Looking through crowds of students rushing to class, it is no longer a surprise to see a furry face in the mix.
According to Jean Fairbairn, director of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at Binghamton University, there has been an increase in the number of service animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESA) on campus in recent years, with a total of 15 currently registered with the SSD.
“Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals support equitable access, independence and health maintenance for the students who need them – and contribute in exciting ways to the rich diversity of our student population,” Fairbairn wrote in an email.
“Having a service animal on campus is a civil right under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,” Fairbairn said. This includes guide dogs or miniature horses for students with vision or hearing impairment or students who have seizures or panic attacks, and these animals are allowed everywhere on campus.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are also welcome on campus for individuals whose disabilities make it extremely difficult or impossible for them to live in their environment without such an accommodation. ESAs are usually restricted to residential halls only, but accommodations can be expanded, Fairbairn said.
He added that there are certain precautions students must take when approaching service animals, despite their friendliness, as they have a serious job to perform.
“Service Animals are not pets; they are working animals and need to remain focused on the tasks they’re performing to protect and assist their owner/handler,” Fairbairn wrote. “You should never talk to, pet or otherwise distract someone’s service animal.”
Carys Gilbert, a senior majoring in Asian studies, has had her German shepherd, Drago, for a year to help her with her severe anxiety. Gilbert said that just because other students can’t always see what Drago is doing to help her, that doesn’t mean that Drago isn’t doing a good job.
“A lot of people will try to pet him or will make noises that might distract him, and I think it’s vital people understand that when I say you can’t pet him, it’s not because I’m trying to be mean,” Gilbert said. “My safety and well-being relies on him staying focused on me and on his job.”
According to Fairbairn, certain residential life accommodations are made for students living on campus with service animals, such as providing medical single rooms.
Amanda Freno, a junior double majoring in English and psychology, lived in a Dickinson medical single with her Shetland Sheepdog, Zola, due to her severe hearing loss, before moving to Susquehanna. When Zola is not helping Freno with hearing-related tasks, Freno said that Zola enjoyed playing with her floor mates.
“If someone asks if they can pet her, I give her a command that lets her know she can say hello, and then she is very happy to be pet and admired,” Freno said. “She never barks and loves to cuddle, play fetch in the building hallways and just hang out with people.”
According to Freno, for students with service animals, their feelings towards their animals go much deeper than just a working relationship.
“Because we spend almost every minute together, we have an intense bond, and we always know what the other wants or needs,” Freno said. “I feel extremely lucky to be able to have my partner and best friend with me at all times.”