Indiana

Hoosierland Bloomington

Love on a Leash®

Bloomington, Indiana, started with a single Love on a Leash® therapy dog with 2 handlers. Indiana University is located here, which understandably resulted in many requests for pet therapy visits. In addition, our community is also home to several nursing homes or assisted living facilities. It quickly became apparent that having a chapter in this location would benefit everyone. Within a year’s time, the area grew to 5 more volunteer teams and more training in the wings. In July 2025, our small band of volunteer teams was very excited to begin our new adventure as the Hoosierland Bloomington chapter of Love on a Leash®, and since then, we have continued to grow and serve our community, both young and old through joy and furry love.

Meet Our Chapter Co-Leaders

Madalyn McKenney, BA, AC, CPDT-KSA, CCC-CI, SDC has worked professionally with dogs for over 30 years and counting. She carries multiple certifications as a training instructor, and is a member of a few force-free/positive dog training associations. She is also Pet CPR and First-Aid Certified. Her experience with dogs since 1995 also includes: pet sitting, veterinary technician/nurse, kennel positions, grooming, foster & adoption, food education and retail sales. Educated at Indiana University, Madalyn has an Area Certificate in Animal Behavior and a BA in Psychology. This education included a full class on Pet Therapy, so over 20 years ago she did visits with certified teams and learned all about the benefits that dogs and other animals can give to people in a therapeutic capacity. It's so exciting to know we are making a difference for folks with every visit, petting, interaction, and smile along the way. Maeve is a retired racing greyhound, and we affectionately call her a 45 MPH couch potato. She is living her very best life when she is getting all the pets from all the people, so therapy visits are the best job she could ever have!

Madalyn McKenney

Chapter Co-Leader

Amanda Wrigley and her Love on a Leash®-certified therapy partner, Moxi, love actively volunteering in their community. They have been a Love on a Leash® pet therapy team since September 2024 and enjoy visiting nursing homes, local schools, and a variety of community and university events. As a team, Moxi and Amanda love meeting new people and bringing a little joy to their day. Moxi’s unconditional love really makes a positive impact on people’s lives, and visiting wth people in need of that is a job he simply loves to do. When Amanda is not volunteering, you can find her gardening, kayaking, or hanging out with the rest of her pack at home.