Assistance Animals

Assistance Animals (Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals)

Beginning September 1, 2026, Texas Tech University will be compliant with federal guidance (May 2026) from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FEHO) guidance on Assistance Animals (Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals).

All requests for Assistance Animals will be submitted to the Student Disability Services office, and SDS shall make a determination of eligibility on a case-by-case basis of whether the presence of an Assistance Animal is reasonable. A request for an Assistance Animal may be denied as unreasonable if the presence of the animal:

1. Imposes an undue financial and/or administrative burden;
2. Fundamentally alters University housing policies; and/or
3. Poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or would cause substantial property damage to the property of others, including University property.

TTU may consider the following factors, among others, as evidence in determining whether the presence of the animal is reasonable or in the making of housing assignments for individuals with Assistance Animals:

• The animal is trained to do a task the individual cannot do themselves.
• The size of the animal is too large for available assigned housing space.
• The animal’s presence would force another individual from individual housing (e.g. serious allergies);
• The animal’s presence otherwise violates individuals’ right to peace and quiet enjoyment;
• The animal is not housebroken or is unable to live with others in a reasonable manner;
• The animal’s vaccinations are not current;
• The animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to the individual or others such as aggressive behavior towards or injuring the individual or others; or
• The animal causes or has caused excessive damage to housing beyond reasonable wear and tear.

Assistance Animals (Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals) may only be dogs trained to perform a specific task. Providing comfort simply with their presence is not a task as defined by the ADA.

All Assistance Animals (Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals) must be fully vaccinated before being brought to campus. Assistance Animals may be taken into campus buildings as long as they fully comply with behavior standards established for Service Animals under the ADA. Animals not complying with these behavior standards will be removed from campus buildings and classrooms. Once the animal has been removed, the student may return to the building and/or classroom without the animal.

All Assistance Animals living in the residence halls must first register with Student Disability Services and complete the necessary housing form. This process must be complete PRIOR to the individual bringing the Assistance Animal into the residence halls. Failure to complete this process may result in the animal being removed from the residence halls until the process has been completed. Documentation for a Service Animal is not required for approval, but a current vaccination record is. Documentation for an Emotional Support Animal should be submitted at the time of application, and the approval process must be completed before the ESA is brought into the residence halls. Documentation should include a letter from the individuals primary mental health provider supporting the need for an ESA, the task it is trained to do, as well as the current shot record.

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Service Animals

Individuals with disabilities may generally be accompanied by service animals in Texas Tech buildings and facilities where members of the public or participants in university programs, services and activities are permitted.

Students do not need to register a service animal with Student Disability Services to bring the animal into academic buildings.

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, university employees may ask:

• Is the animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Documentation that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal is not required for general access.

Handler Responsibilities

The university is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal. The handler is responsible for:

• Keeping the animal under control.
• Using a harness, leash or other tether unless the handler's disability prevents its use or it interferes with the animal's work.
• Using voice, signal or another effective method of control when a tether cannot be used.
• Complying with applicable vaccination, animal health and other legal requirements.
• Immediately cleaning up and properly disposing of animal waste.
• Any damage caused by the animal.

A service animal may be removed if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, if it is not housebroken or when its presence would pose a direct threat or fundamentally alter the nature of a university program or activity.

Service Animals in University Housing

Service animals are permitted in university housing. Students planning to live in university housing with a service animal should complete the housing request process so University Student Housing can collect applicable animal health and vaccination information and coordinate housing arrangements.

Service Animal Housing Request Form

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Service Animals in Training

Texas law permits service animals in training to access public facilities when accompanied by an approved trainer. Students who want to bring a service animal in training into Texas Tech buildings must complete the SDS verification process.

Student Requirements

1. Complete the Service Animals in Training Verification Form. Completing this form does not register the student with SDS for classroom accommodations.
2. Provide certification of training. If the student is an approved trainer, documentation showing certification from an organization whose primary mission is training service animals for people with disabilities must be provided to SDS.
3. Arrange for an approved trainer when required. If the student is not an approved trainer, an approved trainer must accompany the student and animal as required.
4. Meet with SDS. The student must complete the SDS approval process before bringing the service animal in training into campus buildings.

Animal Requirements

A service animal in training must meet Texas Tech requirements for behavior and control. The animal must:

• Be at least one year old.
• Be housebroken.
• Remain under the handler's control.
• Have current required vaccinations.
• Wear required identification, including applicable collar, tags and identification showing the animal is in training.
• Meet the behavioral standards expected of a trained service animal.

Students living in university housing must also complete applicable University Student Housing requirements.

Service Animals in Training Verification Form

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Assistance Animal Forms

Use the form that corresponds with your request:

• Service Animal Housing Request Form
• Service Animals in Training Verification Form

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Questions About Assistance Animals?

If you have questions about service animals, emotional support animals or service animals in training, contact Student Disability Services.

Email Student Disability Services