Dear Ms. Johnson, Yes, I am a laboratory building and laboratory planner, working for over 50 years in academic labs. Yes, I have planned and designed several, not many, labs to accommodate service dogs. Yes, it should raise safety concerns with dogs within labs. Safety is for the persons using the lab and the dogs.
The student needs/wants to bring in the dog to an organic/biochemistry lab. Usually in such labs there are chemical fume hoods in which students will perform experiments. Another, dedicated dispensary-type chemical fume hood, is for students' access to the chemicals, that will be used for that specific class. Usually students pour those chemicals into appropriately sized and functional containers within the dispensary hood, then return to their assigned teaching bench position.
The health and safety risks of this type of activity, possibly performed by undergraduate students, are of concern not only for the students obtaining their chemicals from the shared dispensary fume hood, but carrying those filled containers to their assigned benches. As professors and TA's know, there is a lot of people walking in the lab to obtain those chemicals.
Adding a tamed animal, usually a trained service dog to a lab, must be rehearsed for both the dog’s owner, and the dog. The owner might use to assist him move carefully and safely within the laboratory, as well as in and out of the lab. Or the owner might need the service dog to alert help if the owner is incapacitated.
The issues are also with the other students who do not have service animals. Some may be afraid of the service dogs, who generally are not small dogs, but large/tall. Large/tall dogs have beneficial and safer lines of sight, within labs. Large/tall dogs can be a clear presence to other students to look out for, as the dogs move around the lab, or lie still on the floor near their owner. Both types of laboratory occupants need training to be aware and be informed of the risks that are possible.
The professor and TA’s must be mindful to assign appropriate locations for lab work stations, to students with dogs, so there is generous space near the owner/student for the dog to lie down in, and not sense a hazard from other students walking around. In some laboratories it is very hard to safely accommodate a service dog. An enclosed office within the lab, in which a dog can stay safely and quiet during the lab session, is an excellent solution for all. If lab workers have assigned desks within or along a wall within the lab, the dog can lie down in the knee-opening, when the owner is at the bench.
I suggest that the professor contact the department leader of this lab to discuss strategies that will protect the lab workers, visitors to the lab, and the service dog, when it is required. Good luck.
Janet Baum
On Aug 27, 2025, at 10:20 AM, Kayla Johnson (she/her) <Kayla.L.Johnson**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu> wrote:
Hello,
I'm reaching out as I got contacted by a professor about a student bringing a service dog in an organic/biochemistry lab for nursing students. We had a request back in 2023 by my predecessor, so we have the documentation for this request. This is raising concerns for me, the professor, and chemical stockroom personnel, and I plan to have a discussion with the student and TA and Chemical Stockroom Manager.
Does anyone have experience with service dogs in lab spaces?
Thank you,
Kayla Johnson, MS (she/her)
CAS and RSENR Lab Safety Coordinator
University of Vermont
667 Spear St
Burlington, VT 05405
