Day 1: Healing Hearts

“This teddy bear is very special… I know you won’t hurt him.”

During a visit to the meditation and reflection room at this year’s Brooke’s Place Camp Healing Tree, Paws & Think therapy dog Heidi helped create a moment of quiet healing her handler will never forget. Camp Healing Tree provides grieving children and teens a safe, supportive place to process loss, and our therapy dogs are invited each year to offer comfort during some of the camp’s most reflective moments.

Throughout the visit, campers came and went, each spending a few minutes petting Heidi or sitting quietly beside her. One teen girl, however, remained in the room longer than the others. She sat silently at a table, watching from a distance as her peers visited with Heidi. She didn’t rush to approach, but her eyes stayed fixed on Heidi as the room slowly grew calmer.

When the last group of campers left and the space was finally still, she stood up, cradling a worn and well-loved teddy bear—48 years old, with seams and memories clearly carried through decades. She walked carefully toward Heidi and eased herself down beside her. As she settled in, she began to speak gently about her dogs at home, her health challenges, and life on her family’s farm. Her hand never left Heidi’s back, moving in slow, soothing strokes that seemed to comfort them both.

After a few minutes, she looked directly into Heidi’s eyes and whispered, “This teddy bear is very special. I know you won’t hurt him, so I’m going to give him to you.” With great care, she placed the bear against Heidi’s side, then leaned in even closer. The room remained silent except for soft breaths and the calming rhythm of her touch. Before long, her body relaxed, her shoulders softened, and Heidi drifted to sleep with her head resting gently on the girl’s knee.

Very few words were spoken, yet the connection in that moment was unmistakable. Trust grew in the quiet. A grieving young person found a safe place to rest her heart. And a therapy dog offered exactly what she was there to provide: unconditional comfort, presence, and peace.

Moments like this are powerful reminders of why Paws & Think partners with organizations like Brooke’s Place, and why we believe so deeply in the human-dog connection. Healing doesn’t always happen in big, visible ways. Sometimes it begins in silence—when a child and a dog sit together, understand one another, and give exactly what the other needs.

Your Support Makes Moments Like This Possible

Moments like these are why Paws & Think exists: to bring comfort, calm, and connection through the human-dog bond. With your support during our 10 Days of Giving, we can continue to create more healing experiences for children, teens, and families in need.