Service and Companion Animal Policy

In accordance with applicable law, trained service animals are permitted.  

Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Guiding individuals who are blind
• Alerting individuals who are deaf
• Medical alert or response
• Mobility assistance
• Psychaitrric task work

Staff may ask the following legally permitted questions:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What task has the animal been trained to perform?

Grand Strand Affair will not request documentation or certification.

Service animals must:

• Remain under the handler’s control at all times
• Be housebroken
• Be leashed, harnessed, or tethered unless disability prevents it
• Not pose a direct threat to others

If an animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, or if it is not housebroken, we may require its removal from the premises.

Emotional Support Animals are permitted at Grand Strand Affair.

However, ESAs are not required to have task-specific training, and our event environment can be intense. We strongly encourage handlers to carefully evaluate whether their ESA can safely and comfortably tolerate:

• Loud sounds and sudden noise
• Low or shifting lighting
• Crowded rooms
• Dungeon scenes and equipment
• Strong smells (leather, latex, sweat, etc.)
• Emotional intensity in scenes or demos
• 
  

Handlers are fully responsible for their animal’s behavior and well-being throughout the event and must adhere to the same expectations as service animals.

If an ESA becomes distressed, disruptive, or unsafe in the environment, staff may require the animal to be removed for its own safety and the safety of others.

Dungeon spaces may include:

• Sudden movements or loud impact sounds
• Scenes involving intense physical or emotional expression
• Equipment that could pose hazards to animals
• Tight walkways or dim lighting

Animals may not:

• Be placed on dungeon furniture or equipment
• Interfere with scenes or demonstrations
• Block walkways or emergency exits

We recommend that handlers use discretion when entering dungeon spaces and consider whether alternative arrangements may better support their animal.

• Do not pet, distract, or interact with any animal without explicit permission from the handler.
• Animals present at the event are not part of the entertainment experience.

We understand that some attendees may have allergies or animal-related phobias. If concerns arise, we will work to reasonably separate parties affected when possible. However, service animals are considered medical devices, and as such service animals will always be permitted in the convention space.

Communication & Pre-Event Planning

If you plan to attend with a service animal or ESA and would like to discuss access logistics in advance, please use the contact us form on our contact us page.