Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Policy

Established: August 2025
Date Last Revised: June 2026
Next Review: June 2029
Inquiries: disability-services@mtholyoke.edu
Implementation Guidance: https://connect.mtholyoke.edu/emotional-support-animals-esa
Approved by: Senior Team
Responsible Office: Dean of Students Office
Responsible Senior Staff Member: Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students or designee

Statement

Mount Holyoke College recognizes that Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are necessary to provide individuals with mental health disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy College housing.  Mount Holyoke College is committed to allowing ESAs in College housing while maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not trained to perform disability-specific tasks and are not considered service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). ESAs are considered an accommodation which can be provided, under appropriate circumstances, through Disability Services.

Purpose

This policy explains the specific requirements and responsibilities applicable to an individual’s use of an ESA in College housing.

Scope / Responsibilities

This policy applies solely to ESAs that are necessary in campus housing. It does not apply to “service animals” as defined by the ADAAA (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008), and whose presence on campus is explained in the Service Animal Policy.

All Mount Holyoke College students requesting an ESA must comply with this policy, Disability Services Emotional Support Animal Agreement, and the procedures established by Disability Services. Disability Services oversees ESA accommodations in coordination with Residential Life. Students have the responsibility to provide documentation from a qualified health care provider regarding their disability and the functional impacts that an ESA would support. Failure to abide by processes laid out within this policy and the Disability Services Emotional Support Animal Agreement may constitute a violation of the Student Handbook, which could result in disciplinary action, including the possibility of removal of the ESA from campus.

Definitions

Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An animal that provides therapeutic emotional support for an individual with a mental health disability. Unlike service animals that are trained to perform specific tasks that are important to the independence or safety of their disabled handler, ESAs are generally not trained to perform disability-specific tasks. Their therapeutic support is a function of their presence and interaction with the person with a mental health disability.  Emotional Support Animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.

Service Animal: A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. Service Animals are governed separately under the Mount Holyoke College Service Animal Policy.

Policy Statement

The College is committed to ensuring that students requesting ESAs have equitable access to accommodations while maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community. Students who are approved to have ESAs on campus must follow the documentation, registration, and housing procedures outlined in this policy and affiliated Agreement.  Mount Holyoke College reserves the right to amend this policy as circumstances require. 

Policy

Eligibility and Documentation

• To request an ESA, students  must connect with Disability Services and complete the interactive accommodations request process.
• A licensed qualified healthcare provider must document the student’s disability symptoms and clearly connect the ESA to alleviating the functional impacts of that disability. Documentation must include how the animal is medically necessary to provide specific support or comfort relevant to the student’s needs.  Disability Services reserves the right to request additional documentation as needed.
• Approval of an accommodation for an emotional support animal is generally for one animal. A second animal must provide a separate therapeutic benefit, unless the species has documented needs for companionship (for example, rats), in which case consideration may be given for a pair.
• Disability Services will determine on a case-by-case basis whether the presence of an Emotional Support Animal is reasonable. A request for an ESA may be denied as unreasonable if the presence of the animal: 
  • imposes an undue financial and/or administrative burden;
  • fundamentally alters College housing policies and activities; 
  • poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or would cause substantial property damage, including College property;
  • poses health risks from zoonotic diseases or safety concerns regarding containment that cannot be sufficiently mitigated for inclusion in the communal living setting.
• A student approved to have an ESA may not bring the ESA to campus until the student has signed the ESA agreement, provided all requested veterinary records showing the ESA is up-to-date on any and all relevant vaccines, and Disability Services coordinates implementation with Residence Life staff.

Types of Animals

• ESAs are not pets, but they are typically animals commonly kept in households as pets. 
• An ESA may be a dog, cat, small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, fish, turtle, or other small, domesticated animal that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure.
• Generally, dogs must be at least 6 months of age before being brought into the residence hall and be house-broken. Cats must be at least 6 months of age and litter-box trained. 
• Under recent guidance from HUD, reptiles (other than turtles), barnyard animals, monkeys, and other non-domesticated animals are not considered common household animals. 
• Emotional support animals must be appropriate for a typical residence hall room. Disability Services will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

Licensing

If the ESA is residing on campus it must meet the town of South Hadley and/or Massachusetts licensing requirements and wear tags designating this license.

Animal Health and Care

• Emotional Support Animals must have documented an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian and be current on applicable vaccinations. 
• As part of the accommodation request process, students must provide vet records indicating that their ESA is healthy and that any applicable vaccinations are current, and continue to annually provide updated documentation for the ESA to remain on campus.
• In accordance with local ordinance, all ESAs eligible for rabies shots must receive the immunization, dogs and cats must wear a rabies vaccination tag. 
• Mount Holyoke College requires updated vet records annually regarding your ESA’s vaccinations to maintain updated records. 
• Mount Holyoke College has authority to direct that the ESA receive veterinary attention in appropriate circumstances.  
• ESAs must be clean and well groomed. Students may not bathe or clean their ESA, or its cage, crate, or accessories, in bathroom sinks, bathtubs, showers, or kitchen sinks. An ESA that requires bathing must be bathed in laundry room sinks. 
• Students must, at all times, take measures for flea and odor control. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are detected through inspection, the residence hall will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a pest control service approved by the College. 

Animal Behavior

• The ESA must be well-behaved at all times, whether in the student’s residence hall room or anywhere else sanctioned on campus, and cannot pose an undue risk to the health or safety of others.
• ESAs that are out of control, displaying aggressive or vicious behavior towards people, are excessively loud, scratch or damage campus property, or are not housebroken may be required to leave campus.
• The behavior, noise, odor, and waste of the ESA must not exceed reasonable standards and these factors must not create an unreasonable disruption for residents or Residential Life staff. 
• The ESA must be under the student’s control at all times. An ESA that is outside the student’s room shall have a harness, leash, or tether, or be caged at all times. 
• If it is species-appropriate for the ESA to be walking/participating in open-air activities, the animal must be tethered with a harness, leash, or other appropriate carrier (backpack, stroller) between the room and in the lawn areas (grassy areas) outside at all times.  The ESA must be under the owners control at all times. 
• Students with ESAs that need to use relief areas are encouraged to use the lawn areas (grassy areas) for their relief. Waste must be picked up using a bag and disposed of in the pet waste receptacles provided. Each residence hall basement has a specific trash bin for animal waste. This includes dog waste bags, rabbit bedding, cat litter, etc. Landscaped areas with mulch or rocks are not appropriate for ESA relief. Students with questions or additional needs regarding relief areas are encouraged to contact Residence Life.

Financial Responsibility

• The College will not ask for or require a student with a disability to pay a fee or surcharge for an approved ESA.
• A student who has an ESA on campus is financially responsible for property damage caused by their ESA beyond reasonable wear and tear to the same extent the College charges other individuals for damages beyond reasonable wear and tear, including but not limited to the cost of repairs, replacement, or cleaning of facilities (including pest fumigation measures) or furnishings.  
• A person who has an ESA on campus is financially responsible for any bodily injury or personal injury caused to other persons by the ESA. 
• If the College is required to assume responsibility for a student’s ESA due to the student’s illness, incapacitation, or other emergency circumstances, because the animal has been abandoned, or if a student is otherwise unable to properly care for their ESA, all costs incurred by the College will be charged to the student’s account. 

Housing Requirements

• Emotional Support Animals may only be in the owner’s assigned residence hall room. ESAs are not allowed in any other portion of the residence hall, including common spaces, hallways or other students' rooms.
• ESAs can be left under the care of the designated carer, though the ESA must remain in the owner’s room. They cannot travel to or reside in the residence of the carer nor be left in the care of another resident for extended periods. 
• An ESA may not be placed on, or come in direct contact with campus furniture such as chairs, couches, tables, or desks outside of the student’s residence hall room.
• Emotional Support Animals generally cannot be in other Mount Holyoke facilities, including dining, library, classrooms, amphitheater, or other College facilities. 
• An ESA generally is not allowed in any campus vehicles of any kind, including Lyons Lift, airport shuttles, and Mountain Day shuttles. An ESA is generally not allowed to accompany a student to any campus events or activities. 
• A student is expected to store their ESA’s food or any and all supplies in their residence hall room, in appropriate sealed containers to avoid attracting pests or creating foul odor. The ESA’s food may not be stored in common kitchen areas.  Live food is not permitted under any circumstances. 
• Emotional Support Animals must be caged/crated or otherwise restrained when not being held or handled by the owner, when the student opens their residence hall room door, or when the animal is left alone in the residence hall room. This is for the safety of the ESA as well as college personnel, who may need to enter the student’s room to perform services and maintenance or respond to an emergency. Please refer to the Student Handbook for the College’s complete Entry policies. Mount Holyoke College is not responsible for the ESA if it escapes the student’s room and/or the building. The student will be responsible for any damage caused by an escaped ESA. 
• As appropriate to the care of the animal species, emotional support animals may not be left unattended for extended periods or overnight, maintaining adherence to the above point about animal containment in the absence of the owner.  
• A student with an ESA is required to inform all persons entering their room of the presence of the animal. 
• Emotional support animals must be removed from the College premises during any recess/break period where the owner has not been permitted to remain in campus housing.
• Students with ESAs will not get advanced notice of fire drills. ESAs also need to get acclimated to the sound of the alarm and practice as their owners do in a fire drill. Fire drills are an excellent opportunity for the student and their ESA to practice safely evacuating the building together. In case of an actual emergency, first responders are trained to prioritize human life. 
• Students must agree to abide by all equally applicable residential policies that are unrelated to the individual’s disability such as assuring that the ESA does not unduly interfere with the routine activities of the residence hall or cause difficulties for individuals who reside there.
• Should the Emotional Support Animal be removed from the premises for any reason, the student is expected to fulfill their housing obligations for the remainder of the housing agreement, unless they themselves, for whatever reason, are not able to fulfil the remainder of the agreement.

Emergency Contact

• Students may designate an emergency contact, on file with Disability Services and Residence Life.  An emergency contact is a person the student with an ESA designates to take care of their ESA should they need to leave campus and/or be unable to care for their ESA due to a personal emergency. This person cannot be another student who resides in any Mount Holyoke College student housing.
• By listing an emergency contact the student is giving permission for Mount Holyoke College personnel to contact this person in case the student leaves campus or is unable to care for the ESA. The individual designated as that student’s emergency contact must then remove the ESA from the residence hall. In the case that a student does not have an emergency contact or the emergency contact is unable to take a student’s emotional support animal from campus in a timely manner, the College will take steps to have the ESA boarded at a local animal facility and the student will be responsible for any financial charges.

Roommate Notification and Housing Adjustments

• If a student approved for an ESA shares housing, room/suite/apartment-mate notification is required. This is part of the implementation process and occurs after the disabled student is approved for an ESA.  Upon implementation of an ESA, the College will inquire about a room/suite/apartment-mate, and will direct their room/suite/apartment-mate to complete a Notification Form.
• If another student has asthma, allergies or other medical conditions affected by the presence of the ESA that will be living in the room, they are asked to contact Disability Services.  The person impacted by the presence of the animal must provide medical documentation to Disability Services to support their reported medical condition. Once received, Mount Holyoke College will consider the needs of both individuals in resolving the issue. Disability Services may collaborate with the Office of Residential Life to determine a solution, which may include Residential Life adjusting housing placements. 
• If, unrelated to a medical condition or disability, an ESA’s presence in a particular residence facility will present a hardship for other residents of the facility, Residential Life will work with the students to reach reasonable outcomes for all parties, which may include adjusting housing placements as needed.

Policy Violations and Removal of an ESA

• Failure to comply with this policy and the Disability Services ESA Agreement may result in disciplinary action under the Student Handbook, which could include removal of the ESA from campus. An infraction may be treated as a community standards violation and handled within the campus conduct process with support or input as may be appropriate from Disability Services. If the ESA poses a threat to the safety of others, Public Safety may be part of a collaborative team to determine the outcome of the behavior.
• The owner is required to ensure the animal is well cared for at all times.  Any evidence of mistreatment or abuse may result in immediate removal of the ESA and/or discipline for the responsible individual.
• If an ESA is removed from Mount Holyoke College facilities or programs in accordance with applicable federal housing administration regulations, the owner of the ESA will be responsible for securing a placement for the animal.
• In the event that an ESA is directed to be removed from Mount Holyoke College facilities or programs the student approved for the accommodation is invited to work with Disability Services to explore equally effective accommodations. 

Supporting Documents

Procedures

1. Register with Disability Services
Complete the process for registering with Disability Services. Or, if you are already registered with Disability Services and have had your initial accommodation request appointment, please schedule an Additional Accommodation Request appointment in Accommodate.  Please note that approval of an ESA request is not guaranteed.

2. Submit Documentation
Provide documentation connecting the ESA to the functional impacts of a student’s disability.  Please note that for-purchase services that generate letters for emotional support animals do not meet documentation requirements and are not accepted. Please see Disability Services’s documentation requirements.

3. Meet with Disability Services
Meet with an Accommodation Coordinator to discuss the request for an ESA.  As with all accommodation requests, the Accommodation Coordinator will take into account the student’s self-report and information that the student’s provider reported in the student’s documentation.

4. Provide Additional Required Documents/Information
Once a student has met with an Accommodation Coordinator and has been approved for an ESA, the student needs to provide additional information about the ESA.  An ESA is not allowed to be on campus until all necessary information has been provided and the student has received an email confirmation from Disability Services.
Additional documents/information, which must be provided annually, includes:
 

• A signed Disability Service’s ESA Agreement
• Veterinary records, or if applicable, proof of purchase indicating the animal is in good health
• Emergency contact information
• Roommate Information

Related Policies

• Animal Policy
• Service Animal Policy

Other Resources

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Disability Services Resource Webpage on ESAs
• Fair Housing Act (FHA) – ESA accommodation in housing
• Massachusetts Disability Rights in Housing