Students find love and encouragement from emotional support animals.
Many animals are trained to help their owners live with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, and Kansas State is committed to allowing students with disabilities to use support animals on campus, whether they're service dogs, emotional support cats or something in between.
Unlike normal, everyday pets, K-State allows support animals to stay in university housing with their owners.
Mikaila Woods, resident assistant in Moore Hall and junior in microbiology, has an emotional support cat named Simba to help with her anxiety. Woods said she was very transparent with her residents letting them know her cat is an emotional support animal.
Emotional support animals, also …show more content…
Her cat was happy to explore, but once the cat knew something was outside of Pitts' dorm room, she wanted out.
“Moving off-campus made things easier and harder in different ways,” Pitts said. “I had to get her licensed through a service animal company if I didn’t want to be charged pet fees in my apartment. However, she is able to roam, look out of windows and the room doesn’t smell like a litter box.”
Kelsey Drewelow, RA in West Hall and junior in human development, has an emotional support dog named Edmond that is a pit bull mix.
Drewelow said the interactions Edmond has with other people help both herself and others. She said she often walks her dog around on campus and people often say say, "He just made my day."
“Having Edmond also makes me more approachable, which I like, especially being an RA,” Drewelow said. “I want to talk to people and make those connections with them.”
Drewelow said family is an important thing for her. She grew up in a military family that moved frequently, and while everything around her changed, her family was always …show more content…
“Since getting Edmond, I haven’t really had any panic attacks, my depression has lessened and he comforts me when I’m anxious," Drewelow said. "Whether that’s with me touching him, being there for him or taking care of him, I feel like I’m needed and wanted.”
[related title="A moment of mindfulness: Counseling Services holds free sessions for students" url="https://www.kstatecollegian.com/2018/02/09/a-moment-of-mindfulness-counseling-services-holds-free-sessions-for-students/"]Registering an emotional support animal requires a doctor’s diagnosis of a disability. Once K-State is made aware of the situation, the student will have to fill out paperwork and attend meetings through the Student Access Center.
Both Woods and Drewelow said students should not expect to get an animal by filling out a piece of paper. A student will have to prove their need for an animal, and the student needs to be intentional about the process.
Woods said her disability might not require a wheelchair, but it is something she deals with that affects her daily
Many animals are trained to help their owners live with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, and Kansas State is committed to allowing students with disabilities to use support animals on campus, whether they're service dogs, emotional support cats or something in between.
Unlike normal, everyday pets, K-State allows support animals to stay in university housing with their owners.
Mikaila Woods, resident assistant in Moore Hall and junior in microbiology, has an emotional support cat named Simba to help with her anxiety. Woods said she was very transparent with her residents letting them know her cat is an emotional support animal.
Emotional support animals, also …show more content…
Her cat was happy to explore, but once the cat knew something was outside of Pitts' dorm room, she wanted out.
“Moving off-campus made things easier and harder in different ways,” Pitts said. “I had to get her licensed through a service animal company if I didn’t want to be charged pet fees in my apartment. However, she is able to roam, look out of windows and the room doesn’t smell like a litter box.”
Kelsey Drewelow, RA in West Hall and junior in human development, has an emotional support dog named Edmond that is a pit bull mix.
Drewelow said the interactions Edmond has with other people help both herself and others. She said she often walks her dog around on campus and people often say say, "He just made my day."
“Having Edmond also makes me more approachable, which I like, especially being an RA,” Drewelow said. “I want to talk to people and make those connections with them.”
Drewelow said family is an important thing for her. She grew up in a military family that moved frequently, and while everything around her changed, her family was always …show more content…
“Since getting Edmond, I haven’t really had any panic attacks, my depression has lessened and he comforts me when I’m anxious," Drewelow said. "Whether that’s with me touching him, being there for him or taking care of him, I feel like I’m needed and wanted.”
[related title="A moment of mindfulness: Counseling Services holds free sessions for students" url="https://www.kstatecollegian.com/2018/02/09/a-moment-of-mindfulness-counseling-services-holds-free-sessions-for-students/"]Registering an emotional support animal requires a doctor’s diagnosis of a disability. Once K-State is made aware of the situation, the student will have to fill out paperwork and attend meetings through the Student Access Center.
Both Woods and Drewelow said students should not expect to get an animal by filling out a piece of paper. A student will have to prove their need for an animal, and the student needs to be intentional about the process.
Woods said her disability might not require a wheelchair, but it is something she deals with that affects her daily