Adoption Date: 06/15/2021

History: 10/26/21(reviewed), 10/11/22 (reviewed), 9/26/23 (updated), 9/10/24 (reviewed), 3/11/25 (updated), 9/9/25 (reviewed), 11/11/25 (updated) 

A Therapy Animal is permitted to accompany an individual onto school premises, subject to this policy and state and federal laws. Therapy Animals must be “harnessed, leashed, or tethered” or otherwise controlled by the owner/handler at all times. The District shall not be responsible to provide a Therapy Animal for any student or employee, nor shall the District be responsible to care for any Therapy Animal.

For the purposes of this policy and for use within the Iowa City Community School District, the term Therapy Animal is limited only to dogs. The sole function of the Therapy Animal is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy companionship, or therapeutic benefits, or to promote emotional well-being. A Therapy Animal is registered with/certified by an animal-assisted intervention organization after
successful training, behavioral, and veterinary evaluation and is not a Service Animal as defined by District policies and state and federal laws.

The privilege to bring the Therapy Animal into the school setting may be terminated should the owner/handler or the Animal behave in a way deemed unprofessional or unsafe. If the Therapy Animal causes damage, the District may assess a charge to cover the costs.

Applications for Use of a Therapy Animal must be submitted annually.

Submit an Application for the Use of a Therapy Animal 

 

Policy References:

Legal References:

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Americans with Disabilities Act