If you are making a request to bring an assistance animal (including guide dogs) or an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) to campus, please visit your Student Record to register with Disability Support and Inclusion. You will also need to read the Assistance Animals and Emotional Support Animals on Campus Policy. Any requests to bring an assistance animal or ESA apply to dogs only.
In your registration, please disclose that you will be requesting to bring an assistance animal (including guide dogs) or ESA (dogs only) to campus. You will be sent a link to complete the request form to register the dog and provide evidence of the dog.
What information will be required from me to have an assistance animal or ESA?
Type of assistance animal or ESA and support the animal provides.
The animal temperament and expected behaviour while on campus.
Campuses and other spaces (for example Libraries) they are likely to visit including potentially risky environments, for example, laboratories and other environments where chemicals may be used.
Whether they are staying within one of King’s residences.
What evidence will be required for an assistance animal?
As well as the above evidence we require the following:
Evidence of any vaccinations/treatments the animal has been given.
Evidence of Public liability Insurance.
Evidence of animal registration or training (evidence of training is voluntary)
What evidence will be required for an Emotional Support Animal?
As well as the information above we require the following:
Evidence of any vaccinations/treatments the animal has been given.
Evidence of Public liability Insurance.
A letter from a medical professional to support the request including the support the animal will provide.
Evidence of animal registration or training (evidence of training is voluntary but particularly recommended for ESAs)
Can I have my assistance animal or ESA in Residences?
Yes any requests will made through Disability Support & Inclusion will be shared with the Residences team. Details of the King's Residences Emotional Support Animal Policy.
If you contact Residences about your assistance animal or ESA directly they will share the information with Disability Support & Inclusion if the animal is required on campus. Please note only requests for dogs on campus will be reviewed.
Are there any restrictions on bringing an assistance animal or ESA to campus?
Any student making requests for an assistance animal or ESA are required to register with Disability Support & Inclusion, by completing a brief form. The request will be reviewed by DSI and if approved, the Disability Adviser will advise the department of the dog coming to campus. Where an assistance animal or ESA is required in a laboratory or other environments (where chemicals are used that could be harmful to dogs) the Disability Adviser will speak to the department and Health & Safety Officer who will carry out a risk assessment to help manage this.
Will the information be shared with my department?
Your Disability Adviser will contact the department which may include the Department, Senior Tutor, Personal tutor, and Campus Operations, to notify them a student is bringing an assistance animal or ESA to campus. Where students are required to attend laboratories, the department (usually the module lead or Programmes Team) should contact the Health & Safety staff for the laboratory. A meeting may be required which DSI will facilitate. In addition, Libraries will be made aware that you have an assistance dog or ESA if you need to use the library.
How will my tutors be made aware that I will have a dog in class and they are a working animal?
The Programmes Team should notify all tutors teaching you and all students attending the same lectures/seminars/labs/tutorials etc. DSI will advise on making other students aware and appropriate behaviour around working animals in class.
Will I need to carry anything with me to show Security the dog is allowed on campus?
You will need to make sure that the assistance animal or ESA are clearly identifiable while on university premises. You will be required to carry a King’s animal ID card which will be arranged by your Disability Adviser. In addition, it is helpful although not essential if the dog has one of the following:
A harness or jacket worn by the animal and can include labels such as “Service animal”, “Assistance animal", or “Emotional Support animal”.
Lead slips are printed or embroidered covers or wraps fitted onto the animal’s lead displaying their role.
What do I do once the request has been approved?
As the guardian of the animal you are responsible for making sure the animal’s health, hygiene, nutrition and comfort needs are met.
Animal guardians should read the guidance and familiarise themselves with key aspects such as animal identification at King’s, signposted toileting areas, waste disposal procedures, and other practical support measures.
Disability Support & Inclusion will discuss a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) with you. All students with an assistance animal or ESA will be required to engage with this process.
Your department may request a meet and greet as part of induction and orientation and will contact you directly.
What are my responsibilities?
You are responsible for cleaning up immediately after your animal and disposing of waste properly. If you are visually impaired or blind with a Guide Dog you are not required to clean up after your dog. Guide Dogs are expected to have received the appropriate training to avoid dog waste on campus. In this case, Guide Dogs guardians share responsibility for the clean-up of the dog’s waste, consistent with reasonable capacity, and should report this to an appropriate member of staff who can coordinate cleaning support.
Toileting areas:
Some councils provide dedicated dog waste bins, any public bin can take dog waste. There are no dog waste bins on campus but outdoors general waste bins can be used to dispose of bagged waste. Currently on campus there is no designated toileting area however below is a list of areas on each campus where your dog can be taken. You must clean up after your dog.
In the unlikely event that an animal fouls on campus and outside of the signposted areas, animal guardians should manage immediate clean-up as well as report the incident for the cleaning team to clean and sanitise the area. Incidents should be reported through the local Estate & Facilities Helpdesk. If the incident involved animal waste, contamination, or health and safety concerns, this should also be logged in Cority to ensure it is formally recorded and tracked.
Strand Campus:
Temple gardens - 4 Temple Pl, Temple, London WC2R 2PH.
Guy’s Campus:
Right of the main entrance into the Henriette Raphael building
Waterloo Campus
Bernie Spain Gardens - SE1 9PH. AccessAble Guide.
Denmark Hill Campus
Denmark Hill East side - between the SGDP and Ortus building
Denmark Hill West side - Ruskin park, Denmark Hill, SE5 8EL. AccessAble Guide.
What if my request cannot be approved or access is restricted?
Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate requests for an assistance animal or ESA there may be times where the assistance animal or ESA are not allowed in certain environments this could be in a lab where toxic chemicals are used which would be harmful to the animal. In these situations Disability Support & Inclusion will arrange a conversation with you and the department to identify barriers you face and offer adjustments to remove barriers or reduce those barriers.
Where access must be limited to certain spaces, your Disability Adviser will outline the areas that are restricted, why and with your department discuss alternative adjustments to ensure you can still participate in the activities effectively and safely.