Bobo sings.  Blaze and Lucy dance.  Together, they form a team of socializing therapy canines helping Camp Paquatuck residents learn proper human-to-animal etiquette.

With their trainers/owners, these therapy dogs play a vital role in helping foster compassion and patience among the Paquatuck campers, who interact with them on a weekly basis throughout the summer.

During their final visit of the season, on Aug. 29, Rebecca ‘Becca” Stromski, head trainer for Paws of War, took time out to discuss the program while other trainers engaged each member of the group, encouraging play and rewarding with treats and compliments.

“Puppies know more than we do,” she observed. “They know how to read people and they know how to teach. And this is one of my favorite places to bring them.”

In addition to their visits to children with special needs, teams of volunteers and their dogs visit area nursing homes and hospitals.

Paws of War also trains service dogs to assist veterans by doing chores, opening doors, navigating street crossing and travel on planes.  Their service training is more extensive and includes a certification process that must be fulfilled before the dog can be placed with a veteran.

Another program assists military families, first responders, and returning military service men and women seeking to adopt pets they’ve bonded with while deployed overseas.

But here, in this serene and welcoming setting, the emphasis today was on fun and friendship as dogs and their new pals engaged in some serious play: the way Paws of War has of fulfilling another mission at Camp Paquatuck.