Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is committed to providing equal access to quality care for all patients. When you come here for a visit, you may see a patient assisted by a service dog. Service animals are a key part of helping patients independently go about daily life.
We are also committed to providing a comfortable and safe environment for our patients and staff, and appreciate that the presence of a dog may be difficult for some. We make every effort to minimize exposure to dogs for those with allergies or significant fear.
Hence, we respectfully ask that our patients come with service dogs only. A service dog is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other medical disability.
We respectfully ask that other dogs or animals are not brought to BIDMC.
A companion or emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides comfort or emotional support to its owner but is not individually trained to perform any specific kind of task. Although we recognize that people may benefit from the comfort of being with a pet, a companion or emotional support pet is not a service animal and is not permitted in the hospital.
Pet Therapy Program
A therapy dog is part of a BIDMC approved pet therapy program and is permitted in the hospital only after screening and approval.
We will ask for any dog to be removed immediately from the premises if they are not housebroken, or exhibit behavior such as barking, growling or other aggressive behavior, or impede safe travel of others.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask by: