Pets, particularly dogs, can play a significant role in a patient's recovery by providing emotional support and comfort. Recognizing this, several hospitals across the United States have implemented policies that allow patients' personal dogs to visit under specific conditions. These programs aim to enhance patient well-being while ensuring safety and hygiene within the hospital environment. Here is a comprehensive list of 15 hospitals in the U.S. that permit patients' own dogs to visit.
University of Maryland Medical Center
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) offers a Personal Pet Visitation Program, allowing patients to have visits from their own dogs or cats. The program requires coordination with Pastoral Care Services, a physician's order, and health certification for the pet.
Visit University of Maryland Medical Center website
UVA Health
UVA Health permits personal pet visits under special circumstances. Dogs or cats may visit for one hour per day with doctor approval and a visitor pass, provided they meet behavior and infection control policies.
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Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
In special cases, Dartmouth-Hitchcock allows personal pet visits for patients with prolonged hospitalizations. Approval is required from the nursing unit manager, and certain hospital areas are restricted from pet visits.
Visit Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center website
Northwell Health (Lenox Hill Hospital)
Northwell Health permits emotional support dogs to visit their owners in postpartum units. Patients must provide documentation ahead of their due date, and the dog must be hypoallergenic.
Visit Northwell Health (Lenox Hill Hospital) website
Liberty Hospital
Liberty Hospital allows scheduled visits from patients' personal dogs or cats, provided the pet is up to date on immunizations, clean, healthy, and well-behaved. Pets are not permitted in certain hospital areas.
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Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center (EOMC)
EOMC supports pet visitation as part of its commitment to quality healthcare. Pets must be leashed or in a carrier, and visits should be coordinated through the hospital's atrium entrance.
Visit Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center (EOMC) website
Floyd Health
Floyd Health's Personal/Family Pet Visitation Policy allows patients to visit with their dog or cat under certain circumstances, requiring coordination with Volunteer Services and appropriate documentation.
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Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
Wentworth-Douglass permits personal dog visits in special circumstances, requiring prior approval by hospital staff. Emotional support animals are not permitted.
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Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center welcomes guide and service dogs and supports therapy animal programs. While emotional support animals are not permitted, the center provides information on boarding options for patients' pets during hospitalization.
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Bradley Hospital (Brown University Health)
Bradley Hospital utilizes certified therapy dogs to assist patients, particularly children, in coping with mental health issues. While formal pet visitation policies are not detailed, the hospital emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted interactions.
Visit Bradley Hospital (Brown University Health) website
Wolfson Children's Hospital
Located in Jacksonville, Florida, Wolfson Children's Hospital's Healing Paws program allows patients to visit with their family pets, recognizing the emotional benefits of such interactions. The program requires pets to meet specific health and behavior criteria.
Visit Wolfson Children's Hospital website
Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital permits patients' own pets to visit during extended hospital stays, acknowledging the importance of family, including pets, in the healing process.
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Methodist Hospital (San Antonio, Texas)
Methodist Hospital has implemented a pet visitation program, allowing patients to receive visits from their personal pets under specific guidelines to ensure safety and hygiene.
Visit Methodist Hospital (San Antonio, Texas) website
Christiana Care Health System
Christiana Care Health System recognizes the therapeutic benefits of pet visitation and has established policies to allow patients' personal pets to visit, subject to certain conditions and approvals.
Visit Christiana Care Health System website
Georgian Bay General Hospital
While not in the U.S., Georgian Bay General Hospital has introduced a Pet Visitation and Pet Therapy program, allowing visits from patients' own dogs or cats under specific health and behavior guidelines.
Visit Georgian Bay General Hospital website
Mayo Clinic
Caring Canines therapy dog program since 2011. Registered therapy dogs visit patients. Pet visitation allowed with doctor approval, 2-hour limit. Service animals always welcome. Requirements: Pet Partners, TDI, or ATD registration.
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Cleveland Clinic
Therapy dog program for patient comfort. Service animals permitted throughout facility. Pet visitation with medical approval. Strict health/vaccination requirements. Therapy dogs in waiting areas and patient rooms.
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Johns Hopkins Hospital
Animal-assisted therapy program. Certified therapy dogs visit patients. Service animals welcome. Pet visitation by arrangement. Comprehensive therapy animal program across departments.
Visit Johns Hopkins Hospital website
Children's National Hospital
Animal visitation and therapy program for pediatric patients. Certified therapy dogs provide comfort. Service animals permitted. Strict vaccination and health screening. Special accommodation for family pets with approval.
Visit Children's National Hospital website
Texas Children's Hospital
Therapy dog program for young patients. Pet therapy visits scheduled. Service animals welcome throughout facility. Vaccination requirements strict. Pet visitation policy for family pets with medical team approval.
Visit Texas Children's Hospital website
UCLA Medical Center
People-Animal Connection (PAC) therapy program. Volunteer therapy dogs visit patients. Service animals permitted. Pet visitation with physician approval. Comprehensive animal-assisted therapy across departments.
Visit UCLA Medical Center website
Pet Partners
National therapy animal registration organization. Registers therapy dogs for hospital visits. Training and certification programs. Resources for hospitals implementing therapy programs. Standards for animal-assisted interventions.
Visit Pet Partners website
Therapy Dogs International
Certifies therapy dogs for hospital visitation. Training programs nationwide. Connects handlers with healthcare facilities. Insurance coverage for registered teams. Testing and registration services.
Visit Therapy Dogs International website
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Therapy dog testing and registration. Hospital visitation programs. Handler training resources. Liability insurance for members. Connects certified teams with medical facilities nationwide.
Visit Alliance of Therapy Dogs website
American Hospital Association - Pet Therapy
Resources for hospitals implementing pet therapy programs. Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions. Best practices for service animal policies. Healthcare facility standards for therapy animals.
Visit American Hospital Association - Pet Therapy websiteFrequently asked questions
Can I bring my dog to visit someone in the hospital?
Some hospitals run formal pet-visitation programs for patients staying more than a few days, usually requiring the dog to pass a temperament test, show current vaccinations, and be bathed within 24 hours of the visit. Casual drop-in pet visits are still rare.
Are service dogs allowed everywhere in a hospital?
Service dogs are permitted in patient rooms, lobbies and most clinical areas under the ADA. The standard exceptions are sterile zones — operating rooms, burn units and certain isolation rooms — where any dog poses an infection risk.
What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog at a hospital?
A service dog is individually trained to perform tasks for one person with a disability and has full ADA access. A therapy dog visits patients for emotional comfort under a volunteer program (such as Pet Partners) and has access only where invited.