INDIAN HOLLOW PRIMARY SCHOOL

Paws of War visited Indian Hollow on Wednesday to share their mission and teach students about how any pet can help someone decompress.

The students learned that a service dog performs specific functions for their owner, while a therapy dog is trained to help various people feel good, such as at senior centers.

Paws of War trains and places shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to military veterans who suffer from the emotional effects of war.

Service dogs undergo two to three years of training before being given to a former service member.

The students learned that a pet doesn’t need to be an official service or therapy dog in order to comfort someone. They were encouraged, if they feel stressed and have a pet, to spend time with it — and that time can soothe whatever stress they are feeling.