Indiana

Howard County

Love on a Leash®

The Howard County chapter was originally established in 2013 by one cat team and one dog team, steadily growing to double-digit teams. The chapter coordinates group visits each month at First City Recovery Center and Jefferson Manor Assisted Living, as well as various facilities in Kokomo and the surrounding towns; many teams visit additional sites independently. We have also participated in community events such as Barktoberfest, the Tipton County Pork Festival and Chocolate Fest. Our chapter also plans optional social events, sometimes with the pets and sometimes just for the handlers. We enjoy taking advantage of any opportunity to share our pets.

Meet Our Chapter Leader

Annette Shelly became a Love on a Leash® pet therapy team with her Shetland Sheepdog, Sweet Pea, in 2013 and certified her Rough Collie, Sugar, after Sweet Pea crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2022. Annette is retired and describes pet therapy as her passion; when she is not volunteering with Love on a Leash®, Annette enjoys crafting and volunteering through her church and support group. Annette loves many types of visits; she has precious memories of residents in memory care units responding to our pets, even when they don't respond to anything else. Her favorite part about volunteering with Love on a Leash® is feeling like she is making a difference in people's lives. The chapter is a small group that feels like family and she loves the time they spend together!