Animals in Public Spaces & Event Venues – September 10, 2026

Thursday, September 10, 2026 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET Establish & Enforce Policies That Are Compliant & Limit Confusion Whether it’s a request to bring a dog into a dining hall or a demand to bring a cat into a public event in the recreation center, college campuses are facing a rising number of people arriving on campus with animals. Administrators and staff are often confused about whether or not to allow the animal access to campus buildings and grounds or to exclude the animal from the premises due to a “no pets policy” on campus. Interactions between handlers and campus personnel are often muddled and handled improperly, which can lead to the potential of a disability discrimination complaint. At times this is very public, adding to the stress. Crowds of people waiting to enter a venue when time is of the essence for someone to make a decision about whether or not to allow the animal in. It can be confusing, nerve-wracking and exclusive if not handled correctly. Join us on September 10, 2026 when our expert presenter will help participants explore current regulations related to public accommodations and animals on campus. Adjust to the rising number of animals that are appearing on campuses each day in public accommodation spaces, drawing from requirements for service animals under the ADA and also for access rights for ESAs under the Fair Housing Act. You’ll be better able to prepare for the influx of animals on your campus and manage their presence. Specifically, you will know what questions you can ask a handler, what behaviors the animal must exhibit, and how to exclude them if they are out of the handler's control, all while avoiding a potential claim of disability discrimination. Reduce institutional risk, improve employee confidence and create more accessible and inclusive campus environments. Topics Covered Leave the webinar prepared with strategies to confidently: Establish and enforce policies related to service animal regulations and Title II and Title III obligations for places of public accommodation with regard to service animal access – be confident in the types of questions you can ask and actions you can take when members of the public visit places of public accommodation and are accompanied by an animal so you can avoid a potential claim of disability discrimination. Distinguish the difference between service and emotional assistance animals and the presence of these animals in campus facilities in general – develop, implement, and enforce legally defensible policies and procedures related to students’ rights to have animals on campus. Arm your staff with knowledge to empower them to make difficult decisions when necessary – know when and how to exclude animals that are out of control of the handler or who are not a service animal, at all, but are instead a personal pet of an owner being disguised as a service or ESA. Proactively educate students and employees on clear communication strategies – focus on respectful, trauma informed interactions to reduce tension and preserve community trust while maintaining accessibility and inclusion. Improve your campus climate for all community members – create an affirming and supportive environment for all students so that you can engage, retain and graduate them. Navigate competing access concerns, such as situations involving allergies, asthma, trauma, or fear of animals – avoid tension between individuals who both believe their needs should be prioritized. Presenter Leigh Davis Fickling is the Deputy Director of the Title IX and Clery Compliance and an Accommodations Consultant at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Click here for full bio.