They bring us joy, warmth, and support when we need it most.

That's why Alberta Health Services welcomes them into our facilities, and we've created a policy that outlines how we support visits from our furry friends in a safe and inclusive way.

The Animal Interactions Policy applies to personal pets visiting a patient, service and guide dogs, and volunteer animals.

Make sure you talk to the patient's healthcare team before bringing your pet into an Alberta Health Services facility for a visit.

You'll need to make sure you can take care of the pet for the entire visit.

And you'll need to make sure your pet is healthy, calm, house trained, and up to date on vaccines; is on a leash or in a carrier; has the supplies they need, like a water bowl; is not interacting with anyone other than the intended patient and caregiver; stays in their intended visiting area; and follows all infection prevention and control requirements.

It's important that pets don't get in the way of the patient's treatment.

For example, they should not lay on any of the patient's medical devices.

By following this guidance, we can ensure a positive and safe interaction for all.

Visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/PetVisits to learn more.​