Service Animals

The Lehigh Valley Zoo welcomes zoo guests with service animals under the guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). A service animal (usually a dog) is individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Pets are not permitted to enter the Zoo. Service animals must be properly harnessed or leashed, and always be under their owners’ control during their zoo visit. Guests with service animals are required to clean-up all defecation from their service animals while at the zoo.

We do ask that guests with a service animal check in with a manager upon entrance to the zoo so that we can review our zoo guidelines at the start of your visit. Our goal is to help you have a great zoo day and to also ensure our animals are safe and comfortable during your visit.

When open, the following areas are restricted to service animals due to the limited physical barriers between animals and guests:

• Giraffe Feeding Deck & Vestibule
• Lorikeet Aviary
• WOW Ampitheater
• Barnyard
• Kangaroos Walk About
• Goat Yard

If a guest wishes to visit these areas without their service animal, our Zoo Staff will be happy to help accommodate those requests.

A service animal may be asked to leave the zoo grounds should they cause a disruption to our zoo operations. Specific behaviors that may be cause for removal include:

• Aggressive behavior, including barking and/or growling at zoo animals or guests.
• Disruptive behavior such as jumping toward or running at other people or animals, that the animal’s handler cannot control.
• The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it.
• The animal is not housebroken or properly cleaned up after.

If such behavior is observed by zoo staff, the service animal’s handler will be given reasonable opportunity to get the animal under control or remove it from the location themselves. In the event such a situation occurs, we will work with you to continue your visit in a manner that is safe for you, your service animal, zoo animals and zoo guests in the future.

Sensory Inclusion

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is Sensory Inclusive Certified through KultureCity. This gives our staff the tools to better assist guests with sensory needs. Through this certification, we provide guests with the availability to sign out and use Sensory Bags. The zoo has designated certain areas of the zoo that are considered to be over stimulating  (headphone zones), and areas where guests can retreat (quiet zones). You can recognize these areas by their designated signage.

The zoo has 5 sensory bags and a weighted Lap Pad that can be used during your visit. These are available for sign out in the main office. To learn more about Kulture City and the zoo, or to prepare yourself for your visit, please click here.  You can also download the Kulture City app.