Pablo at Animal Angels Foundation- Summer Camp

Title: “Zoomies, Drama & Treats: My Summer Camp Paw-ventures!”
By Pablo, Certified Therapy Dog & Full-Time Ball Chaser

“Hi there, hooman friends! I’m Pablo, a Labrador with a golden heart, a nose for snacks, and zero chill. I work at Animal Angels Foundation — which means I get to love, play, heal, and zoom my way into people’s lives. But this week? Ohhh… this week was special. I went to… SUMMER CAMP! And I’m still wagging about it!”

“The moment we reached camp, I could feel the excitement tickle my paws. The children were laughing, running, jumping — my kind of crowd! I ran straight in, gave a few happy barks, and sniffed five backpacks (for safety purposes, obviously).”

“Despite knowing my nature, I am a therapy dog of course! I should build rapport first. The kids sat in a circle. I went from one to another – resting my head on little laps, soaking up belly rubs, giving gentle paw-hugs. Some kids were shy at first, but I stayed close and quiet (well, mostly quiet). Soon, they started talking – about their pets, their worries, even their dreams. I may not understand every word, but I feel it. That’s my secret therapy skill.”

“And then I got ready for the best part of all…Listen, if there’s one thing I love more than belly rubs, it’s playing ball. So when my handler shouted, “Let’s play Pass, Run & Catch with Pablo!” I was READY. We formed a circle. One kid threw the ball – I zoomed. Another ran – I chased. They laughed – I barked (nicely). We all ran in loops, and honestly? I think I was the fastest. Just don’t ask the older kids like my handlers. For those glorious 20 minutes, I was the MVP: Most Valuable Pup.”

“After all that running (and a quick water break), it was time for something theatrical – the Wolf Drama Activity, led by my awesome handler! The kids pretended to be a wolf pack – growling, howling, sneaking around the “forest.” Guess who joined as the slightly chaotic but adorable wild pup? Me, of course. I pranced around, howled dramatically (10/10 for effort), rolled on my back during the “chase scene,” and added a zoomie where the script didn’t ask for one. But everyone loved it — even the handler was laughing.”

“Ah yes, the best way to end a perfect day is TREATS. My handler brought out my favorite crunchy snacks. I sat (for like 2.4 seconds), did a twirl, gave a high paw, and… CHOMP. Delicious. Reward well-earned.”

“As the sun began to set, I lay down with the children still buzzing around. One of them whispered, “Pablo, today was the best day ever.” You know what? It was for me too. Because at camp, I wasn’t just a therapy dog. I was a teammate. A co-actor. A friend. A joyful reminder that healing can look like laughter, running feet, and a dog who can’t sit still.”

“So here’s a little paw-print from my heart to yours: Play often. Love freely. And never skip treat time. Until the next adventure, Wags and Wiggles.”

- Pablo