Who Let the Dogs Out? A Plea for Official Guidelines on Service Animals in the Teaching Laboratory

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Laboratory Safety
• Animal-Assisted Interventions

Background:

• Microbiology teaching labs foster skill development and scientific observation.
• Safe laboratory practices are paramount in microbiology education.
• Situations challenging established safety protocols can arise unexpectedly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an incident involving a guide dog-in-training in a microbiology lab.
• To highlight the complexities of accommodating animals in restricted laboratory environments.
• To advocate for clear guidelines regarding animals in microbiology labs.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of a specific laboratory incident.
• Consultations with university departments (Disability Services, Human Resources, Risk Management, Legal Counsel).
• Review of laboratory safety regulations and accessibility policies.

Main Results:

• The student did not have a disability and was not a certified guide dog trainer.
• Microbiology labs are restricted spaces requiring personal protective equipment.
• Admitting untrained animals poses risks to the animal and students.

Conclusions:

• Deceptive behavior is unacceptable and dangerous in a microbiology lab.
• Microbiology labs are not public spaces and have specific safety requirements.
• Clear guidelines from scientific organizations are needed to address animals in microbiology labs.