trained but provides emotional support and companionship.
Because of these differences, service animals and ESAs are not always allowed in the same public spaces. According to the university’s website, service animals are generally allowed anywhere on campus, unless an area has been labeled unsafe. ESAs, however, are allowed only in the handler’s residence and areas of campus where animals are allowed.
Although performing different tasks, both service animals and ESAs can have a significant effect on their handlers.
Crystelle Toledo, a sophomore elementary education major, explained the dog’s impact on her day-to-day life.
“I am more independent because of my service dog,” said Toledo. “I know that if I have a medical episode, she will be there. I know that if I am alone, she will call someone if I need them—yes, she does have a phone that actually calls people.”
In addition to medical help, her dog has a positive effect on her well-being.
“I share a strong bond with my dog,” said Toledo. “We both need to trust each other; I need to trust her to know certain things I don’t, and she needs to trust me when I ask her to do something she’s not sure about.”
According to Williams, her emotional support dog, Peri, helps her regulate her emotions.
“I find her presence very grounding,” said Williams. “If I’m having a rough day or if I’m just lost in thought, sometimes she’ll come sit next to me and it will remind me to live in the moment.”
Williams explained that because Peri is so energetic and requires intentional care, the dog’s presence encourages her to be more active than she might be without her. Peri helps her not to get stuck in a mundane routine in her day-to-day life.
According to Williams, various challenges make it difficult to bring service animals and ESAs out in public. Williams explained that some individuals try to pass off untrained pets as service animals to be allowed to bring them into an establishment where they aren’t allowed.
This issue can pose problems for people who rely on service animals, because those establishments could try to prevent legitimate service animals from entering the building in the future.
“Most of the time these access issues are the result of ignorance, not malice, and I approach them as such,” Toledo said. “It is my personal choice to carry around cards that have the ADA laws regarding service dogs printed on them and hand them out when necessary.”
Toledo’s biggest challenge with bringing her dog in public is other people, because many do not respect her dog’s personal space and often crowd her against the wheelchair. This could be dangerous. In fact, it is not appropriate to touch a service dog while they are working and wearing their service dog vest or leash.
According to Toledo, many service dog handlers do not reveal their dog’s real name in public, making it easier for their dogs to avoid being distracted. Service dogs are highly trained and respond very quickly to the sound of their name.
While at Southern, Toledo has experienced multiple incidents when her dog was harassed while working, such as startling her dog for fun or threatening to eat her.
Ancheta shared how to appropriately interact with someone’s service animal or ESA on campus.
“Students should treat service and emotional support animals with respect, recognizing that they are working or therapeutic companions,” Ancheta said. “They should not approach, pet or feed them without the owner’s permission and should avoid distracting them while they perform their duties.”
Ancheta also explained how to appropriately interact with the handler of a service animal or an ESA.
“Students should speak to the owner rather than the animal, respect personal space and refrain from asking intrusive questions about the person’s disability or the reason for the animal,” Ancheta said. “Under the ADA guidelines, there are only two questions that are legally permissible to ask a person with a service animal: (1) Is this service animal required because of a disability? and (2) What work or tasks has the animal been trained to perform?”
Since there is often confusion on the differences between a service animal and an ESA, Williams expressed that many people could benefit from having an ESA and not even realize it.
“Emotional health in general is often neglected or not treated as seriously as it is,” Williams said. “Because of that, people don’t [always] look for solutions or ways they can get help. ESAs are an often-overlooked way of receiving help.”
Williams added that people are noticeably happier when around animals, such as students’ reaction to puppies on the promenade during exam weeks.
“Having an animal around you makes you happier,” said Williams. “Having something to take care of that you love, and that you know loves you.”
