South Carolina

Grand Strand

Love on a Leash®

The Grand Strand Chapter of Love on A Leash was established in January of 2007 and serves the Northeast coastal area of South Carolina from Little River to Winyah Bay. We have established visits at various assisted living facilities, and some members also visit libraries and “shut ins” independently. Three chapter members are R.E.A.D.certified for schools and tutoring settings; we are coordinating with Coastal Carolina University to share the love with their students as well.

Meet Our Leaders

Barbara Tilke became a certified Love on a Leash member in 2015 and assumed the chapter leader role in 2016. Barbara and her beloved boy Jett were very busy making visits to assisted living facilities as well as home visits to “shut ins” before he passed away very suddenly in October 2021. Team Jett also worked in schools to provide dog bite prevention classes and was a certified R.E.A.D. team. Sugar Layne, a white miniature schnauzer, is now Barbara’s partner; she has some big paws to follow!

Barbara Tilke

Chapter Leader

Lynda Schwanekamp lives in Murrells Inlet with her husband and became a certified Love on a Leash therapy team with her Goldendoodle, Scarlett in 2022. Lynda especially loves participating in children’s reading programs (R.E.A.D.) at schools, libraries and visiting students on college campuses. Her favorite part of volunteering with Love on a Leash is working with all of the other talented therapy teams to recognize their individual talents! Lynda also loves to spend time in her gardens and is looking forward to growing Love on a Leash Grand Strand!