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Animals on Campus Policy 630.00

Animals on Campus Policy 630.00
Johnson County Community College
Series: 600 Safety and Security
Section: Campus Security and Control

Applicability: This Policy applies to the Johnson County Community College (“JCCC” or “the College”) campus community, including all students, personnel and visitors.

Purpose: Johnson County Community College endeavors to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. The uncontrolled or unsupervised presence of animals on campus compromises this environment.

Definition: “Service Animals” are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability; the work or tasks performed by the animal are directly related to the individual’s disability. This definition encompasses all “service animals” as defined by the applicable regulations to the Americans with Disabilities Act and “assistance dogs” as defined by K.S.A. § 39-1113.

Statement: 

All domestic animals on College property, including open space, athletic fields, playing fields and intramural areas, must be leashed and under personal control of the owner or handler at all times. Animals are not to be tied or secured to trees, posts, shrubs, or other College fixtures and may not be left unattended. Owners and handlers are responsible for their animals, including clean-up, damage or injuries caused by their animals. JCCC is not responsible for the care or supervision of service animals.  Individuals handling Service Animals are responsible for the control of their animals at all times and for ensuring the immediate clean-up and proper disposal of all animal waste. They also must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including vaccination, licensure, animal health and leash laws. Although JCCC will not assess a Service Animal surcharge, it may impose charges for damages caused by Service Animals in the same manner the College imposes charges for damages to property. All animals on a JCCC campus must have current vaccinations evidenced by a tag on the animal or a vaccination certificate in the immediate possession of the owner or handler.

To protect public health and safety, animals are not permitted in College buildings, except for the following:

  1. Service Animals assisting individuals with disabilities, in compliance with this policy and state and federal law;
  2. Service Animals or professional therapy dogs, as defined by Kansas law, accompanied by qualified handlers or professional trainers in certain areas open to the general public, subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth in the applicable Kansas statutes;
  3. Animals used for College authorized research projects or experiments; or
  4. Animals used as part of a College academic program.

Where it is not readily apparent if an animal is a Service Animal, the College may ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform.

Exclusions:

JCCC may exclude a Service Animal if the animal is not housebroken; would pose a direct threat to the health, safety or property of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by a reasonable accommodation; is out of control and the owner or handler does not take effective action to control it; would fundamentally alter the nature of a program or activity; or is not being cared for the by the owner or handler.

A control agency will be called to remove and impound disruptive, aggressive, unattended or at-large animals. All animals are subject to the applicable city codes regulating animals.

Related Links:

Regulations to the Americans with Disabilities Act

KSA § 39-1101 et. seq.

Overland Park Municipal Code

Olathe Municipal Code

Date of Adoption: 03/14/2013
Revised: 01/21/2021