LAFAYETTE, LA. (KLFY) — A previous Louisiana university student says she was required to leave of school after her service dog, Cookie, was rejected access to the UL-Lafayette school after a current class occurrence.
Alexandra Dondeville, who was a freshman learning psychology and liberal arts, is now coping with a member of the family and attempting to determine the next actions in her life that will consist of Cookie.
“I can’t be on campus without my service dog,” Dondeville said. “I need her to survive every day to go through life. I can’t function without her at this time, and as soon as she wasn’t allowed on campus anymore, that basically said, I can’t go to class. I can’t stay in my own dorm. I had to pick up my entire life and leave it.”
She says a supposed occurrence with Cookie in her biology class hindered her college profession. Dondeville’s biology teacher declared Cookie bit him throughout class, according to Nexstar’s KLFY, however she said that’s not what took place. Dondeville kept in mind the teacher stepping on Cookie’s head, and Cookie yelping in discomfort, however there was never ever any bite.
“Alex has some special needs,” said Suzanne Gainer, Dondeville’s mom. “She’s dyslexic, she has ADHD, you know, so it’s scary for a parent, and it’s incredibly upsetting to know that we put her in their arms and they just wronged her so badly without really a full explanation.”
A petition targeted at bringing Dondeville and Cookie back on school and back to class has actually acquired over one thousand signatures.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Actservice animals are permitted to go into all public areas that a human would be permitted to go into, and it’s prohibited for a business to reject them gain access to. Interfering with the work of a service animal is a class A misdemeanor and asking for that the service animal leave the properties is legal just if the animal is not acting well.
UL Lafayette Public Information Officer Eric Maron reacted to KLFY’s ask for discuss the occurrence with the following declaration:
“The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is devoted to producing a school culture that is safe and available for all trainees, professors and team member. The University permits qualified service and psychological assistance animals on school to help people who might require them. The University’s Animal Policy, which was embraced in 2019, and appropriate laws offer standards that both the animals and their handlers need to follow. The policy needs that:
• Service and psychological assistance animals be personally monitored by the handler, and the handler should keep complete control of the animal at all times while on University property;
• No service or psychological assistance animals interfere with or hinder University activities, consisting of mentor, research study or service; and
• If inappropriate habits takes place more than as soon as, the handler might be restricted from bringing the animal onto University property.
If a service or psychological assistance animal is restricted from school, the University motivates trainees to call the Office of Disability Services to figure out alternative sensible lodgings.”
