It has been said that the best medicine is a dog’s love. No one knows that better than the volunteers of Love On A Leash. This national program certifies dogs, cats, rabbits and their humans to provide pet-provided therapy services.
“We have 65 active chapters in 27 states with a heavy presence here in San Diego. Our organization was started in the mid-’80s by a woman in Oceanside, and we are now one of the largest in the country with 300 members,” said Sue Subkow, San Diego Chapter Leader.
To make sure that both humans and pets have the right stuff to become a therapy team, they must pass the Control Evaluation test. Potential volunteers go to doggy boot camp for five supervised, in-training visits before passing muster with a certified animal behaviorist. Animal graduates even receive a diploma.
In July of 2024, while they were still in training, Jen Dryer and her three-year-old dog Molly, visited children participating in Camp Widow Kids, a day camp held while parents who have lost a spouse receive support from each other. Many of these children were grieving the death of a parent. “This visit made a lasting impression on me and made me realize how impactful and important therapy dog work is for our community,” Dryer said.
Months later, Molly and Dryer are hard at work making everybody’s day a little brighter.
“After graduating, Molly and I began exploring Downtown,” said Dryer. “Molly has a magnetic personality that attracts people wherever we go. She gets so much attention when we go to the Hob Knob it’s like having breakfast with a rock star. People of all ages are just drawn to her. They pet her and want to know everything about her and she loves the attention. When we go to Balboa Park it’s the same story. Molly just makes people smile, that’s why she is the perfect dog for the job.”
Their volunteering takes Dryer and Molly to hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, visits with families of sailors leaving on deployment, intensive care units, and assisted living facilities. In short, they go wherever someone needs comfort, happiness and a smile.
To learn more visit loveonaleash.org
