A Service Animal (SA) is defined by federal law as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The SA must be trained to recognize and respond to the person’s environment and actions. The work or task MUST be directly related to the person’s disability. An animal that provide emotional support, well-being, or companionship that alleviates the symptoms of a documented disability is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

  • Service Animals (SAs) must be allowed to go anywhere the person with a disability is allowed to go, including dining facilities and transportation.
  • Service Animals do not have to wear identifying tags, harnesses, or vests. However, most service animals do in order to prevent problems. SAs do NOT have to be registered or certified.
  • Service Animals must be housebroken and under the control of the handler at all times.
  • When it is not obvious that the dog is a Service Animal, faculty and staff may ask: 1) Is this dog a service animal required because of a disability? and 2) What disability-related work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

General Information and Etiquette around Service Dogs:

  • The job of a service dog is to focus on completing tasks for their handler.
  • Service dogs should never be approached, talked to, or touched without asking permission. No offense should be taken if the owner asks you not to interact with the dog.
  • Distracting a working dog can result in potential harm to the handler.
  • Don’t assume a napping dog is off duty.
  • Inform the handler if a service dog approaches you. Resist the urge to respond to the dog. The handler will correct the dog.

A Service-Animal-in-Training is not recognized by Federal law as a Service Animal. Maine law allows a Service-Animal- in-Training IF the animal is accompanied by an “especially trained service dog trainer” for the specific purpose of training to become a Service Animal (i.e. is being individually trained to perform a task or to do work for a person with a disability).

A dog that is undergoing basic obedience training and socialization is NOT, by definition, a Service Animal OR a Service-Animal-in-Training and is therefore NOT allowed in residence halls, dining facilities, or in academic buildings.

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is defined by the Fair Housing Act. (Please note, under this law, ESAs are referred to as “assistance animals.”). Emotional Support Animals, when approved, are generally approved for housing only. To begin this process, students should contact the Disability Services Center at dscusm@maine.edu or 207-780-4706.

Emotional Support Animals (approved under the Fair Housing Act for the residential buildings) are NOT allowed in dining facilities or any non-residential campus building. Requests for an animal in areas other than housing would require a formal accommodation through the disability services office on campus and be subject to the same process for requesting academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments.