Service and Support Animals

For the university policy concerning service, assistance, and pets at USC, visit: 

• USC Pet Policy 

• USC Service & Assistance Animal Policy 

Service Animals in public areas of the university 

The University of Southern California permits trained Service Animals assisting individuals with disabilities in areas of campus open to the public, consistent with university policy and applicable law. A service animal is a dog (or in some cases a miniature horse) that is individually trained to perform specific tasks or work for a person with a disability, directly related to that person’s condition. Service Animals are generally allowed wherever their handlers are permitted, except in limited areas where animals are restricted for health or safety reasons. Exceptions may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the ADA/504 Coordinator, or the Office of Student Accessibility Services, upon consultation with the department/program responsible for the restricted area, as appropriate.  

Individuals with disabilities who plan to bring a Service Animal into campus buildings are encouraged to notify the University in advance. This allows the University to share relevant campus information and designated relief areas. University staff may ask whether the Service Animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the Service Animal has been trained to perform.    

When a Service Animal may be permitted 

The following must apply for an individual to qualify to have a Service Animal on campus: 

• The individual must have a disability as defined by the ADA. 

• The service dog must be trained to complete a specific task or function for the individual that is related to the individual’s disability. 

When staff may ask questions 

If it is not obvious what task the Service Animal performs, University employees may ask only the following two questions: 

• Is the animal required because of a disability? 

• What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? 

Control and behavior expectations 

A Service Animal must have a harness, leash, or tether unless the handler’s disability precludes use of tethers, or the tether would interfere with the Service Animal’s ability to safely perform its work or tasks. In these cases, the Service Animal must be under the control of the handler (i.e., voice commands, hand signals, or other effective means).  Members of the university community and visitors are prohibited from interfering in any way with a Service Animal or the duties it performs. 

Reasons a Service Animal may be denied access or removed 

The University may deny access to or require removal of a Service Animal if the: 

• animal is out of control, and the handler does not take effective action to control it

• animal is not housebroken

• animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable modifications

• handler fails to meet responsibilities outlined in the USC Service and Assistance Animal Policy. 

Assistance Animals (Emotional Support or Therapy Animals) 

Assistance Animals are generally not permitted in public areas of the University. Separate and distinct from a service animal, assistance animals provide comfort or emotional benefit to a person with a disability but is not required to have specific task-based training. 

Use of an Assistance Animal may be allowed as a reasonable accommodation for students only through the established accommodation process with the Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS). Employees should consult their HR partner regarding accommodation requests. 

Event planners are encouraged to seek guidance from the Office of Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance should you receive a request for an Assistance Animal accommodation. 

Policy violation 

Any incidence of violations of any University policy may result in immediate removal of the animal from the University and, if appropriate, referral to the Office of Human Resources or the Office of Community Expectations for disciplinary action. While not a typical scenario, if a Service Animal or Assistance Animal is banned from campus, the individual with a disability will have the right to engage in an interactive process to determine if effective participation can occur with other appropriate accommodations.