Service Animals
- Authorized By: District Director of Health
- Initial Effective Date: 2/18/2020 (LMS)
- Replaces: New Policy
- Reviewed: 10/1/2022 (GM+SD)
- Revised: Moved to Google Sites 8/12/2021
- Contact: Director of Administration and Accounting or Human Resources Administrator
Service animals are permitted in all areas of NKY Health that are open to the public, including most client areas, provided the service animal does not pose a direct threat or fundamentally alter NKY Health’s operations or procedures.
All service animals must be trained to behave properly in a public setting and must remain under the control of the handler at all times.
Definition of Service Animal
A “service animal” is a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Animals which solely provide affection, comfort, or emotional support and are not trained to perform a specific task(s) for an individual related to a disability are not “service animals.” Such unqualified animals are not permitted in NKY Health facilities.
Examples of Disruptive Behavior
Examples of disruptive behavior include (but are not limited to):
Scratching, excessive whining or barking
Growling, biting, lunging
Urinating or defecating inside NKY Health facilities
Right to Remove a Service Animal
NKY Health reserves the right to ask an individual what service the animal is trained to provide and to remove any service animal that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, causes a significant disruption, or engages in disruptive behavior which is not corrected by the handler upon request.
Services Provided If a Service Animal is Removed
In the event that NKY Health requests the removal of a disruptive animal, the individual will still be permitted to receive NKY Health’s services once the animal is removed.