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 of our volunteer teams have also decided to become 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 Chapter Co-Leaders

Barbara Tilke became a certified Love on a Leash® volunteer team with her Mini Schnauzer, Johnnycake "Jett" 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 also a certified R.E.A.D. team. Sugar Layne, a white Mini Schnauzer, is now Barbara’s certified partner; she has been filling some big paws!

Barbara Tilke

Chapter Leader

Lynda Schwanekamp lives in Murrells Inlet with her husband and became a certified Love on a Leash® pet therapy team with her Goldendoodle, Scarlett, in 2022. Lynda especially loves participating in children’s reading programs (R.E.A.D.) at schools and 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 garden and enjoys growing Love on a Leash® Grand Strand!