Service Animals

Pet Therapy
Service Animals

Service Animals Welcome Here!

Monadnock Community Hospital permits service animals in our facilities to give equal opportunity and access to people with disabilities. We’re proud to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

What service animals are

A service animal is a dog that is specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. It is not a pet. Dogs who only provide emotional support do not qualify as service animals according to the ADA. It’s against the law to misrepresent an animal as a service animal.

To ensure everyone’s safety, we follow ADA guidelines for service animals and handlers. When you visit us with your service animal, our staff may ask you if the dog is required because of a disability, and what tasks the dog is trained to perform.

Under ADA regulations, special tags are not required for service animals.

Service animal requirements

Every service animal at Monadnock Community Hospital must:

  • Be under the control of its handler at all times
  • Be on a leash, unless the leash interferes with the animal’s tasks or the person’s disability
  • Refrain from barking, whining, growling, unless this is part of the animal’s task
  • Avoid seeking attention or food from the staff or others
  • Avoid showing aggression to people or other animals
  • Refrain from defecating or urinating indoors

If you are a patient with a service animal, and you’re scheduled for an appointment that lasts more than four hours, you must have a designated handler who is not yourself or a staff member to care for the dog during that time.

Service animal removal

If we ask you to remove your service animal from the premises, we will provide you with the medical care and accommodations you need. We may ask to you remove the animal for the following reasons:

  • if it is out of control
  • if it poses a threat to the health of safety of others by showing aggression, exhibiting fleas or skin lesions, or going to the bathroom in the facility
  • if it doesn’t have a designated handler to watch it while its primary handler is undergoing care for more than four hours.

If you’re asked to remove your service animal from the premises and have no one to care for it, then arrangements will be made for boarding. You’re responsible for all costs associated with boarding of your service animal. If you’re asked to remove your service animal from the premises we will continue to provide medical care and necessary accommodations, but not in the presence of the service animal.

Got questions? Just ask. Call 603-924-4691