Our Mission: Love On 4 Paws is a non-profit, volunteer based organization committed to making a positive difference for those in need through animal assisted therapy. Our volunteers accomplish this by sharing the joy, comfort and healing power of their pet's unconditional love. Our emphasis is visiting with adults and special needs children in hospitals and health care facilities, although we also visit schools and participate in community events.
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Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but any persons shown are probably not those in the story. Although still considered a "puppy" at 1.5 years old, Tinsel has a very calm and loving temperament that seemed very suited to bringing smiles and brightening peoples' day.
We at Love On 4 Paws want to share letters we receive from patients, family members, and caregivers. We want to thank you for the surprise visitors, Malia and Herbie, for my son this morning at the hospital. Jackson is one of the dogs with Love On 4 Paws. He visited a patient at one of our local hospitals, and apparently made quite an impression.
Hospital/Health Facility Patients: Our volunteers see smiles from patients who rarely smile. They sometimes see a hand gently pet a dog -- a hand that hasn't moved in weeks. Language barriers don't exist -- everyone speaks "dog"! In addition, peer-reviewed studies show measurable improvements in stress hormone levels and blood pressure during and after a visit.
Reviews (17)
Jessica Rivera
Mar 26, 2022
Adrianne A.
Aug 27, 2020
As a Lead Recreational Therapist for Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility in LB. I absolutely love this company. We have been using Love on 4 Paws for about 3 years now. They visit our psychiatric patients weekly and it's one of the most liked visits in our entire program. Communication from their representative Suni is beyond professional and a delight.
She has been so kind to work with and communicates and advocates for her program and that is greatly appreciated. They even take a Polaroid photo of the patient and the dog which is a great gift to have and look at during their stay as well as take with them. It is also very HIPAA compliant for our hospital. They have even been so gracious as to be willing to visit us during these difficult times of COVID and adapt to our policy and procedure changes. We will continue to work with Love on 4 Paws as long as they will have us!
She has been so kind to work with and communicates and advocates for her program and that is greatly appreciated. They even take a Polaroid photo of the patient and the dog which is a great gift to have and look at during their stay as well as take with them. It is also very HIPAA compliant for our hospital. They have even been so gracious as to be willing to visit us during these difficult times of COVID and adapt to our policy and procedure changes. We will continue to work with Love on 4 Paws as long as they will have us!
Jennifer K.
Aug 25, 2020
My Great Pyrenees dog, Bella, and I have been a therapy dog team with Love On 4 Paws since February 2019. This is a wonderful organization that provides opportunities to visit many hospital, school, group home, and retirement center sites from the South Bay to Pasadena to Santa Monica. The organization is run very professionally and there are lots of volunteer coaches to help you get started. Animal assisted therapy has been a very valuable and meaningful experience for both me and my dog, as well as the many children and adults that we visit.
Pamela P.
Aug 25, 2020
Along with my labradoodle Tripp we visit hospitals to provide a diversion for the patients in the community. Many patients mention that they have a dog at home that they have been missing. The look on the patients faces we visit speaks volumes. My dog Tripp is a 3 year old labradoodle with an old soul. He is calm loves everyone. We began volunteering about 2 tears ago
Bill W.
Nov 04, 2018
Raylene B.
Mar 23, 2016
Without doubt, the time I spend at various facilities with Daisy, the cutest dog in the world, is the most rewarding and fulfilling time of my week. The organization itself is well organized and responsive. There are strict criteria in getting approved to join the program, and a number of 'rules' that you have to follow at each visit. All for a good reason.
Love on 4 Paws is a highly organized group, and they have a great reputation at the different facilities I have been to. I have worked with several coaches, each of whom has their own style (much like us volunteers). They run a tight ship, and the rules are put in place to protect you, your dog and the patients. Bottom line, I do this for the patients and for myself and am grateful to Love on 4 Paws for their hard work in keeping all the balls up in the air. I would heartily recommend this organization, and would also recommend this type of volunteer activity for the right pet and pet owner.
Love on 4 Paws is a highly organized group, and they have a great reputation at the different facilities I have been to. I have worked with several coaches, each of whom has their own style (much like us volunteers). They run a tight ship, and the rules are put in place to protect you, your dog and the patients. Bottom line, I do this for the patients and for myself and am grateful to Love on 4 Paws for their hard work in keeping all the balls up in the air. I would heartily recommend this organization, and would also recommend this type of volunteer activity for the right pet and pet owner.
Thomas M.
Mar 22, 2016
Nikki R.
Mar 20, 2016
Mary L.
Mar 16, 2016
Love On 4 Paws is a top notch organization in my opinion. I have been with them for over 8 years now and love that they are organized and have over 50 places to visit and each facility is unique. Everything from hospitals, assisted living facilities, special schools, colleges during stress (test) week, the Veterans Hospital, special community events and on and on!
Love On 4 Paws offers an exciting opportunity for you and your pet to give back to the community. It has been so rewarding for me, and my dog loves it! Lots of attention and petting and treats and she gets to go with "mom"! What could be better!
Love On 4 Paws offers an exciting opportunity for you and your pet to give back to the community. It has been so rewarding for me, and my dog loves it! Lots of attention and petting and treats and she gets to go with "mom"! What could be better!
Valerie N.
Mar 15, 2016
I have been a volunteer with Love On 4 Paws for over ten years with two different dogs. I cannot tell you how many times patients have told me our visit was the best thing to happen to them all day. I have had people cry and most everyone smiles, often for the first time since they have been in the hospital. There are amazing opportunities for places to visit. Hershey and I have been in the pediatrics ICU unit and we have been on the USC campus helping students deal with stress.
The requirements are rigorous, so this program is not for everyone. You need to average three visits per month and can schedule up to 90 days in advance on the LO4P's web site. If you schedule less than that many days out, the popular faculties fill up - that is no fault of the staff.
The requirements are rigorous, so this program is not for everyone. You need to average three visits per month and can schedule up to 90 days in advance on the LO4P's web site. If you schedule less than that many days out, the popular faculties fill up - that is no fault of the staff.
Erin B.
Mar 15, 2016
I have been a volunteer with Love on 4 Paws for over 5 years. The organization has strict guidelines for both accepting volunteers and for current volunteers who are in the program. The rules and guidelines have been developed over the years to address the needs of the organization and the unique specialized needs of the individuals that we serve at hospitals, special education schools, and retirement homes that we visit across the greater Los Angeles area.
If you have a great dog, are capable and willing to follow rules, and want to participate in a program that is in place to bring joy to individuals in need of some cheering up, then LO4P's might be a great fit for you! My experience with LO4P has been extremely rewarding and my dog agrees! Whenever he sees me put on my LO4P's uniform--he tells me he's ready to go too by wagging his tail and making a beeline for the front door!
If you have a great dog, are capable and willing to follow rules, and want to participate in a program that is in place to bring joy to individuals in need of some cheering up, then LO4P's might be a great fit for you! My experience with LO4P has been extremely rewarding and my dog agrees! Whenever he sees me put on my LO4P's uniform--he tells me he's ready to go too by wagging his tail and making a beeline for the front door!
Britt H.
Jan 06, 2016
Don't waste your time with these folks. Not only are they incredibly disorganized but they treat it like a dog boot camp. Being strict about rules and safety is fine but talking down to volunteers and staff members in not ok. They spent 90% percent of the time telling us what NOT to do, rather than what to do. They made fun of volunteers by using them as examples of what not to do.
If you are going to run things like a boot camp then I expect the people who are running the show to be on top of things. Instead, no one seemed to know anything. I made an appointment to get proper shots for hospital visits and the lady stood me up. I sat there waiting and she never showed up. What a bunch of flakes!
If you are going to run things like a boot camp then I expect the people who are running the show to be on top of things. Instead, no one seemed to know anything. I made an appointment to get proper shots for hospital visits and the lady stood me up. I sat there waiting and she never showed up. What a bunch of flakes!
Jean L.
Nov 17, 2015
This review is specifically for receiving service from this organization. Every so often, my work place invites these cute doggies to visit. During lunch time, all the volunteers will be in the courtyard with their dogs. Each owner has been extremely nice and loves to share stories of the animals. All the animals are well behaved and trained. The volunteers shared that they visit hospitals, senior homes, and other places that can use a little extra joy of dog therapy. Overall, it seems to be low commitment of volunteering with a minimum of once a month, according to one of the volunteers. In the future, when I get a dog, I'd like to enroll and volunteer my dog with this organization.
Brian B.
Nov 02, 2012
Charlie my dog and I have been volunteers with LO4P for 3 years now and we love it. The screening process is thorough and it can be a little nerve wracking, but keep in mind they are vetting you and your dog to be around little children, the sick and the elderly. The review Stephen K left was for the initial testing day so he really knows and can say nothing else about the LO4P experience.
It is infinitely rewarding and I recommend it to whomever thinks they are up for it but it shouldn't be entered into casually. This is a great organization which is run very well. I wish I could tell you what it's like to see a kid's face who is pain go to a face that forgets the pain and is smiling, at least for a little while.
It is infinitely rewarding and I recommend it to whomever thinks they are up for it but it shouldn't be entered into casually. This is a great organization which is run very well. I wish I could tell you what it's like to see a kid's face who is pain go to a face that forgets the pain and is smiling, at least for a little while.
Pat G.
Oct 31, 2012
I have been a volunteer with this program for 8 years and disagree with the guys review. This is a great program who have been to many hospitals, senior care facility's, schools, and many more. And brought many smiles to the sick and elderly. We do have a strict program where you need to make a certain number of visits a month. That is told to everyone who is interested in the program.
I was there the day this guy came for the orientation and no one has scowl. Everyone is excited to see the possible new dogs that we might have in the program. There are some dogs that do not make it, or humans that can not handle the dog and that would be a reason for the dog/human not to make it in the program. We are a great group of dog owners with great dogs who love visiting the sick or elderly or kids in schools.
That guys just sounds like sour grapes cause he could not handle the dog or the dog was not what was needed to pass all the testing. We have to protect everyone we see, so we have to make sure the dogs are gentle and do not have any issues. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in helping make someone smile.
I was there the day this guy came for the orientation and no one has scowl. Everyone is excited to see the possible new dogs that we might have in the program. There are some dogs that do not make it, or humans that can not handle the dog and that would be a reason for the dog/human not to make it in the program. We are a great group of dog owners with great dogs who love visiting the sick or elderly or kids in schools.
That guys just sounds like sour grapes cause he could not handle the dog or the dog was not what was needed to pass all the testing. We have to protect everyone we see, so we have to make sure the dogs are gentle and do not have any issues. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in helping make someone smile.
Lisa W.
Oct 31, 2012
Love on 4 Paws is an incredibly well-run organization. I have been with them for nearly 2 years and only get great feedback from the facilities that I have visited. The hospitals and convalescent homes have on numerous occasions told me that we are the most professional organization that they have ever worked with. I appreciate the structure and the strictness of the program--that's what makes us so good! L.W.
Stephen K.
Sep 11, 2012
I've volunteered in different pediatric units and hospitals and am fluent in sign language, so this comes in handy as I can interpret for the nurses when the kids are using signs they don't understand. Thought I would get my dog registered as a therapy dog to volunteer with me for a change, so I didn't have to leave him home. Some of this program's older ladies are nice, but they have a lot that scowl at you and your dog from the time you walk in. Don't even know if they realize it.
The dog doesn't even have to be misbehaving in any way for the scowls. I've volunteered at hospitals with volunteers like this, and they ran many of the hospital's volunteers off. They literally spent most of the two hour long orientation telling us all the many reasons they had kicked volunteers and dogs out of the program.almost like they get satisfaction or pleasure in doing it.
They never related personal positive experiences they had while volunteering at hospitals, which concerned me. If you have been volunteering at hospitals with children for years, most good volunteers have amazing stories to tell and love telling people about it. People are offering to help out and volunteer.most organizations appreciate this and are excited to have volunteers and do not try to run them off on day one.
From the time we walked in, a few of these older ladies were nothing but stern and grouchy. Is it a prerequisite for their volunteers to be mad at the world? Apparently, they did not like this guy nicknamed Smiley with a dog named Phoenix, who is loved by everyone he meets. They eliminated us because they apparently thought Phoenix wasn't trained well enough after an evaluation that lasted less than five minutes even after I explained that he had a rough week.and he was not acting up mind you and was obeying better than most of the other dogs.
We had waited several months to get to the evaluation. I thought they were joking at first because Phoenix is very well behaved, and everyone he meets comments on it. Oh, did I mention that some of the evaluators don't even have therapy dogs.seriously. If you don't mind wasting lots of time waiting to even get evaluated for a therapy dog program, then this might be your program.or if you like volunteering with grouchy old ladies who are miserable and want to make sure everyone else is as well (not all, but some) or being treated like an annoyance from the time you walk in, this is the program for you.
Think I now know why most of the hospital staffs don't remember their names. They said the staffs remember their dogs' names not theirs. Yeah, I don't remember the names of grouchy, miserable people either. They lost one of the best and most laidback therapy dogs they could have ever had and an experienced volunteer who also happens to be fluent in sign language. I'm glad they showed their true colors the very first session and saved me time in figuring out their true colors later on. Children need happy people to be around. Oh, the evaluation sessions are about 3-5 months apart and cost $50. Volunteers have to sign up for their volunteer sessions 90 days in advance, which may work for retirees but not for anyone under the age of 65 in the real world. Don't want to leave a review like this, but think a few of their volunteers need to go or change their attitude.
People are wanting to help out not get treated like a nuisance. They went on a long spiel about how people can't use a therapy vest so they can supposedly take their dog everywhere. Think everyone knows the difference between a legitimate service dog and a therapy dog. Yes, they did kick someone out of the program for this as well and seemed rather pleased about it.
In short, I'm glad this program was honest about how miserable it was on the first day. Phoenix and I moved on to greener pastures.and they are greener on the other side of the fence. This hyper-critical group is more interested in kicking and keeping dogs out of the program than in volunteering and helping children. There are some good people in the group, but they are being overshadowed by the very critical and obviously impatient people that did a good job of putting everyone and the dogs on edge.
The dog doesn't even have to be misbehaving in any way for the scowls. I've volunteered at hospitals with volunteers like this, and they ran many of the hospital's volunteers off. They literally spent most of the two hour long orientation telling us all the many reasons they had kicked volunteers and dogs out of the program.almost like they get satisfaction or pleasure in doing it.
They never related personal positive experiences they had while volunteering at hospitals, which concerned me. If you have been volunteering at hospitals with children for years, most good volunteers have amazing stories to tell and love telling people about it. People are offering to help out and volunteer.most organizations appreciate this and are excited to have volunteers and do not try to run them off on day one.
From the time we walked in, a few of these older ladies were nothing but stern and grouchy. Is it a prerequisite for their volunteers to be mad at the world? Apparently, they did not like this guy nicknamed Smiley with a dog named Phoenix, who is loved by everyone he meets. They eliminated us because they apparently thought Phoenix wasn't trained well enough after an evaluation that lasted less than five minutes even after I explained that he had a rough week.and he was not acting up mind you and was obeying better than most of the other dogs.
We had waited several months to get to the evaluation. I thought they were joking at first because Phoenix is very well behaved, and everyone he meets comments on it. Oh, did I mention that some of the evaluators don't even have therapy dogs.seriously. If you don't mind wasting lots of time waiting to even get evaluated for a therapy dog program, then this might be your program.or if you like volunteering with grouchy old ladies who are miserable and want to make sure everyone else is as well (not all, but some) or being treated like an annoyance from the time you walk in, this is the program for you.
Think I now know why most of the hospital staffs don't remember their names. They said the staffs remember their dogs' names not theirs. Yeah, I don't remember the names of grouchy, miserable people either. They lost one of the best and most laidback therapy dogs they could have ever had and an experienced volunteer who also happens to be fluent in sign language. I'm glad they showed their true colors the very first session and saved me time in figuring out their true colors later on. Children need happy people to be around. Oh, the evaluation sessions are about 3-5 months apart and cost $50. Volunteers have to sign up for their volunteer sessions 90 days in advance, which may work for retirees but not for anyone under the age of 65 in the real world. Don't want to leave a review like this, but think a few of their volunteers need to go or change their attitude.
People are wanting to help out not get treated like a nuisance. They went on a long spiel about how people can't use a therapy vest so they can supposedly take their dog everywhere. Think everyone knows the difference between a legitimate service dog and a therapy dog. Yes, they did kick someone out of the program for this as well and seemed rather pleased about it.
In short, I'm glad this program was honest about how miserable it was on the first day. Phoenix and I moved on to greener pastures.and they are greener on the other side of the fence. This hyper-critical group is more interested in kicking and keeping dogs out of the program than in volunteering and helping children. There are some good people in the group, but they are being overshadowed by the very critical and obviously impatient people that did a good job of putting everyone and the dogs on edge.
