A Pup's Reflection on Chameleon's Journey

By: Christine Wheeler, Invisible Paw Prints

Hi. My name is Hadley. I am a 6-year-old mini-golden doodle. I have been doing pet therapy for five years with Invisible Paw Prints. Chameleon's Journey is one of my favorite volunteer weekends ever. There are SO many friends to meet and so many hearts to comfort.

First of all — outside time? The BEST. Grass under my paws, sunshine on my fur, trees swaying in the breeze… absolute puppy paradise. And the love? Oh my goodness. The kids, counselors, volunteers — everyone had the best scratches, and belly rubs ready to go. I tried very hard to thank every single person with tail wags and happy smiles.

One of my favorite things was when the kids asked to have me in their pictures. I sat extra still (well… mostly still) because I wanted to make sure their photos turned out perfect. I think I looked pretty adorable, if I do say so myself.

Sometimes the camp got quiet. The kids would sit together and share their grief journeys, talking about the people they miss and the hard feelings they carry. During those moments, I knew my job wasn’t to play — it was to listen. So, I leaned in close, rested my head on laps, offered soft cuddles, and reminded them they weren’t alone. I noticed the older kids especially seemed comforted having us nearby. They didn’t always say much, but I could feel them relax when I curled up beside them or gently nudged their hands for a pet.

And can I just say how amazing it was to work alongside so many other therapy pups? There’s something really special about a whole team of furry friends comforting kids and counselors at the same time. We LOVE working with our pup buddies. Some of us are goofy, some are calm, some are tiny, and some are huge — but together we make one pretty pawsome comfort crew.

At the end of camp, everyone gathered outside for the balloon launch. I watched quietly as the balloons floated higher and higher into the sky. The kids smiled, hugged each other and their families, and looked up with hope and love in their eyes. It was a special part of the weekend, and I was happy to be there.

Now, I do have one confession. There was a gigantic blow-up chameleon at camp and WOW… that thing was suspicious. Very suspicious. It moved in the wind, stared with giant eyes, and honestly, I was not convinced it was friendly. I kept my distance and may have done a tiny nervous shuffle backward. But that’s okay. Maybe next year I’ll be brave enough to go closer.

Until then, I’ll stick to what I do best:

tail wags, cuddles, quiet comfort, and making kids smile.

Paws and kisses,

Hadley