Assistance Dog Policy

Purpose Statement

To provide clear guidelines regarding how Accommodation Services will manage assistance dogs within University-owned accommodation.

Applicability and Scope

This policy has been devised using guidance from Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) and is applicable to all students residing in University-owned accommodation. This policy does not extend to emotional support dogs. A disabled person who relies on a highly trained assistance dog to mitigate a mental health condition will be considered in the same way that a physically disabled person with an assistance dog would.

What is an Assistance Dog?

An asistance dog is a dog that has been highly trained to perform a range of tasks and alerts that support a disabled person. The work or task performed by the assistance dog must be directly related to an owner’s disability. This does not include the crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence. Assistance dogs are permitted to access all University-owned accommodation circulation and communal spaces, on a lead and under the control of their handler. An emotional support dog is a dog that offers comfort and companionship by being present and requires no specialist training. Emotional support dogs are not referenced in law and are not permitted in University-owned accommodation.

Our Responsibilities

to discuss the requirements for an assistance dog with you and to establish the training the dog has received

if required, to carry out a risk assessment and ensure you have appropriate liability insurance in place

to provide the most appropriate available accommodation suitable for housing an assistance dog

to ensure you are allocated to a bedroom large enough to accommodate an assistance dog

to dedicate outside space where the dog can relieve itself, and to provide a method of disposing of its waste

to provide a deep clean at the end of the tenancy at no additional cost

to inform the surrounding tenants of the presence of an assistance dog

where required, to provide information regarding the needs and rights of students who rely on assistance dogs and address concerns of other residents directly

to take appropriate action if we believe the dog is misbehaving or is not being cared for appropriately

Your Responsibilities

to provide information about the animal and its tasks if reasonably requested by University colleagues

to ensure your assistance dog is covered by full liability insurance

to prevent and correct misbehaviour of your assistance dog

to make sure your dog does not cause harm or injury to others, or damage to University property

to take responsibility for the clean-up of the animal’s waste consistent with reasonable capacity (registered blind people are not expected to clean up after their assistance dog)

to provide care to the assistance dog, ensuring regular health checks, vaccinations and an adequate level of grooming are carried out

to ensure that the assistance dog’s feeding, watering and toileting requirements are fully met

to pay for the costs of making good any damage to persons or University property

not to leave the assistance dog unattended or with flatmates for long periods of time, including when leaving your accommodation overnight or during University vacation periods

to respect the access restriction established by the University on the grounds of Health and Safety

to ensure that your assistance dog does not enter colleague and students’ privately assigned spaces such as bedrooms and flats without permission

to familiarise yourself with and adhere to this policy

to seek clarification from a member of Accommodation Services Team, about any aspect of this policy as required

Conflicting Disabilities

Where an assistance dog poses an adverse health risk to another student/s, Accommodation Services will seek medical documentation from the affected party/parties to determine suitable alternatives and equitable arrangement for either or both parties.

Removal of Assistance Dogs

The University reserves the right to refuse entry to an assistance dog where it poses a direct threat to the health & safety of others. Behaviour that we do not expect to see from a highly trained assistance dog, as outlined in the definitions below, may also provide grounds to refuse entry to the accommodation. This will only apply if all other reasonable measures to address misbehaviour have been unsuccessful.

Residents sharing accommodation with an assistance dog

We will inform residents that there will be an assistance dog living near them. If their room offer is not suitable because of this, they are able to contact Accommodation Services for an alternative offer dependent on availability.

Etiquette

Members of the University community should not:

touch or feed an assistance dog, unless invited to do so by their owner

deliberately distract or startle an assistance dog

separate or attempt to separate an assistance dog from the person using the assistance dog’s service

Complaints

Any issues in relation to assistance dogs in the first instance should be directed to your Accommodation reception.

Insurance

Your personal possessions insurance, included in your accommodation fees, will not cover any damage caused by your assistance dog.

Definitions

Certain words and phrases used in this policy have the meanings given to them here.

Assistance Dogs: animals that have been highly trained to perform specific tasks to assist a disabled person.

Assistance Dogs UK: a coalition of assistance dog charities that have been accredited by one of the two leading global authorities in assistance dogs, namely Assistance Dogs International and The International Guide Dog Federation.

Unexpected behaviour/misbehaviour: when an animal acts in a way which disturbs or distresses other residents or causes damage to people or property. This may include but is not limited to, barking, lunging, or jumping up and pulling strongly on a lead. Being aggressive or very fearful eg cowering or growling or dogs that are not toilet trained.

We/us/our/ours: Newcastle University which is the landlord of the accommodation.

You/your/yours: the person who has agreed to take a tenancy in our accommodation.

Reviewed: May 2024
Review Date: May 2026
Policy owner: Senior Management Team, Accommodation Services

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