Paws Up

First we learned about Farmer Brown’s dog, B-I-N-G-O, then we cried through Bambi. Old Yeller was a classic, along with other childhood faves like Lassie and Flipper. Yes, we remember fondly the animals of our youth and there’s no doubt that today’s kids love animals too.

That’s why we think Pawsitively Pets Camp is such a great idea—whether you own a pet or not. This camp for kids in Toronto is dedicated to animal lovers. With programs for ‘young pups’ starting from age five, all the way to the ‘mini-vet’ program for the teen set, they offer wonderful one week, all-day programs for children who enjoy connecting with a wide variety of animals. Kids get to work with the animals hands on and understand more about animal care and how to safely interact with them. The Pawsitively Pets Camp knows that exploring the love of pets and animals is a great learning experience for children, and it allows them to build self-confidence and a sense of compassion.

Camp is located downtown at the Dundas West Animal Hospital (2160 Dundas Street West), a real working animal centre, but there is a bus that provides transportation for kids in other areas of the city. One-week programs will include visits to the PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre, basics on being a vet, hands-on sessions with dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas and more, as well as crafts and scrapbooks to take home as a keepsake.

If you have a pet, or if you are thinking of getting a pet, this camp might help nurture a sense of responsibility in your animal-loving child. If you don’t have a pet, and you have a pet lover in your house, then here’s a great way to scratch that itch without making the big pet commitment.

Even better, proceeds from the camp go towards reputable pet and animal charities in Ontario.

Put it all together, and that’s what we call positive.