Non-Research Animals: BAS-0002

Effective Date: August 1, 2015

Last Revision Date: April 10, 2019

Non-Research Animals 

(Policy BAS-0002)

I. Purpose of the Policy

Non-research animals are restricted on the University of California (UC), Santa Cruz campus (as defined in this policy) in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for members of the campus community to study, work and live; to preserve the flora, fauna, and natural beauty of the campus; to protect research projects being carried out on campus lands; to ensure the protection of the campus Natural Reserve and Habitat Reserve areas; to comply with local, state, and UC animal ordinances and environmental quality standards; and to ensure public safety. This policy provides general provisions and guidelines specific to non-research animals that are not subject to the Service/Support Animals policy DSAS-003.

II. Definitions

Non-research Animal: Any animal, either personally owned or wild, in the possession of, or under the control of, or brought onto university property by any academic, staff, student, or visitor of UC Santa Cruz that is not an approved research animal as defined in this policy.

Research Animal: Any animal used in university research, teaching, testing, or experimentation that has been approved by and is overseen by the appropriate university authorities as specified in the IACUC Policies and Guidelines.

Professional Working Animal: Any animal serving a specific university purpose that requires specialized training or specific capabilities and is not an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service dog.

Small Pet: Smaller non-research animal traditionally kept in a cage, display case, aquarium or other container designed for the purpose of housing birds, fish, reptiles, amphibia, or crustacea.

UC Santa Cruz Campus: All land owned, leased or otherwise controlled by UC Santa Cruz (including the Coastal Science Campus) such as buildings, grounds, parking lots, and all developed and undeveloped lands.

Coastal Science Campus: The 98 acres of UC Santa Cruz-owned property containing the Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory, including its Seymour Marine Discovery Center, the Younger Lagoon Reserve, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Wildlife Facility, and other undeveloped lands. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center laboratory is a 2.5-acre federal inholding on the Coastal Science Campus (see map in Appendix A).

Inholding: A parcel of land not owned by the Regents of the University of California, which is surrounded completely by land owned by the Regents of the University of California.

Natural Reserve: A portion of the UC Santa Cruz campus within the UC Natural Reserve System, which is a network of protected natural areas throughout California established to provide undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service. 

Habitat Reserve: Portion of the UC Santa Cruz campus retained as high quality grassland and forest habitat for the California red-legged frog and the Ohlone tiger beetle (see map in Appendix A).

Service Animal: 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, unless otherwise provided by law. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

Support Animal: Animals that individuals with disabilities utilize for emotional support, well-being, or comfort. Because they are not individually trained to perform work or tasks, support animals are not service animals.

Therapy Animal: Any dog that has been trained and certified to reliably provide affection and comfort to individuals or groups of people in stressful situations. A therapy dog’s primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with that dog and to respond positively to that contact. Therapy dogs and their handlers participate in dog-assisted activities/therapy in a variety of settings with people who may or may not have a disability. A therapy dog is usually the personal pet of the person handling the dog at the event. Therapy dogs are not service animals or support animals and are not exempt from pet-restricted housing rules.

Animal Posing a Threat: An animal whose behavior is perceived as threatening the safety of other people or animals. Threatening behaviors include but are not limited to baring teeth with ears back, growling, snapping, biting or nipping, scratching, jumping up and knocking a person off balance or down, and chasing people or other animals.

Animal Creating a Nuisance: An animal that is creating a nuisance is repeatedly exhibiting behavior that is disturbing, detrimental to, or interfering with the activities of people in the vicinity. Nuisance behaviors include but are not limited to frequent barking other noises, being at large (off leash) in the community, especially in other campus residents’ yards, or damaging private property through digging, chewing, etc.

Animal Posing a Health Risk: An animal that is incontinent or not housebroken, flea infested or has other transmittable parasites.

III. Detailed Policy Statement

A. General Provisions

1. Non-research animals, including dogs, cats and other personally-owned animals are prohibited on the UC Santa Cruz campus (as defined in Section II Definitions above) unless specifically exempted.

2. In situations where an animal is exempted in accordance with applicable laws and UC Santa Cruz policy and procedures, UC Santa Cruz reserves the right to rescind the exemption if the animal is perceived to be posing a threat or health risk, or creating a nuisance.

3. All exemptions for service or support animals will be handled in accordance with the  Service/Support Animals policy DSAS-0003.

B. Exemptions

The following categories of non-research animals may be exempt in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures:

Service/Support Animals: See the Service/Support Animals policy and procedures DSAS-0003.

Therapy Animals: See Therapy Animal Event policy and procedures DSAS-0002. 

Professional Working Animals: See section II.B.3 of the Non-research Animals procedures BAS-0002. 

Animals in University Housing: See section II.B.4 of the Non-research Animals procedures BAS-0002.

Livestock: See section II.B.5 of the Non-research Animals procedures BAS-0002.

Horses: See section II.B.6 of the Non-research Animals procedures BAS-0002.

Please refer to the Non-research Animal procedures BAS-0002 for more information.

IV. Getting Help

If you need help with a Service or Support animal, see the Service/Support Animals policy DSAS-0003.

If you need help with ...	Contact ...
… registering an animal with the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, or for questions about vaccination, licensure and/or ID tag requirements	SC County Animal Shelter  (831) 454-7200 http://www.scanimalshelter.org
… UC Santa Cruz, City, or County regulations and general resources pertaining to animals	University Police Department  (831) 459-2231 http://police.ucsc.edu
…submitting a complaint about a non-research animal on campus that is in violation of this policy	AVC Risk & Safety Services (831) 459-3031
… reporting a non-research animal that is posing an imminent threat	Call 911
... general questions about policies and procedures	AVC Risk & Safety Services (831) 459-3031

  

V. Applicability and Authority

This policy applies to all academics, staff, contractors, students, and visitors on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

The Service/Support Animal policy DSAS-0003 further clarifies but does not supersede the Non-research Animal Policy BAS-0002 as it pertains to service and support animals for individuals with disabilities.

This policy supersedes UC Santa Cruz Policy SPS0005: UC Santa Cruz Non-Research Animals on Campus, dated 6/10/1997.

The Vice Chancellor for the Division of Finance, Operations and Administration (FOA) is the campus authority for the UC Santa Cruz Non-Research Animal policy, with implementation authority delegated to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Risk and Safety Services. 

This policy was reviewed and approved by Campus Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor Galloway on 07/24/2015. This policy will be reviewed every five years.

VI.  Related Policies/References for More Information

Implementation Procedures

Non-Research Animal Procedures BAS-0002

Related Policies and Procedures

Service/Support Animal policy DSAS-003

Service/Support Animal procedures DSAS-003

Therapy Animal Event policy DSAS-002

Therapy Animal Event procedures DSAS-002

References

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

California Fair Employment and Housing Act (CalFEHA)

California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Chapter 10, Sections 100000-100015

University of California Code 55

California Coastal Commission, UCSC Coastal Long Range Development Plan (CLRDP)

Santa Cruz City Municipal Code, Title 8, Animals

Santa Cruz County Code, Vol. 1, Title 6, Animals

Related Forms

Forms available at http://ada.ucsc.edu:

Guidelines and Agreement: Service or Support Animal in University Housing

Guidelines and Agreement: Service or Support Animal in University Employment

Guidelines and Agreement: Service Animals for Commuting Students (non-Housing, non-Employment settings)

VII.  Revision History

April 10, 2019: Minor technical revisions and alignment of definitions and removal criteria with the Service/Support Animals DSAS-0003 and Therapy Animal Event DSAS-0002 policies.

August 8, 2017: Minor technical revisions, clarification to appeals and grievance procedures, and removed requirement for a distemper vaccination.

August 1, 2015: new policy

 

Non-research Animal Procedures

(Procedures BAS-0002)

I.  Overview

These procedures address non-research animals on the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz campus and include requirements for exempted animals, types of animals that are exempted and procedures for obtaining exemptions, procedures for submitting complaints/reporting violations, relevant authorities and contacts for assistance and enforcement, and consequences for policy violation. For a list of definitions and how to get help, refer to the UC Santa Cruz Non-research Animal Policy BAS-0002.

II. Procedure Details

A. Requirements for Exempted Animals

Animal owners are responsible for any harm caused by their animals and must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury. The care, supervision, and well-being of an exempted non-research animal on campus are the sole responsibility of the animal owner at all times. Owners of exempted non-research animals on campus must take responsibility for meeting all of the following requirements that apply:

1. 1. 1. 1. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies prior to first arrival on campus.
         2. Both dogs and cats must wear a collar with an identification tag bearing the owner’s name, address and either home or work phone number. Support cats that do not tolerate a collar may be micro-chipped (see Service/Support Animals policy and Procedures DSAS-0003). Pets found without proper identification may be considered strays and taken to a local animal shelter.
         3. Dogs and cats must by spayed or neutered, unless the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, SPCA or a veterinarian has issued an unaltered animal certificate.
         4. Dogs must be currently licensed and must display the tag issued by the licensing agency.
         5. Cats must wear a safety-approved collar with a bell whenever they are outside.
         6. Dogs must be on a leash and under the supervision and control of their owner at all times when in public spaces.
         7. If an animal exhibits unacceptable, aggressive, or disturbing behavior, the owner must take immediate effective action to correct the situation.
         8. It is the responsibility of the animal’s owner to properly dispose of any solid waste including cat litter and cage cleanings. The waste must be disposed of in a sealed bag in an outdoor trash container.

B. Types of Exempted Animals and Procedures for Exemptions

1.  Service/Support Animals

All policies and procedures related to service and support animals can be found in the Service/Support Animals policy and procedures DSAS-0003.

2.  Therapy Animals

Registered therapy dogs may be permitted on campus as a part of an approved therapy animal event. See the UC Santa Cruz Therapy Animal Policy and Procedures DSAS-002 for details.

3.  Professional Working Animals

Professional working animals that are on campus to perform university mission-critical work consistent with health and safety may be exempted. All working animals must be under the control of their handler (or confined if herd animals) and performing the work for which the animal was engaged. Examples of exempted professional working animals are search and rescue dogs, police dogs, detection dogs, cadaver dogs, and brush control goats. Individuals wishing to bring professional working animals to campus must get approval from the AVC of Risk and Safety Services prior to bringing the animals to campus. Approval will be based upon a balanced assessment of stakeholder interest and protection of the campus environment.

4. Animals in University Housing

In general, animals are not permitted in campus housing except for in the following circumstances:

Student Residences and Family Student Housing
No pets (except fish in a 10-gallon or smaller aquarium) are allowed in the residential communities. This prohibition applies to the resident and to any visitor regardless of the length of visit. The resident is liable for any damage caused by pets or containers holding pets.

University House and Provost Housing
Dogs and cats are allowed. Dogs may be exercised or walked within respective employee housing areas only and must be on leash at all times. Any feces deposited by animals must be collected immediately. Individuals wanting to keep other small household pets should contact their Employee Housing Manager to find out what is permitted in the leasehold agreement.

Employee-owned Residences
Cardiff Terrace/Hagar Court/Ranch View Terrace and owner-occupied residences at Laureate Court: Dogs and cats are allowed. Dogs may be exercised or walked in respective employee housing Common Areas and must be on leash at all times. Any feces deposited by animals must be collected immediately. Individuals wanting to keep other small household pets should contact the Employee Housing Manager to find out what is permitted in the leasehold agreement.

Employee Housing Rental Units
Individuals wanting to keep small pets should contact the Employee Housing Manager to find out what is permitted in the leasehold agreement.

5. Livestock

Cattle or other livestock are only permitted on campus as per lease agreements entered into by the university.

6. Horses

Horses are allowed on specified trails only (see map). Horses shall not be left unattended or tethered.

C. Submitting a Complaint/Reporting a Violation

In the interest of the health and safety of our campus community, UC Santa Cruz strongly encourages anyone who perceives an animal on campus to be a threat, health risk, or nuisance or to violate the policy in any other way to report this to the appropriate campus authorities.

If the animal appears to pose an imminent threat to personal safety, such as biting or causing panic/major disruption, call 911. In the event of a bite, the police may also need to contact Santa Cruz County Animal Control.

For non-urgent policy violations, please contact the Associate Vice Chancellor of Risk and Safety Services. Complaints should be made as soon as possible after an incident and should include any available photos/videos or other supporting evidence.

If the complaint pertains to a service animal, it will be handled in accordance with the Service and Support Animals policy and procedures DSAS-0003. Issues regarding animals in student housing will also be reviewed by the office of Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES), reserving the Associate Vice Chancellor CHES for final ruling on housing-related requests. Depending on the nature of the violation/complaint, additional offices may be involved in the investigation.

If an animal is determined to pose a threat or health risk, or be a nuisance, the appropriate campus officials will notify the animal’s owner of corrective action that must be taken or that the animal must be removed from campus and may be permanently banned. Campus officials will also engage the appropriate offices if disciplinary or legal action is required (as specified in section E below). There is no designated appeal process specific to the university's decision to restrict, remove or ban an exempted animal from campus. However, if an employee believes the decision to remove an exempted animal violates university policy, the employee may file a complaint with the appropriate university office.

All reports are confidential to the extent permitted by law and university policy.

D. Administrative and Enforcement Responsibilities

The Associate Vice Chancellor, Risk and Safety Services is designated responsibility for non-service/support animal-related exemptions outside of university-managed housing. The Associate Vice Chancellor CHES is designated responsibility for exemptions in all university-managed housing. 

The primary responsibility for coordinating the enforcement of the campus non-research animal policy lies with the Associate Vice Chancellor of Risk and Safety Services. Policy enforcement lies with the campus officials including managers and supervisors directly responsible for the affected areas. The UC Santa Cruz Police Department may also enforce the policy as appropriate. 

E. Consequences of Policy Violations

1. 1. 1. Resident students in violation of this policy may lose housing privileges and be subject to student disciplinary procedures.
      2. Non-resident students will be subject to student disciplinary procedures.
      3. Faculty and staff in employee-owned residences will be subject to local ordinances as well as any relevant leasehold agreements or governing documents such as Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) or community rules.
      4. University employees, staff and academics may be subject to administrative disciplinary procedures.
      5. Violators of this policy may be held criminally liable pursuant to applicable California Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, the California Code of Regulations, and the University of California Code.

F. Removal/Relocation of Exempted Non-research Animals

UC Santa Cruz may require the owner of an exempted non-research animal to remove their animal from campus for the following reasons:

Although animals will sometimes become ill unexpectedly, the university recommends that animals that are sick should not be brought into university facilities.

Conflicts regarding exempted animals and individuals with severe allergies, phobias, etc. will be addressed on a case-by-case basis (e.g., relocation to another university housing facility or an alternate office location).

Removal of exempted service/support animals is in accordance with the Service/Support Animals policy and procedures DSAS-0003.