District School Board of Pasco County

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OF PASCO COUNTY

SERVICE DOG CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS

Parents of Students with Service Dogs:

1.  The parent notifies the school principal that the student will be using a service dog on the school campus.

2. The family, not the Pasco County School Board, provides the service dog. The parent is responsible for providing liability insurance for the dog while the dog is on school property or participating in school sponsored activities. It is recommended that the parent have $100,000.00 in liability insurance to cover any damage caused by the service dog. The parent must sign the liability acknowledgement form before the service dog is permitted on campus. As provided in Section 413.08, Florida Statutes, the District recognizes that the owner is responsible for the cost to repair any damage to any person or property caused by the service animal. Any and all liability for the actions of the service animal is the responsibility of the owner, not the District or its employees. Insurance may be provided by your homeowner’s insurance company. Please attach evidence of insurance to this document.

If you choose not to purchase insurance for your service animal, sign below to acknowledge your understanding that you will be held financially responsible for any damage or injury caused by your service animal.

2.  If the student is to utilize school board transportation with the service dog, the service dog must be able to enter the bus using the steps, not the lift. The student and service dog must be accompanied by the handler, if the student is incapable of handling the service dog.

3.  The parent provides the materials needed for the care of the service dog on the school campus, such as a water bowl, plastic bags for waste disposal, snacks, etc.

Service Dog:

1.  Certification that the dog is a trained, certified service dog who meets ADI’s minimum standards for a service dog:

a). Service dog is clean, well groomed, and does not have an offensive odor.

b). Service dog does not urinate or defecate in inappropriate locations.

c). Service dog does not solicit attention, visit, or annoy any member of the general public.

d). Service dog does not vocalize unnecessarily (i.e., bark, growl, or whine).

e). Service dog shows no aggression towards people or other animals.

f). Service dog does not solicit or steal food or other items from the general public.

2.  Immunization records from a licensed veterinarian.

3.  Current health status of the service dog from a licensed veterinarian.

Non-Student Service Dog Handler:

1.  It is the responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian to obtain a Service Dog Handler for students incapable of handling a service dog.

Service Dog Checklist For Parents – page 2

2.  The Service Dog Handler and/or certified substitute handler must be fingerprinted by the school district, at the parent’s/guardian’s expense, prior to being permitted on school property

3.  The Service Dog Handler is expected to care for the needs of the service dog, such as walking the service dog, cleaning up after the service dog (waste immediately placed in dumpster), and making sure the service dog is appropriately given water and food.

4.  The Service Dog Handler is not to engage students, take notes for students, or interfere with the educational process of any student. If the handler is the parent, he/she must assume the role of handler only and must abide by the rules outlined in the School’s Volunteer Handbook.

5.  The Service Dog Handler is expected to dress appropriately for the campus and abide by the rules established for volunteers at the school (e.g., no smoking on tobacco free campuses, no alcoholic beverages, dress professionally, avoiding clothing which is too tight, too revealing, too suggestive, or which is considered to be out of place at the work site). Please refer to the District’s dress code policy detailed in the Staff Handbook provided by the school administration.

Student Service Dog Handlers:

1.  The student is expected to care for the needs of the service dog, such as walking the service dog in a previously designated area, cleaning up after the service dog (waste immediately placed in dumpster) making sure thorough hand washing follows the procedure, and making sure the service dog is appropriately given water and food.

2.  The parent/guardian and student should familiarize the service dog with the campus, accompanied by a school administrator or designee. The week before the service dog is scheduled to come to school with the student, introduce the service dog to the campus so the animal becomes familiar with its surroundings. Before or after school would be the best time because fewer people would be on campus.

3.  Arrangements should be made with the principal to introduce the student with the service dog and familiarize the staff and students with the procedures in approaching the service dog, the job the service dog is doing, the role of a handler, and to whom they should report concerns, as well as, what to do with the service dog in case of an emergency.

4.  The student should seek special arrangements with teachers and administrators to avoid large crowds during class changes with the service dog. Specific procedures should be implemented for lunch period, arrival and dismissal times, and special gatherings.

Parent Signature Date

Original - ESE Department Copy – Parent Copy - Principal