Emotional Support Animal Policy and Procedure
The University of Houston System has developed this Service Animal Policy (“Policy”) and Emotional Support Animals Policy to illustrate the System’s commitment to ensuring equal access by allowing Service Animals and Support Animals for people with disabilities who require their assistance.
Complete the Animal Interest Form to help you evaluate whether your animal may qualify as a Service Animal or an Emotional Support Animal in UH campus-managed housing.
By submitting the form, you acknowledge that housing or accessibility services professionals may review the information in this form (unless otherwise indicated) to evaluate your interest in obtaining an accommodation for an animal to reside with you in UH campus-managed housing.
Final approval of your request is subject to institutional review.
UH "campus-managed housing" includes facilities at Centennial Hall, Cougar Village I, Cougar Village II, Moody Towers, Cougar Place, The Quad, Bayou Oaks, and University Lofts.
Justin Dart, Jr., Student Accessibility Center (Student ADA Requests): The Dart Center is located at 4369 Cougar Village Dr., Bldg. 568, Houston, Texas 77204 and available by phone at 713-743-5400. You can also email jdcenter@uh.edu to connect with a team member.
EOS Contact Information (Employee ADA Requests): EOS is located at 4367 Cougar Village Drive, Bldg. 526, Houston, Texas 77204 (next to Dart Center) and available by phone at 713-743-8835 (use option number 4 in the office directory). You can also email eos@uh.edu to connect with a team member.
Policy Information: Please refer to UH SAM 01.D.11 for the Emotional Support Animals Policy and 01.D12 for the Service Animals Policy.
After you complete the form a housing or accessibility services specialist will review the information in the form to evaluate your interest in obtaining an accommodation for an animal to reside with you in UH campus-managed housing.
No animal will be permitted in University housing that:
- Is not approved through this process
- Is not approved by Student Housing & Residential Life
- Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others
- Would cause substantial physical damage to the property of the University and other residents
- Would pose an undue financial and administrative burden to the University
- Would fundamentally alter the nature of the University’s housing operations
Animal Requirements
The following documentation must be submitted to Student Housing and Residential Life once the student receives the “Next Steps” email:
1. Complete the Animal Policy and Procedure Form. Complete all required fields including your signature and the date.
- ESAs: Emotional Support Animal Policy and Procedure Form
- Service Animals: Service Animal Acknowledgment and Information Form
2. Proof of current vaccinations. See the required vaccinations below. Vaccines must be kept current and you will be required to send proof of vaccine renewals once they expire.
- All animals: Rabies vaccine
- Dogs: DHLPP, Bordetella, and Influenza
- Cats: FPV/FVRCP
3. Proof of spay/neuter. All animals must be spayed or neutered in order to live on campus.
4. Proof of licensing with the City of Houston. The City of Houston requires all dogs and cats aged four months or older to be registered. Registration includes annual rabies vaccination and microchipping requirements for anyone who owns, keeps, possesses, or has control of a pet within city limits.
Standards for Approved Emotional Support Animals
All approved emotional support animals must comply with applicable laws regarding animals and their treatment and care and also meet the following standards:
Dogs
- All required immunizations must be up-to-date, and a copy of the immunizations must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Dogs must be licensed and a copy of the license must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Dogs must be spayed or neutered. A copy of the veterinarian’s report must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Collars and tags must be worn at all times. The dog must be always kept on a leash when outside the residence hall or apartment. Dogs must never be allowed to run freely.
- Dogs must possess friendly and sociable characteristics. A specific dog can be restricted from the premises by the Executive Director or their charge based on any confirmed threatening or territorial behavior.
- Dog obedience and training programs are highly recommended.
Domestic Cats
- All required immunizations must be up-to-date, and a copy of the immunizations must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Cats must be licensed and a copy of the license must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Cats must be spayed or neutered. A copy of the veterinarian’s report must be on file with the Housing Office.
- Collars and tags must be worn at all times. The cat must be kept on a leash at all times when outside the residence hall or apartment. Cats must never be allowed to run freely.
Any Other Animal
- To be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Standards of Behavior by Animal and Animal Owner
Health, sanitary, safety, and disruptive standards must be maintained as follows:
- Animals require daily food and attention, as well as a daily assessment of their general health, behavior, and overall welfare.
- Animals cannot be left unattended overnight at any time. If the owner must be away, they must either take the animal with them or make arrangements for them to be cared for elsewhere.
- Emotional support animals must not be taken into the residence hall or apartment offices, administrative offices, common space, or student living areas.
- Animal feces, defined as cat litter box contents and any solid animal waste, must be disposed of properly. It is the owner’s responsibility to remove feces from University grounds, dispose of it in a plastic bag, and then place that bag in the garbage dumpsters outside. Cleanup must occur IMMEDIATELY. Animal feces may not be disposed of in any trash receptacle or through the sewer system inside any building at the University of Houston. Waste MUST be taken to any apartment or residence hall dumpster for disposal.
- Residents with cats must properly maintain litter boxes. In consideration of the health of the cat and occupants of the apartment or the residence hall room, cat litter box contents must be disposed of properly and regularly. The litter box must be changed with new cat litter regularly as outlined by the manufacturer.
- Animal accidents within the residence hall room or apartment must be promptly cleaned up using appropriate cleaning products.
- Regular and routine cleaning of floors, kennels, cages, and litter boxes must occur. The odor of an animal emanating from the residence hall room or apartment is not acceptable. (see Cleaning Section below)
- Any flea or pest infestation must be attended to promptly by a professional extermination company at owner’s expense. Owners are expected to promptly notify Student Housing and Residential Life and arrange for extermination when a flea or pest problem is noted. Animal owners may take some precautionary measures such as flea and pest medications prescribed by veterinarians, flea and tick collars, taking your animal to the veterinarian for flea and tick baths. Because not all of the precautions listed here can prevent flea and tick infestations, the owner is responsible for extermination costs after vacating the apartment or residence hall room.
- Animals must not be allowed to disrupt others (e.g., barking continuously, growling, yowling, howling, etc.). Animals which constitute a threat or nuisance to staff, residents or property, as determined by the Executive Director or their charge, must be removed within seven (7) days of notification. If UHPD determines that the animal poses an immediate threat, animal control may be summoned to remove the animal. If the behavior of an animal can be addressed by the owner and the owner can change the behavior of an animal so that the pet does not have to be removed, then a written action plan must be submitted by the owner. The action plan must outline the action that will take place to alleviate the problems and also must give a deadline as to length of time the plan will take. Any action plan must meet the approval of the Executive Director or their charge. The day after the deadline for removal from the apartment, University staff will do a residence hall room or apartment inspection to check damages and infestation and then the mandatory cleaning and extermination will be scheduled. Any animal owner found not adhering to the removal directive will be subject to disciplinary action; which could include contract cancellation.
- An animal must not be involved in an incident where a person experiences either the threat of or an actual injury as a result of the animal’s behavior.
- The animal owner will take all reasonable precautions to protect university staff and residents; as well as the property of the University and of the residents.
- The owner will notify Student Housing and Residential Life if the animal has escaped its confines and is unable to be located within twelve (12) hours.
- All liability for the actions of the animal (bites, scratches, etc.) is the responsibility of the owner.
Violations concerning any of the aforementioned may result in the resident having to find alternative housing off-campus for the animal and, as warranted, may also result in a resident being in breach of their housing contract.
Cleaning and Damages
- When the resident moves out of their apartment or residence hall room, or no longer owns the animal the apartment or residence hall room will be assessed to determine if damage to department property can be attributed to the animal. Student Housing and Residential Life maintains the right to conduct apartment or residence hall room inspections annually for the purpose of assessing damage caused by the animal or otherwise determine the resident’s compliance with this procedure.
- The animal owner has an obligation to make sure that the apartment or residence hall room is as clean as the original standard. If the apartment or room has carpeting, this also includes regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. Damages and extraordinary cleaning caused by the animal are the responsibility of the resident. Replacement or repair of damaged items will be the financial responsibility of the owner.