Your service dog is part of your daily life — and they’re welcome to join you at MU Health Care. We’re proud to support patients and visitors who are helped by service, guide and therapy dogs, and we’re committed to making sure you and your animal feel comfortable during your visit.
At MU Health Care, we define a service animal as a dog that has been specially trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
Emotional support animals and companion animals do not qualify as service animals.
Your care team may ask you two questions to ensure your service animal is in the right place:
- Is the animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
No one should ask you to see “papers” or registration, and no one should ask what your disability is.
Service Animals Allowed at MU Health Care
- Service dogs accompanied by patients or visitors
- Guide dogs accompanying patients or visitors
- Dogs approved by therapy programs
Note: Your service dog or guide dog can stay with you for most outpatient and inpatient treatments, but they are not allowed in sterile areas.
✔ Service Animals Allowed
- Exam rooms
- Clinics
- Cafeterias
- Patient rooms
✘ Service Animals NOT Allowed
- Isolation areas
- Operating rooms
- Burn units
- Other sterile environments
Service Animal FAQs
Can my emotional support animal come with me to the hospital?
In most cases, emotional support animals (ESAs) are not allowed to accompany you to the hospital. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Are ESA dogs service animals?
ESAs are not service animals. While they provide comfort and companionship, they are not specifically trained to assist a person with a disability. ESA pets are typically not allowed in MU Health Care facilities.
Can a cat be a service animal?
Cats do not currently meet the criteria to be service animals. These rules are developed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).