Michigan

Western Michigan

Love on a Leash®

The Western Michigan chapter of Love on a Leash® was founded in October of 2015. We have regularly scheduled visits at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools and libraries in the greater Grand Rapids area. We always welcome invitations to visit local hospitals, libraries, schools, nursing homes, and colleges. Chapter members visit independently as well as participating in group visits in Kent, Montcalm and Ionia counties.

Meet Our Leader

Amy Hansen's first registered therapy dog was in 1997. She has shown and titled dogs in many venues since the 1990's including conformation, obedience, agility and herding. She has also judged several dog shows and sweepstakes in UKC, AKC and 4-H. Amy co-founded the Western Michigan LOAL chapter in 2015. She continues to visit with her LOAL therapy cat Cricket and will soon be certified with her other cat Baloo; they especially love visiting at senior facilities, schools and hospice patients in their homes. Amy is a fitness instructor; when she isn’t working or volunteering with Love on a Leash, she enjoys traveling, swimming and hiking. She has been a hospice volunteer in many roles since 2013. Amy’s favorite part of volunteering with Love on a Leash is seeing the happiness the animals bring to the people she visits, the smiles and joy in what can otherwise be a difficult day or time in their lives.