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Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

For employees, a service animal accompanying an employee in the workplace is considered a potential reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The presence of an ESA accompanying an employee in the workplace may be considered as part of a reasonable accommodation request under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

A service animal is a dog (or, in some cases, a miniature horse) that is individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. An ESA is an animal that is not trained to perform specific tasks directly related to an individual's disability but does provide emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. 

Employees seeking to bring a service animal or ESA to work should submit through the University's employee accommodation process. The University will engage in the interactive process and evaluate the request on an individualized basis to determine whether the service animal or ESA constitutes a reasonable accommodation and whether it can be accommodated without creating an undue hardship or direct threat.

Employees should contact the ADA Coordinator for information regarding the reasonable accommodation process.

Requirements for a Service Animal and ESA

Employees utilizing a service animal or ESA in the workplace are responsible for:

1. The animal must be under the control of the individual using the animal.
2. If the animal displays out of control behavior (i.e. aggressive or disruptive behavior such as uncontrolled barking), the individual using the animal must attempt to get the animal under control. If unable to do so, then the individual may be asked to remove the service animal or ESA from the room or activity.
3. The animal must be “housebroken” and the individual using the animal is responsible for cleaning up after the animal.
4. Additional conditions may 911±¬ÁÏÍø including providing proof that the animal’s vaccinations and licensure are current and ensuring the animal is trained to be in a work environment.

If a service animal or ESA exhibits behavior that is out of control, disruptive, or poses a safety concern, the employee may be required to remove the animal from the workplace until the behavior is effectively addressed.

Students with service animals or emotional support animals should contact the Disability Resource Center  by phone at (909) 869-3333 or email drc@cpp.edu. For more information about the Disability Resource Center policies on service animals and emotional support animals, visit the Disability Resource Center Policies and Procedures webpage.