Service Animal Policy:

UGA Food Services has developed guidelines to supplement UGA's Service Animal Policy found at http://www.uga.edu/eoo/policies/pdfs/ServiceAnimalPolicy.pdf

The following guidelines apply to all students and their service animals who dine in University of Georgia Food Services facilities. We've established these guidelines along with the UGA Environmental Safety Division so that we can provide our customers with the quality products and services they expect in the safe and sanitary environment that they deserve.

These guidelines are designed to keep our facilities in compliance with the State of Georgia Rules and Regulations Governing Food Service (290-5-14) as enforced by the Clarke County Health Department.

Animal Behavior

• Service animals, including those in training, are permitted in the dining commons provided that their behavior, noise, odor, and waste do not exceed reasonable standards for a well behaved animal and that these factors do not create unreasonable disruptions to the dining commons.

• Dangerous, poisonous, and/or illegal animals are not permitted.

• The service animal must be controlled by leash or harness or contained in an animal carrier at all times. The service animal must wear their identifying jacket at all times.

• The service animal must remain under the control of the handler/partner at all times. The handler/partner must prevent the service animal from contaminating food, clean equipment, and clean tableware. Contamination occurs whenever the animal touches the item. If accidental contamination occurs, the handler/partner must immediately inform a Food Services employee so that the items can be removed from service.

Animal Cleanliness

• Handlers/Partners are responsible for properly containing and disposing of all animal fecal waste. If a service animal has an accident outside the entrance or inside a Food Services facility, the waste must be immediately retrieved by the handler/partner, placed in a plastic bag and securely tied before being disposed in outside trash dumpsters. If the accident occurs inside, the handler/partner must inform a Food Services employee, who will provide the handler with chemical clean up tools to further clean the area after the solid waste is removed.

Animal Health and Well–Being

• All service animals must be in good health and have all veterinarian recommended vaccinations to maintain the animal's health and prevent contagious diseases.

• All service animals must wear identification tags with contact information and, if applicable, vaccination information.

Handler/Partner Responsibilities

• The handler/partner is responsible for ensuring that the service animal does not interfere with the routine activities and daily operations of the dining commons or cause difficulties for customers or staff. Sensitivity to individuals with allergies and to those who fear animals is important. • The handler/partner must feed and water the service animal outside of the dining facility.

• The handler/partner is financially and legally responsible for the actions of the service animal such as bodily injury or property damage. University Food Services shall have the right to bill the handler/partner's account for necessary repair and/or replacement costs.

• The student handler/partner must contact UGA's Disability Resource Center at http://drc.uga.edu/registeringanimalservices.php in order to register their service animal.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Chad Jordan, UGA Environmental Safety Specialist, at cjordan@esd.uga.edu or 706.542.9373. If you have any immediate concern about your experience in one of our facilities, please ask for the manager on duty.