Become a member
Love on a Leash® is committed to bringing comfort, happiness, and healing to more people nationwide by increasing public awareness of pet-provided therapy.
Steps to take to become a member
If you are looking for a way to volunteer in the community with your pet, Love on a Leash® pet therapy certification may be the right activity for you!*
PASS THE CONTROL EVALUATION
Dog evaluations must be administered by a Certified Animal Behaviorist, Certified Dog Trainer, Certified Obedience Instructor, or AKC approved Evaluator. Dogs must pass the Love on a Leash® Control Evaluation (p 5-6 of the Dog Application Packet), regardless of other testing or certification obtained elsewhere. Cat and rabbit evaluations must be administered by a veterinarian (p 2 of the Cat/Rabbit Application Packet). All pets must be at least 1 year old before they may be evaluated.
COMPLETE 10 HOURS OF SUPERVISED VISITS
Supervised visits are limited to one hour per day for teams-in-training. At least five in-training visits must be supervised by the same certified Love on a Leash® member, including the final visit. That supervisor completes the Visit Evaluation form after your final visit. Please check to see if there is a chapter in your area; if there is not, please contact Love on a Leash®. We will connect you with certified active Members at Large if there are any near you. In the event there are no certified Love on a Leash® members in your area, a pre-approved facility employee (e.g. Activities Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Librarian, etc.) may be solicited; however, you must obtain written pre-approval from National Love on a Leash® PRIOR to beginning Supervised Visits. If the person who administered your Control Evaluation is also a certified, active Love on a Leash® member, they are permitted to supervise one or two of your initial in-training visits, however, it is preferred that the Control Evaluator does not supervise any in-training visits to ensure objectivity in our rigorous certification process.
COMPLETE THE VISIT EVALUATION FORM
This form is to be completed by the person who supervised at least 5 of your 10 in-training hours, including your final visit. Teams in training have 1 year from their Control Evaluation date to complete all supervised visits and submit their applications.
SUBMIT THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Complete the Membership Application. Use the Checklist on page 1 to keep track of everything required for submission. Be sure to keep a copy of your entire application packet. Applications must be postmarked within 1 year of your Control Evaluation date.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
It may take up to 4 weeks to receive your Love on a Leash® Welcome Packet. As long as you are within your one-year evaluation period, you may continue to go on supervised visits while you wait for your application to be processed. You must carry a copy of your Control Evaluation and Visit Log on your visits and continue to be supervised by a certified Love on a Leash® team (or your pre-approved substitute supervisor) while you await your official certification.
*If your intention is to bring your pet to work with you (e.g. teachers or counselors who wish to bring their pets to schools, therapists who use their pets in their practices for animal assisted intervention, etc), Love on a Leash® is NOT the right fit for you. Our mission is for volunteers to serve in their communities with their pets, and thus our certification and insurance does not extend to our members’ places of employment during work hours. There are other organizations better suited to support this type of work.
No Chapter? Contact Love on a Leash®
PASS THE CONTROL EVALUATION
Dog evaluations must be administered by a Certified Animal Behaviorist, Certified Dog Trainer, Certified Obedience Instructor, or AKC approved Evaluator. Cat and rabbit evaluations must be administered by a veterinarian.
COMPLETE 10 HOURS OF SUPERVISED VISITS
Each visit will be limited to one hour per day for teams-in-training, with at least five visits (including the final visit), performed by a Visit Captain or certified Love on a Leash® member, who will also complete the Visit Evaluation form. If there are no chapters in your area, please contact Love on a Leash®. We will check to see if there are any certified members in your area. In the event there are no certified Love on a Leash® members in your area, a pre-approved, experienced facility employee (e.g. Activities Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Librarian, etc) may be solicited, however, they must be pre-approved – in writing – by National Love on a Leash® prior to beginning your Supervised Visits.
COMPLETE THE VISIT EVALUATION FORM
This form is to be completed by the person who observed at least five of the ten visits (including the final visit).
SUBMIT THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Complete the Membership Application. The included Checklist is very helpful in keeping track of everything that needs to be submitted for certification.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
It may take up to 4 weeks to receive your Love on a Leash® Welcome Packet. Once your Visit Evaluation is completed, you may not go on any further Love on a Leash® visits until you receive your new member IDs and vest.
ApplicationsNo Chapter? contact Love on a Leash®
