San Diego Love On A Leash

It is the responsibility of each member, whether fully certified or in training, to adhere to all National and chapter guidelines when making visits or acting in any way as a representative of Love On A Leash.

In addition to the general guidelines, there are additional guidelines that apply specifically to visits with children. Only fully certified teams are permitted to visit children.

1. All pets must be freshly bathed or groomed for every visit.
2. Leashes may be no longer than 4 feet.  Metal/chain or retractable leashes are not permitted. 
3. Have your pet relieve him/herself prior to the visit, and always carry a bag and a cloth or tissue just in case!
4. Do not allow treats to be given during the visit. Some pets may drool over the treats or may accidentally nip the person when going for the treat. Verbal praise is the best reward.
5. Ask permission to enter a room for a visit.  Do not assume that a person wants a visit, even if they enjoyed a previous one.
6. Don't move wheelchairs, walkers, portable night stands, etc. without first asking permission.
7. Don't sit on a chair or bed without first asking permission.  Sometimes these are the only items people have as personal belongings and we don't want to invade their primvacy without permission
8. Don't let the person you are visiting put their face right up to your pet and vice versa, no matter how well trained your pet is.
9. If you notice something out of the ordinary, report it to facility staff.
10. If a patient asks you to assist them with something in their room, contact staff. Do not help a person dress, get out of bed or a wheel chair, sit up, etc. We can offer to change the channel on their TV, shut it off/on for them, hand them a book/newspaper. Other than that, seek the facility staff for help.
11. Know your pet.  If it seems tired, panting, ears or tail down, or does not want to enter a room, it is time to end the visit.  First priority is the pet.  Do not let them get stressed.
12. Do not visit people if they are eating, have their doors closed, are being cared for by staff, or a curtain is drawn.
13. Discourage licking.  Many people do not like to be licked.  Some older patients have paper thin skin and a lick from a pet may cause a wound.
14. Keep a close eye on your pet at all times.  It only takes a second for your pet to find something ont he floor and consume it.  It could be a pill, used band aid, or some other dangerous item.
15. Control the paws!  It only takes a second for a paw to scratch the sensitive skin and cause a wound.  Be particularly careful if the person is holding the pet, be alert for activity that could startle the pet and cause it to move quickly and result in a scratch to the person holding it.
16. Always carry ID for both you and your pet.
17. Respect privacy.  Never disclose any personal information about anyone you visit to anyone other than to notify the facility staff of a potential problem.
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As an organization, we visit hundreds or maybe thousands of children each year.    Many children have not had any education related to dog safety and may have pre-conceived ideas that are false or even dangerous.  It is important that members of LOAL maintain a safe and controlled environment when visiting children, and promote education about proper and safe pet handling.

In addition to the General Guidelines, the following apply for visiting children ages 5 to 12 (we do not recommend visits with children less than 5 years old). 

1. Do not visit children with any dog who has ever shown any type of aggression around children.  Children are often unpredictable, and dogs must be steady, not easily upset, and highly tolerant of noise and quick moves.
2. Make your expectations clear.  The visit must be controlled and organized, and adults who are responsible for the children must be present.  Children must be told to be calm and move slowly around the dogs. 
3. Prepare the dogs.  Watch for signs of stress.  Dogs can get overwhelmed and over-stimulated by noise or too many hands and react poorly.  We want the visit to be positive for the children and also for the dogs!
4. Use the opportunity to promote safe and proper behavior around dogs.  Educate them on the signs of stress or aggression, and the proper way to approach a strange dog.  Encourage them to ask permission before petting any dog, and then approach with care:  First let the pet smell their open hand; then pet the chest, working their way up to the shoulders and back; and finally pet the top of the head. Petting the top of the head first can be interpreted as an 'attack' to some animals.
5. Do not read to the children. Let them read to the dogs. If a child gets stuck on a sound or word, we can assist by talking through the dog. For example, we can say, 'Fido, do you think Johnny is trying to say bbbb ball?'. Johnny will most likely thank Fido for helping him instead of you.
6. Parents or guardians must be present at all times.  We are not insured to baby-sit.  Please make sure you stop a parent from leaving the area during your visit at the library.
7. Children are often times unpredictable, particularly those with physical challenges that might result in jerky motions or mental challenges which may result in sudden outbursts. Keeping control of a short leash at all times is necessary. 
8. If your pet shows any sign of stress or discomfort, end the visit immediately.
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