Animals on Campus

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

An emotional support animal is one that provides comfort to a specific student who has a documented disability and has medical documentation that warrants a support animal.

Emotional Support Animals may be allowed into residences or other buildings under specific circumstances. These situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Equity of Access Office.

Guide and Service Dogs:

A documented guide dog or service dog is one that has been documented through the BC Government: Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and holds a Guide Dog and Service Dog Certificate. 

Documented guide dogs and service dogs with their owners may access all publicly accessible parts of campus and places of the campus where their work or school activities are located. Owners must produce the Guide Dog and Service Dog Certificate if asked. Though there is no requirement to register a guide dog or service dog, it is advisable for students to register their dog with the Equity of Access Office in order to reduce confusion.

Pets at TWU:

Pets are defined as any animal the employee, student, or guest cares for that is not a service or guide dog, support animal, and is not being brought to campus for the purposes of a therapeutic event.

1. The University does not permit housing pets in University buildings, with the exception of fish kept in aquariums of five gallons (19 litres) or less. This applies to students and employees who wish to keep fish on campus. Students and employees must provide proper care to any fish living on campus and TWU reserves the right to ask a student or an employee to remove pet fish from campus.

2. Pets belonging to students are permitted on TWU outdoor property, unless otherwise posted, provided they are:

  • no more than 75 kilos in weight
  • leashed
  • licensed (if required by local by-law)
  • vaccinated appropriately and that vaccines are current
  • with, and under the control of, its owner/handler
  • cleaned up after by their owner/handler (e.g. feces)

3. Pets are not permitted on/in:

  • The recreational or athletic sports fields
  • The Ecosystem Study Area
  • Any other areas where there is signage indicating animals are not permitted

4. The University reserves the right to remove, or ask a Bylaw Enforcement Officer to remove, any pet if the animal is unattended, in distress, causing health and safety concerns, or is creating a public nuisance.

5. A person who brings a pet onto University property will be held responsible for any costs or consequences of damage caused by the pet.

6. Vehicles are considered the property of the student, employee, or guest who owns the car. Pets may be left unattended in a vehicle parked on University grounds for a reasonable period of time as long as the pet has suitable ventilation, does not appear in distress, is not creating a public nuisance, and is restrained in a manner that prevents contact between the pet and a member of the public.

7. Students are not permitted to bring their pets into buildings.