The University of Chicago Human Resources

Pet Policy

Policy Statement

The University of Chicago is committed to prioritizing the health, wellbeing, and safety of all members of the community and to preserving the University’s grounds, buildings, and other property. In the interest of maintaining a healthy work, learning, and research environment, the University prohibits individuals from bringing pets inside any University-controlled buildings except for exempted animals as described below. Restriction of pets inside University-controlled buildings is especially critical in biomedical research facilities (e.g., clinical and laboratory settings) due to the sensitive nature of the work that occurs in those settings.

While on outdoor University-controlled property, pets and exempted animals must be attended and restrained at all times. Pets and exempted animals are allowed on outdoor University controlled-property provided they are not aggressive or reasonably perceived by others as aggressive, do not interfere with the use of the outdoor grounds by others, and are under the control of the owner or the owner’s designee at all times, including by remaining under restraint by leash or lead.

The Law

The City of Chicago Municipal Code (Chapter 7-12) requires owners to keep their animals under restraint by a leash or lead at all times when outside of their property line. The University intends to follow this policy in University-controlled facilities located outside the City of Chicago, in each case subject to local laws and building restrictions.

Purview

This policy applies to all University-controlled property, including but not limited to academic and research buildings, administrative offices, outdoor spaces of the campus and quadrangles located in Hyde Park and the City of Chicago, and at other University-controlled facilities beyond these locations, including  international centers and campuses, in each case subject to local laws and building restrictions. University residential buildings and grounds managed by University Housing should refer to either the Facilities Services or the Housing & Residence Life specific policies, depending on the type of housing in question.

This policy applies to all pets, unless specifically exempted (see the "Exempted Animals" segment of this document, below).

Definitions

Assistance Animal

An Assistance Animal is an animal that provides emotional support, wellbeing, or companionship that alleviates or mitigates symptoms of a disability. Unlike Service Animals, Assistance Animals are: (1) not individually trained to perform work or tasks; (2) not limited to dogs and can be other species of animal; (3) only permitted on campus with prior written University approval as an accommodation; and (4) generally only permitted in University housing (not classrooms, labs, dining facilities, offices, etc.). Assistance Animals on campus require approval. The approval process for students is conducted by Student Disability Services; for faculty, other academic appointees, and postdoctoral researchers, it is conducted by Equal Opportunity Programs; and for staff it is conducted by Employee and Labor Relations.

Attended and Restrained

Attended and restrained means in the immediate vicinity of an owner and either on a leash of six feet or less, in a cage, or, in the case of a Service Animal that has been trained, controlled by the handler’s voice. To be considered attended, a pet or exempted animal may not be left tied up without the owner or owner’s designee present.

Service Animal

A Service Animal is an animal, ordinarily a dog, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. These tasks may include but are not limited to: guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sound, pulling a wheelchair, carrying and/or retrieving dropped items, etc.

A Service Animal may accompany its owner on University property at all times except under rare circumstances where health or safety may be compromised.

University-controlled Property

University-controlled property is property that is owned, operated, occupied, or maintained by the University, other than property that the University leases to third parties. The Midway Plaisance is owned and controlled by the City of Chicago.

Exempted Animals

The following animals are permitted on University-controlled property:

• Assistance Animals
• Service Animals
• Animals that are officially part of the University’s teaching, research, and/or clinical programs
• Service Animals-in-training
• Fish and invertebrates in containers of ten gallons or less, at the discretion of Facilities Services
• On-duty police dogs and horses
• Therapy dogs or trained detection dogs officially used in the hospital or during programmatic offerings on campus

Procedures

For Immediate Assistance

When an animal on University-controlled property presents a clear and immediate danger to person or property, call 911 or contact the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) at (773) 702-8181 (or 123 from a campus telephone).

Unattended or Unrestrained Animals

Individuals who are concerned about an unattended or unrestrained animal on the Hyde Park campus may report the concern to the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD). When a UCPD officer observes or becomes aware of an unrestrained or unattended animal, a reasonable attempt will be made to locate the animal’s owner. If the owner is located, the Chicago Police Department may issue a municipal ordinance violation and other University disciplinary measures may be invoked. Repeated infractions could lead to loss of the privilege to have a pet on campus. If attempts to find the animal’s owner are unsuccessful, the officer will contact the City of Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control. Owners will be responsible for all impoundment fees.

If a particular pet or exempted animal, including a Service Animal, behaves in a way that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, has a history of such behavior, or is not under the control of the handler, then that animal may be excluded from campus.

Animal Bites and Attacks

To report an animal bite, contact the UCPD at (773) 702-8181 (or 123 from a campus telephone) and seek medical attention immediately. The University may seek restitution for any animal-related harm to others caused by animal bites and attacks. Medical costs of injury are the sole responsibility of the owner of the animal that caused the harm.

Damage to Property

The University may seek restitution for any animal-related damage to University-controlled property. The repair or replacement cost of damaged property is the sole responsibility of the owner of the animal that caused the damage.

Exception Requests

Requests for exceptions to this policy should be submitted in writing to the Associate Provost for Equal Opportunity Programs at equalopportunity@uchicago.edu. The Associate Provost will consult, as needed, with relevant campus partners. Exception requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Responsibilities

Facilities Services	Coordinate specific actions related to unauthorized animals in University buildings.
University of Chicago Police (UCPD)	Coordinate emergency response and law enforcement services.
Dean, Associate Dean, Department Chair	Communicate this policy to faculty, other academic appointees, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students in their division or department. Monitor compliance with this policy in their division or department.
Environmental Health and Safety	Work with UCPD, Risk Management, and Equal Opportunity Programs to assist with the interpretation and enforcement of this policy.
Equal Opportunity Programs	As necessary, advise and assist the other responsible offices in the administration of this policy. Provide information to the University community regarding service animals.
Pet Owner	Refrain from bringing animals into University-controlled buildings, except as specifically exempted by this policy. Keep animals on campus attended and restrained at all times. Owners are responsible for the licensing, behavior, actions, medical care, shelter, and general health of their animal. Owners or handlers are responsible for the removal of excrement deposited by their animals on University property.

 

Responsible Offices

Because of the varied responsibilities surrounding this subject, the following offices have been named “Responsible Offices” for this policy. Their responsibilities are:

• For medical and other emergencies, and matters of campus and other laws and regulations, the University of Chicago Police Department;
• For environmental issues, and those surrounding the health and safety of the University community, Environmental Health and Safety;
• For issues surrounding service animals and assistance animal approval, Student Disability Services, Employee and Labor Relations, and Equal Opportunity Programs.

Contacts

Direct any general questions to your unit’s administrative office. If you have questions about specific issues, contact the following offices:

 

Subject	Contact	Contact Information
Damage to University Facilities or Grounds	Facilities Services	https://facilities.uchicago.edu/services/campus_services/
Emergencies and Other Immediate Assistance	University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD)	123 from a campus telephone (773) 702-8181
Service Animals	Student Disability Services	Students: https://disabilities.uchicago.edu/
	Employee & Labor Relations	Staff: elrelations@uchicago.edu
	Equal Opportunity Programs	Faculty/Other Academic Appointees/Postdoctoral Researchers: equalopportuinity@uchicago.edu
Assistance Animal Approval	Student Disability Services	Students: https://disabilities.uchicago.edu/
	Employee & Labor Relations	Staff: elrelations@uchicago.edu
	Equal Opportunity Programs	Faculty/Other Academic Appointees/Postdoctoral Researchers: equalopportuinity@uchicago.edu
Health and Safety	Environmental Health and Safety	(773) 702-9999
Local Leash Laws	University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD)	123 from a campus telephone (773) 702-8181
Nuisance Complaints	University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD)	123 from a campus telephone (773) 702-8181
Research Animals	Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)/Animal Resources Center (ARC)	iacuc@uchicago.edu

 

Questions about this Policy

For questions or clarifications related to this policy and its application, contact Equal Opportunity Programs at equalopportunity@uchicago.edu.

Related Policies and Resources

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy (Personnel Policy U213): https://humanresources.uchicago.edu/fpg/policies/200/p213.shtml

City of Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cacc.html

Housing & Residence Life Discipline Policy: https://college.uchicago.edu/housing-residence-life/policies-and-procedures

Municipal Code of Chicago: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2481615

Policy on Service Animals and Assistance Animals for Student with Disabilities: https://disabilities.uchicago.edu/animal-policy/

Residential Services Policy: https://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.cloudfront.net/facilities/pdfs/pet_policy_and_pet_registration.pdf

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/civil-rights-center/statutes/section-504-rehabilitation-act-of-1973