Policy Number: L11.102 Approved Date: March 6, 2017 Review Date: March 6, 2022 Leeward Community College Animals on Campus Policy Introduction: This policy establishes regulations regarding the management of and responsibilities for all domestic, service, feral, and wild animals found in the buildings and on the grounds of Leeward Community College s main campus in Pearl City and satellite campus in Waianae. This policy is not applicable to animals related to instructional and/or research activity or to animals used by law enforcement/emergency personnel in the performance of their official duties. Related Statutes and Policies: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended Hawaii Revised Statutes: Title 347, Chapter 2.5; Title 347, Chapter 13; Title 711, Chapters 1100-1110.5 University of Hawaii Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidelines University of Hawaii at Manoa Policy M11.102 Animals on Campus University of Hawaii at Manoa Feral Cat Management Program University of Hawaii at Hilo Animals on Campus Policy Hawaii Community College Policy Haw 2.100 Pets on Campus Policy Objectives: The primary objectives of this policy are; 1) to provide and promote a safe and healthy learning and working environment; 2) to ensure that potential animalrelated concerns are identified and properly mitigated; 3) to reduce potential risk, liability, and complaints resulting from animals on campus; and 4) to emphasize the campus community s shared role in the responsibility and stewardship in providing a clean, attractive, and welcoming campus environment. Definitions: For this policy, the following definitions shall apply: Domestic Animal: An animal that has been trained or adapted to living in a human environment. Such animals include, but are not limited to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and other types of household pets. Feral Animal: A once-domesticated animal that has reverted to an untamed state. Feral animals select specific areas on the campus grounds as their habitat and gather/reside in colonies, flocks, or packs. While this term may include such animals as dogs, pigs, and birds, for the purpose of this policy all 1
references to Feral Animals are synonymous with the term Feral Cats. Feral Cats are the offspring of lost/abandoned pet cats or the offspring of feral cats. Service Animal: A dog, or in rare cases a miniature horse, that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. Service animals are working animals, not pets. A companion, comfort, or therapy animal does not qualify as a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are viewed as a domestic animal or pet. Stray Animal: A loose domesticated or once domesticated animal that has reverted to an untamed state, but for the purpose of this policy does not gather/reside in any specific area. These animals are thought of as transient in nature and may randomly enter/exit campus grounds and buildings. Vermin/Rodents: Pests or nuisance animals, such as cockroaches, mice, and rates, which pose a potential threat to humans or human activity by spreading diseases. Wild Animal: A non-domesticated animal living in its natural habitat. Animal Control: The following animal control policies apply to these different types of animals: Domestic Animals o Domestic animals are not allowed on campus property, to include interiors of buildings, grounds, courtyards, common areas, or parking lots. o The abandonment of any animal on campus grounds is strictly forbidden. Feral Cats o The goal of the feral cat portion of this policy is to care and provide maintenance for the existing adult feral cat population through humane and compassionate means. Ultimately, the feral cat population will be reduced due to natural causes. The existing feral cat population and their colonies will be allowed residency on campus grounds provided: They do not represent a health hazard, cause property damage, or create a public nuisance. They are sterilized (spayed or neutered). That offspring (kittens) are trapped and taken to the local Humane Society for adoption. Kittens of feral cats will not be allowed to inhabit campus property. They are under the care of an authorized Feral Cat Caregiver (FCC). o Feral Cat Caregiver (FCC): Defined as a Leeward Community College employee who agrees to abide by the requirements of the FCC position for a specified feral cat colony. 2
Registers with the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services on an annual basis by June 30 th of each year. Agrees to comply with the following requirements regarding the specified cat colony supported: The feeding and watering of feral cats shall be restricted to feeding stations/areas that are located in designated locations as determined by the College for that sole purpose. Feeding shall be done on a set schedule once per day using only dry food. The use of moist food is prohibited. Feeding stations need to be kept clean with food and water containers removed immediately following the daily feeding time. Feral cat waste shall be removed and properly disposed by the FCC. It is the responsibility of the FCC to arrange for the removal of fecal matter if he or she is personally unable to perform the task. A feral cat colony census will be taken by the FCC and submitted to the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services by June 30 th of each year. o Where possible and feasible, the campus will erect barriers near buildings to deter feral cats from colonizing these areas and to avoid the potential for human conflict. o Unauthorized individuals (employees, students, or the general public) who seek to feed feral cats will be asked to cease and desist in such activities. Should such individuals ignore such requests, they may be subject to escort off campus grounds and/or trespassed from campus. o The aforementioned program requirements are the sole responsibility of the FCC. If feral cats or the colony are not cared for in the manner previously prescribed above, the feral cats (and offspring) will be classified as neglected and a potential campus risk and subject to immediate campus intervention, to include the entrapment and relocation of the feral cats by an animal control contractor. Stray Animals o Any animal that is not maintained by a FCC, will be considered a stray animals on campus, and will be considered a potential campus risk and subject to immediate campus intervention, to include the entrapment and relocation of the stray animal by an animal control contractor. Service Animals o Leeward Community College complies with federal and state disability civil rights laws and permits service animals where participants and members of the public are normally allowed, including food service areas. o The care and supervision of a service animal is the responsibility of the person using the animal s services. o A service animal is not required to wear a collar, tag, vest, or other identifying equipment indicating that it is a trained service animal. o All requirements for the presence of animals in public places (vaccinations, licensure, ID tags, etc.) mandated by state or local ordinances must be followed. 3
o Service animals must be on a leash and/or under the control of a responsible person at all times. However, a leash may not be required if the disabled person is unable to use one, if using a leash would harm him/her, or if the animal must perform a task without the use of a leash. o The individual who requires the use of a service animal is responsible for the cost of repair for any damage caused by the service animal to College property, including any expenses incurred due to the need for commercial pest control (e.g., fleas, ticks). o Fecal matter deposited by a service animal must be removed immediately and disposed of properly. The burden is on the individual who requires the use of a service animal to arrange for removal of fecal matter if he or she is personally unable to perform the task. o The College may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health or safety restrictions, where service animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of a program or research. Such restricted areas may include, but are not limited to, food preparation areas, certain laboratories, mechanical rooms or janitorial closets, classrooms with research animals, and areas where protective clothing is required. Access to restricted areas may be granted on a caseby-case basis by contacting the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services office. o The College has the authority to request the removal of a service animal from its facilities or grounds if the animal becomes unruly or disruptive, unclean, and/or unhealthy to the extent that the animal s behavior or condition poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or otherwise causes a fundamental alteration in the College s services, programs, or activities. If the behavior or condition persists, the individual who requires the use of the service animal may be directed not to bring the animal into public campus areas until steps are taken to mitigate the situation. Interventions may include the muzzling of a barking dog or refresher training for the service animal and user. o Members of the Leeward Community College community shall: Allow a service animal to accompany the person with a disability at all times and everywhere on campus except where service animals are specifically prohibited. Not touch or feed a service animal unless invited to do so; do not deliberately startle a service animal; and/or do not separate or attempt to separate a service animal from its user. Vermin o Leeward Community College s vermin control program is consistent with the University of Hawaii Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines. These guidelines provide specific recommended procedures as it relates to live capture, kill trapping, bait stations, and non-target species, whether performed by the campus Operations and Maintenance unit or by private contractors. 4
Wild Animals o No intervention will be taken with wild animals that are not a risk and do not represent a hazard, cause property damage, or create a public nuisance, and that do not involve human intervention. The trapping, caging, displaying, and/or use of wild animals on campus for any purpose other than educational instruction or by authorized individuals is prohibited. Prohibited human intervention includes, but is not limited to, feeding, watering, building of shelters, and injection of medication. o Wild animals that are a potential risk, represent a hazard, cause property damage, create a nuisance, or otherwise pose a potential conflict for humans shall be regulated, controlled, or humanely relocated when possible, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations using private contractors whenever possible. Responsibilities The Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services or designated representative(s) will be responsible for providing the final determination on the potential risk, potential hazard, potential for property damage, or potential for public nuisance of any animal on campus property and shall provide for general oversight of the implementation of this policy. Disability accommodations for a student to any provision of this policy can be requested by contacting the Kako`o `Ike (KI) Program Coordinator by telephone at (808) 455-0421, by email at kprogram@hawaii.edu, or by visiting the KI Office in the Learning Commons, Room 213. Disability accommodations for an employee to any provisions of this policy can be requested by contacting the EEO/AA Officer by telephone at (808) 455-0326 or by visiting the Human Resources Office in AD-121. Feral Cat Caregivers (FCC) are solely responsible for the feral cats or colony under their control, maintenance, and care. Required responsibilities include; providing annual FCC registration and feral cat census information to the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services, ensuring the sterilization of feral cats under their care, providing day-to-day feeding and watering of the colony, maintaining and cleaning the designated feeding stations, cleaning and removal of the feeding and watering containers, and the removal and proper disposal of feral cat fecal matter. Operations and Maintenance will provide support services, as necessary, that promote and maintain a safe and healthy learning and working environment. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assistance with the entrapment and relocation of animals, erection of animal barriers, the removal and disposal of random animal fecal matter, coordination of contracted services pertaining to animal control entrapment and removal, and coordination of contracted services as it relates to the campus vermin control program. 5