Service Animal Guidelines

Guidelines for Patients and Visitors with Service Animals

Marshall welcomes the use of service animals by any person with a disability. A disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, is defined as any physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities, such as breathing, hearing, walking or caring for oneself. A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work and perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not considered service animals. Animals that are not service animals, along with pets, are generally excluded from Marshall.

Can I bring my companionship, comfort or emotional support animal to Marshall?

No, According to the ADA, Dogs and other animals whose sole function is companionship, comfort or emotional support are not considered service animals.

Should I notify Marshall in advance that I will be bringing a service animal?

Inpatients who will be bringing a service animal are encouraged to notify their care team in advance of their appointment or visit.

Can I bring my service animal to my appointment, emergency department or inpatient stay?

Marshall welcomes your service animal during your visit. We encourage you to ask staff any questions you may have. Please follow our simple rules when you bring your service animal to any of our locations. Click here to download the fact sheet.

Your service animal must be:

• Healthy, clean and groomed (no fleas, ticks or sores)
• House broken
• Under your control with a leash, harness or teether (unless your disability prevents it).
• Well-behaved (no uncontrolled barking, jumping, biting or scratching)

A service animal may be removed from the Marshall facility if the animal:

• is not under the control of the patient (or visitor)
• is not housebroken
• acts aggressively such as snarling, growling, biting, or scratching.
• is excessively noisy
• is determined to be infectious or ill
• otherwise poses a direct risk to the health or safety of people or other service animals.

Do I need to keep the service animal on a leash?

Service animals should be controlled with leashes, harness or tether. If you are not able to hold a leash, or if the leash would prevent the animal from performing its task, the service animal must be under your control through voice or hand commands at all times. Please tell anyone who approaches your service animal if they are interfering with your service animal’s ability to do their job.

What should I bring with me for my service animal?

• Food and water, as well as medicine needed by your service animal
• Leash, harness or tether
• Plastic bags for solid waste

What questions will the staff ask me about my service animal?

The staff may ask what work or task has the animal been trained to perform to help you.

Who is responsible for the care of my service animal during my visit/stay?

You or your designee are responsible for feeding, toileting, and watching over the service animal. Marshall is not responsible to watch over or otherwise care for the service animal.

For the safety of your service animal, we will ask you for the name of a person to contact in case you are not able to communicate. Make sure to let the staff know about any of your arrangements to take care of the service animal if you cannot take care of the animal.

Are there locations where my service animal is not allowed?

Service animals are not allowed in areas where they are at risk to patients or themselves. These areas include but are not limited to:

• Operating rooms
• Rooms or units that require special air quality for patients at high risk for infection such as oncology units
• Pharmacy and central processing areas
• Areas where visitors must take special precautions to reduce the risk of infection and may involve wearing gowns, gloves, or masks
• Food preparation areas

Visitors with service animals may not be allowed if:

• The patient or roommate has behavioral or psychiatric issues that may pose a direct threat if a service animal visits.

If a visitor with a service animal would like to visit a patient who is in a restricted area, Marshall will accommodate the visit if possible after an individualized assessment is completed, such as arranging an alternate location where the visit can take place.

Is there a pet relief area for my service animal?

Please ask the staff for the nearest dog walking area. You are responsible to pick up solid waste in a plastic bag and throw it away in an outside trash can.

What happens if my service animal becomes a threat to others, bites or scratches someone at the facility?

If your service animal growls, bites or acts aggressively, or otherwise is determined to pose a direct thereat to the health or safety of people or other service animals, you will be asked to remove the animal from Marshall right away.