# College won't let me enter till my Service Dog "registered" with them. Need Ans. Fast **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569 "2013-12-05T13:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/1 "2013-12-05T13:35:14Z")
La Guardia Community College, part of City University of New York. College security cop now decides I must register my service dog (license on collar and in wallet; “Service Dog” vest on), or else considered “pet” and not allowed in building. Pets not allowed in supermarkets, restaurants, I shop, eat w/o “registering.” Ditto buses, subways, movies, etc. ADA and all… I’ll register, I feel, when they register students with walkers (exercising equipment for triceps), wheelchairs, people with HIV, colds. Thing is, final exams next week. Prof. Witness to summons/ticket issuance. WTF? What do I do? Leo ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/2 "2013-12-05T13:39:03Z")
This may come as a shock but the best thing to do in a hurry is probably to register the service animal. ---
**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/3 "2013-12-05T14:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Colleges and universities must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility that are open to the public or to students. > Students who use a service animal may be required to contact the school’s Disability Services Coordinator to register as a student with a disability. The Coordinator will evaluate the student’s documentation of disability and discuss appropriate accommodations, including the assistance of a service animal. **Higher education entities must not require any sort of documentation regarding the training or certification of any service animal, but they may require proof that the service animal is licensed, and has required vaccinations, in compliance with state or local laws that apply to all animals.** The above is from [http://www.things4yourdog.com/faq's-about-service-dogs](http://www.things4yourdog.com/faq%27s-about-service-dogs) I can’t advise if that info applys to your situation exactly, but it might be worthwhile starting with your school’s disability coordinator - if they have one. Good luck with the exams. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/4 "2013-12-05T14:30:55Z")
Get over yourself and register your service animal. Just because a lot of other places don’t care about the details doesn’t mean that the college can’t. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/5 "2013-12-05T14:40:36Z")
If you suspect that your legal rights have been violated, does the college provide any type of legal services to students? If so, consult a lawyer. The lawyer will probably advise you to register your dog, of course, but perhaps will have another suggestion. There could also be an advocate for disabled students on campus, or you could consult an organization specific to your disability for advice. If they are in violation of the ADA, action should be taken to put an end to this requirement. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/6 "2013-12-05T15:06:09Z")
They, presumably, require people to register their dogs because other people who are dickheads pass of their family rottweiler as a service animal, abusing the system. It’s not a personal slight on you, just get it registered. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/7 "2013-12-05T15:46:41Z")
Here is the info for OSD at LaGCC: [http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/osd/](http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/osd/) ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/8 "2013-12-05T16:04:52Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > They, presumably, require people to register their dogs because other people who are dickheads pass of their family rottweiler as a service animal, abusing the system. It’s not a personal slight on you, just get it registered. I think he wants to avoid registering himself as a “disabled student,” which is apparently what is required. I wouldn’t be happy to do that either. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/9 "2013-12-05T16:13:02Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > They, presumably, require people to register their dogs because other people who are dickheads pass of their family rottweiler as a service animal, abusing the system. It’s not a personal slight on you, just get it registered. > [@AnaMen](#): > > I think he wants to avoid registering himself as a “disabled student,” which is apparently what is required. I wouldn’t be happy to do that either. The OP didn’t say but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the college charges a substantial fee for this registration. Colleges have students locked into the system for an education and use that to force students to pay a variety of mandatory fees for services that are often overpriced and unwanted. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/10 "2013-12-05T16:20:14Z")
It does seem wrong that he’s been going to class all semester and then right before finals week they’re making him register his dog. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/11 "2013-12-05T16:20:48Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > They, presumably, require people to register their dogs because other people who are dickheads pass of their family rottweiler as a service animal, abusing the system. And probably substantially fewer non-disabled people attempting to use walkers and wheelchairs recreationally. At Disney World, maybe… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/12 "2013-12-05T16:24:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Higher education entities must not require any sort of documentation regarding the training or certification of any service animal I don’t get this part; if I’m a university and I don’t allow animals on campus in general, but do allow service animals, it seems entirely reasonable that those animals would have to show proof of some minimum behavioral training standard before they’re going to be in typical university conditions (lots of people who want to pet them, infrequent and/or limited bathroom breaks and places to go, requirements about silence during class, etc… I mean, I wouldn’t want to be disturbed in class, step in dog shit or be bitten or growled at by someone’s ill-trained service animal. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/13 "2013-12-05T16:25:23Z")
Being forced to register the service dog sucks. But skipping your exams and losing an entire semester’s hard work sucks even more. It doesn’t seem worth taking a stand over. Even if you win the service animal fight, is it worth repeating an entire semesters studies? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/14 "2013-12-05T16:26:21Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Get over yourself and register your service animal. Indeed. OP, is this really a battle worth fighting? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/15 "2013-12-05T16:35:22Z")
If your service dog qualifies under the ADA as a service dog, I imagine there are plenty of lawyers in New York who would happily sue the college for you. These suits are very annoying in California, but are based on federal law. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/16 "2013-12-05T16:58:30Z")
Honest question for those who oppose any type of registration or documentary proof: what means could, or should, a school use to prevent people from bringing their pets to class? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/17 "2013-12-05T17:00:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The OP didn’t say but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the college charges a substantial fee for this registration. Colleges have students locked into the system for an education and use that to force students to pay a variety of mandatory fees for services that are often overpriced and unwanted. It’s a community college and he a continuing ed student. No ones l ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/18 "2013-12-05T17:02:28Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I’ll register, I feel, when they register students with walkers (exercising equipment for triceps), wheelchairs, people with HIV, colds. Do those students happen to be dogs? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/19 "2013-12-05T17:04:50Z")
OP, what’s so burdensome about registering the dog? Is there a huge registration fee? Do you have to go through a separate and invasive medical evaluation at the school (“Your doctor says you need this dog, we doubt this. Go over here for comprehensive X-rays. Now, go to room 305 where a psychiatrist will interview you about your childhood experiences, this will take about five hours. After that, we’ll have a running test out on the track.”)? Is it a privacy thing and registering your dog would put you on some sort of list? Is this an “I feel entitled to ignore the rules” thing? Do you have a coherent legal argument as to why the guard’s assertion that the dog must be registered is false as a matter of law? ---
**Author:** ![MrDurden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@MrDurden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDurden)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569/20 "2013-12-05T17:11:23Z")
What type of service dog is it? What agency trained it and for what purpose do you need it? Sight, sound, seizure, etc? I suspect the OP’s dog won’t pass the process and this is why he is concerned. Recently places have started to crack down on pets that people have put a service dog vest on. Just because you don’t want to go anywhere without Fluffy, does not entitle you to legal recourse so you can bring your pet everywhere. If this is not the case, I apologize in advance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-wont-let-me-enter-till-my-service-dog-registered-with-them-need-ans-fast/675569.md?page=2)