Service Animals

Responsibilities for Handlers of Service Animals

Service animals are welcome at Med Center Health facilities. This includes appointments, an inpatient stay or a visit to the Emergency Department. For the safety of our patients, visitors and staff, please keep in mind the following requirements if a service animal accompanies you.
Your service animal must be:

• Clean, groomed and healthy with no fleas, ticks or sores
• Housebroken
• Well-behaved (calm, no barking, snapping/biting or scratching) and under your control with
  leash, harness or other effective method
  Vaccinations (shots) requirement:
• We require your service animal be vaccinated in accordance with state, county and local
  requirements.
  Leashes, tethers and harnesses:
• Your service animal must be under control at all times – if you are unable to hold a leash, or if
  the service animal’s job would be interfered with by a leash, the service animal must respond
  to voice and/or hand commands to remain under control.
• If someone approaches your service animal, please politely tell them it is a service animal
  and their attention may distract it from doing its job.