Currently, there are four emotional support animals as well as one service dog that Longwood has approved to be in student’s possession. Longwood has seen an increase in the number of emotional support animals from one to four in the past year, according to Joshua Blakely, assistant dean of residential and commuter life.
“A service animal performs a specific service for a person with a disability and by law they can be dogs or miniature ponies, they are required by law everywhere,” said Blakely.
Longwood does have a specific policy for service animals that requires documentation.
In order to be considered to have a emotional support animal in a student’s possession on campus and in Longwood managed housing, the student must apply to the Office of Disabilities. In order to be considered the student must present proper documentation from the student’s treating psychiatrist or psychologist that describe the student’s need for the animal, according to Blakely.
“We do have emotional support animals that have been approved on campus,” said Blakely.
Students may apply to have an emotional support animal through the Office of Disabilities. Students would then need to provide the proper documentation requesting to have the animal in their possession at Longwood.
Service animals pertain particularly to dogs and miniature ponies only. Emotional support animals are not limited to dogs or miniature ponies but can be cats, hamsters or even a rabbit.
Then after the request has been received through the Office of Disability Resources, the student will then meet with the Director of Disability Resources, Lindsay Farrar, to discuss the next steps in the process to have the animal with the student.
“Via thorough documentation from a treating psychiatrist or psychologist with whom the student has a therapeutic relationship with, identifying the Emotional Support Animal as a necessary form of accommodation for a verified disability,” stated Farrar.
According to Farrar, the office works diligently with the student that is inquiring about being able to have an emotional support animal. They want to make sure that the student is comfortable with the options that are presented for them. If an emotional support animal isn’t what is needed then the office will work with the student to make sure that they are accommodated in a way that will help.
“If adequate documentation is received and approved, the student then meets with me to go over and sign a University Agreement regarding the rules and regulations of the approved animal,” said Farrar.
Once the accommodation is approved by the Office of Disability Resources, the Office of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) is notified of the accommodation and then will work with the student to make sure housing accommodations are made. Housing for those who have emotional support animals, as well as service animals, is done based on the owner of the animal and what they feel comfortable with. The necessity of a student living in a single room is up to the discretion of the student, according to Blakely.
As the increase trend continues of requests for emotional support animals, the Office of Disability Resources will continue to work with students to make sure they receive the proper accommodations, according to Blakely.
“The landscape of accommodations for disabilities in higher education is ever-changing, but we have the appropriate procedures in place to process requests,” Farrar said.
If students wish to apply for a emotional support animal or service animal they can find the appropriate forms on the Office of Disability Resources website.
