Service Dog Guidelines

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital understands that your service dog is an important part of your health and well-being. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is trained to perform a task related to a person’s disability. All service dogs at St. Jude must meet this need for their handlers.

Animals that are not service dogs

• Therapy and comfort dogs
• Emotional support dogs
• Facility dogs (St. Jude Paws at Play dogs)
• Pets

Service dog evaluation

All service dogs are evaluated when they first get to St. Jude. It is helpful to call us before bringing a service dog to campus. By calling ahead, you can begin the evaluation process before you arrive and prevent boarding fees if your dog is not approved. You can call 901-595-3300 and ask for the nursing house supervisor. This person evaluates all service dogs that come to St. Jude. 

If you are already in the hospital and are thinking about bringing a service dog, ask a staff member to call the nursing house supervisor.

Service dogs on campus and in St. Jude housing

When service dogs are on campus or in St. Jude housing, they must be:

• Housebroken
• Under supervision and control
• Leashed, harnessed, or crated. If these devices interfere with the service dog’s work, or if the handler’s disability makes it impossible to use them, the handler must control the service dog through voice, signal, or other controls. 
• Clean, healthy, and safe
  • They must not have a fever, stomach flu, fleas, ticks, skin sores, or parasites (such as worms).
  • Vet records may be requested if the dog appears ill. 

Service dog handler responsibilities

Service dogs must not affect the health, safety, or comfort of St. Jude patients, families, employees, or visitors. To help with this, it is important that you:

• Carry dog waste bags at all times so that you can clean up after your service dog
• Make sure your service dog does not bark a lot, disrupt patient care, lunge, growl, or act aggressively
• Do not allow patients, families, employees, or visitors pet or play with your service dog 
• Follow safety and handwashing guidelines to help protect St. Jude patients
• Care for your service dog at all times. This includes:
  • Walking
  • Feeding 
  • Giving water
  • Making sure your service dog pees or poops in designated areas when it needs to
  • Cleaning up accidents

St. Jude staff members are not allowed to watch, walk, feed, water, or clean up after your service dog. 

If you need a sitter or kennel, you must arrange for the service and pay for it.

Designated relief areas for service dogs

Your service dog must relieve itself (pee or poop) outside St. Jude buildings, along the fence around the edge of campus. You must pick up and, if needed, clean up after your service dog. Put the waste in an outside trash can.

If your service dog pees or poops inside a St. Jude building, you must clean up the area. Ask Environmental Services staff for protective gloves and cleaner. Staff will tell you where you can throw away the materials and waste.

Allowed areas for service dogs

Your service dog may be in any St. Jude area where the general public is allowed. This includes waiting rooms, Family Commons and the dining areas. The dog must be under the table when you sit at a cafeteria table. 

If your service dog has already been approved and you want to take it into an inpatient area or the intensive care unit (ICU), call your care team first for permission.

Restricted areas for service dogs

• An empty patient room not assigned to you or your child
• Another patient’s room
• Areas where clean or sterile linens or supplies are stored
• Common-area nutrition rooms 
• Rooms used for surgery and other medical procedures, including rooms used before and after surgery
• Areas that are dangerous for the dog
• Areas where the presence of a service dog would cause a basic change to a program or activity

If you must go to an area where your service dog is not allowed, St. Jude will provide another room for your dog and a second handler. If you cannot stay with your dog in these situations, you must make other arrangements for your service dog. The Best Upon Request concierge service may be able to provide a list of boarding kennels near the hospital. You will be responsible for cost of these services. 

Removal of a service dog

A service dog will be removed from the St. Jude campus if:

• It disrupts others with its behaviors or noises
• It could be a direct threat to the health or safety of others
• It is not under your control 
• Any of the handler’s responsibilities are not met 

Learn more

If you have questions about St. Jude Service Dog Guidelines, please ask to talk with a nursing house supervisor.