Any non-experimental animal (
Animals that are used for experimentation will be (a) deceased and (b) follow all guidelines for acquisition, storage, experimentation, and disposal as outlined by state and federal agencies.
1. Qualified Assistance or Service Animals – A qualified assistance or service animal under the control of its owner or trainer may be permitted on Campus. A “qualified assistance or service animal” is not a companion animal or a pet, but rather is defined by New Mexico law as “any assistance dog or other animal that has been or is being trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability,” including guide dogs that aid persons who are blind or visually impaired, hearing dogs who aid persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired, and service dogs that aid persons with disabilities other than sight or hearing impairment. NMSA 1978, Section 28-11-2. Students requiring an assistance or service animal should have an appropriate IEP or 504 Plan in place.
2. Qualified Therapy Animals – A qualified therapy animal is a trained animal that possesses the necessary skills, training and aptitude to facilitate therapy under the direction of a health care or human services professional. A qualified therapy animal is not a companion animal or a pet, but rather is used by its handler/trainer to achieve specific physical, social, cognitive, and emotional goals as part of animal-assisted therapy (“AAT”) or animal-assisted activities (“AAA”). Qualified Therapy Animals will be selected and/or provided for by school administration and only allowed on campus at the discretion of the Executive Director.
3. Exemption for Law Enforcement Animals – Law enforcement animals under the supervision and control of law enforcement officers trained in animal handling or animals used by personnel for search and seizure purposes under the School’s search and seizure policies are permitted under this policy.
