With the 2021-2022 school year fast approaching, school districts and their legal counsel all over the country are contemplating their "new normal" in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, K-12 students have likely experienced a whole host of emotions—fear, anger, sadness, numbness or frustration. As we all know, COVID-19 has created many barriers for schools to overcome in meeting the needs of its students. Unfortunately, these barriers and challenges will continue as schools strive to ensure equity and support for students experiencing the lasting adverse physical and mental health effects of COVID-19.

To combat these feelings of fear, anger, sadness, numbness, and frustration, parents are making requests for service animals to accompany their children to school more than ever before. Some requests are for the student's pet frog to join them in the classroom. Other requests relate to a student's "service" rabbit to accompany them to school. Pennsylvania even has its own emotional support alligator named Wally, famously hauling from York County. This leaves many schools asking "so, what is considered a 'service animal?'" Is it an emotionally mindful alligator? Is it a sweet and sensitive little frog in a mini terrarium?