Dallas Theological Seminary strives to ensure that individuals with disabilities who use assistance animals can receive the benefit of the tasks these animals provide or the therapeutic support they offer in accordance with the requirements of federal law and local laws.
For questions regarding medical documentation for assistance animal accommodation requests, please contact Michael Parker, Disabilities Services Coordinator, at mparker@dts.edu or 214-887-5566. For other questions regarding Assistance Animal applications, contact Housing at housing@dts.edu or 214-887-5213.
Assistance Animal Policy
The following Assistance Animal Policy is designed to ensure a safe, comfortable, and respectful living environment for all residents of Swindoll Tower and Washington Apartments. All residents are expected to adhere to these guidelines regarding assistance animals. To request an exception to any of the following policies, please submit an Exception Request on the Housing website.
Definitions
Assistance Animals: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “an assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. An assistance animal is not a pet.”
- Service Animals: According to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, “Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.”
- Support Animals: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, support animals are “trained or untrained animals that do work, perform tasks, provide assistance, and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.”
Pets: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an animal that does not qualify as an assistance animal is then, by default, deemed a pet.
Assistance Animal Accommodation Request Forms
Animals must be approved prior to move-in. Support animal owners are required to submit both forms. When renewing their lease annually, both service animal and support animal owners must re-submit Part 2 by June 1 to update proof of their animals’ vaccination records.
Download and Complete the Medical Verification Form
You will need to attach this completed document to your Part 1 form.
Part 1: Submit the Medical Verification Form
Please attach your completed DTS Assistance Animal Medical Verification to this form. This form must be re-submitted every three years.
Part 2: Submit the Vaccination Registration Form
This is the only form that renewing residents must re-submit annually. Both service and support animal owners are asked to update their animals' vaccination records via this form annually.
Part 3: Sign the Assistance Animal Addendum
This addendum affirms that your animal is documented by DTS and approved to be in DTS Housing. The Leasing Office will send this addendum to your AppFolio Resident portal once your animal has been approved.
Each year, owners of support animals must submit updated Vaccination forms as part of the renewal process.
These updated forms can be submitted by re-submitting the Part 2 form above. Owners of service animals are requested to submit up-to-date proof of vaccination (only as required by the city of Dallas) for their animal.
Assistance Animal Health Requirements
All assistance animals (both service and support animals) must comply with applicable City of Dallas requirements and provide updated records of the following:
Required Vaccinations: In accordance with City of Dallas Code, Section 7-4.1 (a)(1), all assistance animals must be up to date on required vaccinations, including rabies, distemper, and other immunizations.
Microchipping: In accordance with City of Dallas Code, Section 7-4.2 (a), all dogs and cats must be microchipped within 30 days of living in Dallas.
Spaying/Neutering: In accordance with City of Dallas Code, Section 7-4.10 (a), all dogs and cats over the age of six months must be spayed or neutered unless the owner provides adequate documentation for not meeting this requirement (e.g., health reasons or a valid breeding permit).
Proper Animal Identification: In accordance with City of Dallas Code, Section 7-4.1(2), dogs and cats must wear a collar or harness with current rabies tag securely attached.
While in DTS Housing...
Restricted Areas
- Apartment Facilities: Animals are not allowed in certain common areas, including but not limited to, the swimming pools, Swindoll Fireside Room, Washington Clubhouse, study or conference rooms, or laundry rooms unless they are assistance animals providing disability-related support for its owner and are not disruptive or posing a direct threat to others.
- Campus Grounds: Animals are prohibited from entering campus buildings (e.g., academic and administrative buildings, library facilities, student center, chapel) unless (A) the animal is expressly a service animal providing disability-related support for its owner and are not disruptive or posing a direct threat to others, or (B) Housing is hosting the event and the animal is an assistance animal providing disability-related support for its owner and are not disruptive or posing a direct threat to others. See Student Handbook for additional restrictions on campus grounds.
- Laundry Rooms: Assistance animal owners may not use washers or dryers designated as “Animal-Free.”
- Elevator Usage: Assistance animal owners must maintain control of their animal at all times when in elevators.
- Dog Park: DTS does not provide a community dog park and encourages dog owners to use city parks and designated dog parks located near campus.
Animal Waste & Clean-Up
- Animal Waste: Residents are responsible for cleaning up after their assistance animals. Animal waste must be disposed of in designated waste stations or appropriate trash bins. Failure to clean up after their assistance animal may result in fines.
- Litter Boxes: Cats must have a litter box in the apartment, and it must be kept clean at all times.
- Accidents in Public Areas: If an assistance animal defecates, urinates, or vomits in a public area within the housing facilities, notify the Housing Office immediately. If a service animal defecates, urinates, or vomits in a public area within a campus facility (e.g., classroom, library), notify Custodial Services immediately.
