Emotional support animals have become more and more common on Grand View University’s campus over the past couple years. Though there are several steps that students must go through in order to bring a pet onto campus, there has been some controversy on whether or not students are abusing the system.

“In order to qualify for an emotional support animal, you must have a diagnosed disability that is verified by a licensed physician, psychiatrist or other mental health professional,” Associate Director of Student Success Joy Brandt, who helps with academic support and disabilities service, said.

Dillon Suhr, a senior at Grand View, says that when he is having a bad day, he can always count on his dog, Hamilton, to cheer him up. Suhr has epilepsy, and dogs, he says, have the ability to read human hormones. When Suhr is about to go into an epileptic seizure, Hamilton is there to wake him up. When Suhr is walking his dog around campus, he says, he is able to be active and meet more people. According to Suhr, walking dogs around campus can really cheer students up. Some students have left their own dogs at home, so seeing dogs around campus might make them feel more at home.

Andrew Clements, graphic design major, says having animals on campus helps with people’s anxieties. Clements says it is hard being away from his family and friends, but his dog shares compassion that makes him feel better. Clements says that he thinks people should not have to get approval from Grand View to have an emotional support animal. He himself was fined, he said, for having his emotional support animal on campus before he had gotten approval from Grand View. Clements explained that he does not think people should have animals on campus if they cannot pick up after them. He thinks Grand View should have room checks once a week for people who have animals in their dorms.

Niamke Guilford, a nursing major, says that his support animal helps him feel less “jittery,” and that he feels like he is at home when he has his dog with him. Guilford says that he did not receive permission to have his dog, Rocky, in his dorm, but that he feels if he were to have Rocky taken away from him, he would fall into a “bad place.” Guilford’s home is in California and he thinks Rocky is one of the things that is keeping him together since he is so far away from his family. Guilford also says that his roommates enjoy Rocky and they actually help out with the different chores, like taking Rocky out every other day to go to the restroom. Guilford agrees with Clements and says that emotional support animals teach you lots of responsibility.

Emotional support animals are allowed on campus for the purpose of helping students stay less stressed. As more pets are brought to campus, there are more possibilities that students are abusing the system. Many owners, however, claim to a realistic explanation to why they should have support animals on campus.