Indiana

South Central Indiana

Love on a Leash®

The South Central Indiana chapter was founded in January 2012. Chapter members are largely independent, visiting nursing homes, local hospitals, a veterans hospital, schools, a mental health facility, hospice, military facilities, a senior center, a domestic violence center, and a youth detention center in Columbus, Indiana and the surrounding counties. Since 2019, we have had a good showing in the Festival of Lights parade in December.

Meet Our Leader

Doug Bell has been the South Central Indiana chapter leader since May of 2020. He lives in Columbus, Indiana with his wife and three Rough Collies, all certified therapy dogs: Tori (a tri-pawed), Doogie, and Penny. Doug’s Rough Collie, Bonnie and Goldendoodle, Einstein sadly crossed the rainbow bridge, but not before completing hundreds of Love on a Leash visits and brightening the lives of many people. Doug is a retired IT professional who desperately avoids digital endeavors by walking dogs at the local shelter and assisting in a therapeutic riding facility. Doug enjoys mentoring new teams through certification, and bringing smiles to the faces of people who are at a rough stage in their lives. When he is not volunteering, you are likely to find Doug with his feet sticking out from under his 1963 Triumph TR4 in a fruitless attempt to keep it roadworthy.