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From: Lindsey Welch <Lawelch**At_Symbol_Here**CEDARCREST.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Service Dogs in Teaching Laboratory
Date: Aug 27, 2025 21:09 UTC
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
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Hello,
My experience is with aservice dog in a 100 level, but it was also a GOB for nursing – more on the general side, but the student did take both courses.
I highly recommend the Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities book from the ACS Committee on Chemists with Disabilities, available as a free e-book.
I would highlight the top three issues as:
Discussing what the role of the service animal is, to consider whether it could increase risk in the lab (e.g. alert behaviors such as jumping up to place paws on the student, or picking up dropped objects, which might result in chemical/process issues)?
Whether the animal has appropriate PPE and location to be safe in the lab (often the student already has booties, goggles, etc., and has a pad to define a safe place – but if they don’t, the school may bear part of the burden of obtaining them).
Whether the chemicals in use for the lab might affect the service animal differently than humans. We gave a list of the chemicals to the student to discuss with their vet so they could make an informed decision.
The next set of issues from my perspective is making sure teaching assistants and other students in the course know how to behave around the service animal and discuss any issues or concerns associated with that. That includes thinking through how to handle if the animal gets chemicals spilled on them.
We were fortunate in that our student was aware of the issues and prepared for all of them, including bathing her dog in case of incidental contact (e.g. contaminated floors, etc.).
Sadly, Pat Redden, who was one of the major experts in this area, is gone, but her chapter in the book mentioned above has preserved some of that advice.
Sue
_______________________________
Susan D. Wiediger, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
swiedig**At_Symbol_Here**siue.edu 618-650-3088
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Kayla Johnson (she/her)
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 9:20 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Service Dogs in Teaching Laboratory
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You don't often get email from kayla.l.johnson**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu. Learn why this is important |
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
UVM’s
Our Common Ground Values:
Respect | Integrity | Innovation | Openness | Justice | Responsibility
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