<p>In a surprising twist, the Vice President rejected the pet policy and emotional service animals are not an option for staff. So it looks like no pet for me.</p>
<p>Reasoning: “You aren’t visibly mentally ill, so there’s no reason for you to need this accommodation.”</p>
<p>It’s appalling that someone would say that a person who does not have a visible disability doesn’t have a disability; that’s ignorant. </p>
<p>If you are indeed disabled, you are entitled to have a service animal. However, a little Googling tells me that [emotional</a> support animals do not count as service animals](<a href=“https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet]emotional”>Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals | ADA National Network) for purposes of the law.</p>
<p>Cardinal, I came to the same conclusion. Emotional service animals also aren’t covered under ADA.</p>
<p>It’s not a hill to die on at this point, but it points to a larger issue and I may be job searching again this year. Lots to mull over.</p>
<p>So sorry to hear this, you worked so hard on presenting the case. Don’t know if you had a chance to look at Eckerd College’s pet policy, pet dorm, pet graduation, blessing of pets, pet council, etc. They were featured on Animal Planet. Many other colleges and universities contact them for information and have modeled policy after Eckerd’s. Best of luck in the job search.</p>
<p>Aw man! So close. </p>
<p>Can you volunteer at a shelter and get some kitty time there? We lived in a city that had a Crazy Cat Lady style cat rescue place where you could go and sit in the middle of dozens of cats. There were rules as to how you had to behave, but how fun to sit there and watch the cats interact with you and each other. Maybe there is one near you? Or even a regular Humane Society?</p>
<p>I suggested the volunteer option to D, who is longing for a cat, and she’s found that being near the kitties actually makes it worse.</p>
<p>lizardly, there is a no-kill humane society in town…but I think it would almost be harder for me to go there on a regular basis knowing that I could never bring one home. (See stradmom’s post.) I also could never foster (not that the school would allow it.)</p>
<p>I think maybe I just need to get out of Housing in general. This is my 5th year living on campus as a staff member, and it’s exhausting. I’m committed to staying here at least through May or June, but I’ve seen lots of openings already that I would be interested in. We’ll see. It will work out the way it’s supposed to!</p>