At Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW), we strive to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. To support this goal, the College generally does not allow pets or other animals on campus. There are, however, a few important exceptions. The main one involves service animals—specifically trained dogs or miniature horses—that assist individuals with disabilities. These animals are permitted on campus under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They must be trained to perform specific tasks related to a person’s disability and must remain under the handler’s control at all times, usually with a leash or harness, unless those interfere with the animal’s ability to do its job.
Service animals can go anywhere their handlers are allowed on campus, but FSW may ask for them to be removed if they are not housebroken, are behaving aggressively, or are not under control. It's important to know that emotional support animals, therapy animals, or pets—while meaningful—don’t meet the definition of a service animal under the ADA and therefore aren’t allowed on campus unless part of a pre-approved College event or activity.
If you have questions about bringing an animal to campus or need help navigating this policy, please reach out to the ADA Coordinator or the Office of the President. We're here to help and ensure that everyone has what they need to succeed at FSW.