Pets, Service Animals & Therapy Animals
North Mississippi Health Services has established specific guidelines for pets, service animals and therapy animals at our hospitals.
Guidelines for pets, service animals & therapy animals at NMMC
Below you will find a summary of NMHS’ policies regarding pets, service animals and therapy animals at our hospitals. You may view the official policy for full details.
Pet, Service Animal & Therapy Animal Policy Summary
- “Service animals” refers to guide dogs, signal dogs or other animals individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
- Service animals are welcome in any area open to the general public, as long as the service animal does not interfere with NMMC operations or cause a potential safety hazard.
- If a service animal is out of control or disruptive, the animal, patient and/or visitor may need to leave NMMC.
- The patient remains responsible for the care of the service animal unless the patient has no family, friends or resources to do so.
- Because not all NMMC areas are open to the general public, there may be certain times or places when the service animal is not permitted to accompany the patient.
- Therapy animals are allowed limited access. Access for therapy animals is as granted by the patient's provider.
- With the patient’s permission, a therapy animal may visit a patient except during mealtime. The therapy handler will end the visit if the animal begins exhibiting unacceptable behavior. The patient’s room will be cleaned appropriately after a therapy animal visit.
- Pets (non-service or therapy animals) are not allowed on NMMC property. The sole exception is the NMMC Inpatient Hospice Unit, but prior permission must be obtained from the nursing supervisor or his/her designee.
- While on NMMC property, animals should be kept on a leash and/or other appropriate restraining device at all times.
- Individuals who bring animals onto NMMC property are responsible for immediately cleaning up the animal’s waste.
- NMMC does not assume any liability or responsibility for the safety, health or security of pets, service animals or therapy animals while at NMMC. This includes circumstances where an NMMC staff member might voluntarily undertake temporary supervision of any such animal in order to assist a patient or patient representative(s), as well as the common hazards any such pet, service animal or therapy animal may be exposed to while at NMMC.