Service Animals

Some people with disabilities use a service animal in order to fully participate in everyday life.  A service animal is any dog (or in rare cases, miniature horse) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.  Service animals can be trained to perform many important tasks to assist people with disabilities, such as providing stability for a person who has difficulty walking, picking up items for a person who uses a wheelchair, provide tactile stimulation for anxiety attacks or panic attacks, or alerting a person who has hearing loss when someone is approaching from behind.

In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act Amendments Act of 2008, Greenfield Community College generally permits service animals assisting individuals with disabilities in all facilities maintained by the College.  Therefore, an individual with a disability shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animal in all areas of the College’s facilities where members of the public are permitted.

In order to accompany individuals in a service capacity, all dogs on campus shall:

  • possess an animal license in compliance with Massachusetts law;
  • be properly immunized and vaccinated; and,
  • wear a current license and rabies vaccination tag.

Proof of current license and vaccination should be provided to either the Office of Disability Services or Public Safety.  We also request that a Service Animal Registration Form be filled out and submitted to either of the same offices.

PLEASE NOTE:  Anyone other than the handler should not interact in any way with a service animal—including petting, feeding, attempting to get their attention, etc.  They are working and need to concentrate on their job.

If you observe a person with a dog or other animal on campus and you or others around you have concerns about the presence of the animal on campus, you may contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible by calling 413-775-1332 or Public Safety at 413-775-1111.

Download our Service Animal Policy and Service Animal Registration Form.