On December 6th, something very special happened at North Haven High School. The students from the Best Buddies program had a visit from Project Blue Paw and three amazing police dogs and their handling officers from the North Haven Police K-9 Unit. This event was filled with laughter, learning, and a powerful message about inclusion and teamwork.

Learning Together

Project Blue Paw is a unique program that teaches young people how to understand and interact with police dogs. It also highlights the vital roles these K-9s play in keeping our communities safe. But this visit wasn’t just about the dogs. It was also about how we are all unique and how working together makes us stronger.

The Best Buddies program shares this goal. Our mission is to create opportunities for friendships, leadership, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together, Project Blue Paw and Best Buddies showed how much we can achieve when we work as partners—whether we are people or dogs!

Meeting the Amazing K-9 Team

The event kicked off with the students meeting three incredible dogs:

• K-9 Taro, a German Shepherd, specializes in search and rescue. Whether it’s finding someone who is lost or tracking down a suspect, Taro is always ready to help.

• K-9 Quella, a black Labrador, is an evidence dog. She has a remarkable nose for finding things like missing items or evidence at a crime scene. During her demonstration, she sniffed out a bag with evidence, and a Buddy pair even got to help with the search demonstration!

• K-9 Cyrus, a strong and agile dog, is trained for suspect apprehension. Outside, Cyrus showed off his impressive bite skills, leaving the students in awe.

Each demonstration was more exciting than the last. The students loved petting Quella, cheering on Taro, and watching Cyrus in action.

A Message of Inclusion

Throughout the visit, the officers and students discussed how the dogs each have different abilities, just like people do. Some dogs are better at tracking, others at sniffing out evidence. It’s just like how we all have our own strengths, abilities, and talents. The officers explained how the dogs and their handlers are partners, working side by side for the good of their community. This inspired the students to see themselves as part of a team too, with their buddy pairs supporting one another in their goals and dreams.

Best Buddies also invited students from the middle school’s special education program to join in the fun. Everyone sat together, asked questions, and shared smiles and giggles as the dogs performed their tricks. One student said, “This is awesome! I am thinking about joining the police force. I hope I can work with a K-9, too!”

Uniting the Community

This day wasn’t just about fun and learning. It was also about connection. The students connected with the officers, the dogs, and each other. Best Buddies helped make sure everyone felt included and valued. The visit showed how important it is to celebrate our differences and come together as a community.

As the day wrapped up, the students waved goodbye to Taro, Quella, and Cyrus, but they carried with them an unforgettable experience. They learned that just like police dogs and their handlers, we all have something special to contribute.

Why This Matters

Project Blue Paw and Best Buddies both have missions that go beyond teaching or entertaining. They are about creating bonds, promoting understanding, and building inclusive communities. By bringing these two programs together, the students at North Haven High got to experience firsthand how powerful teamwork and inclusion can be.

This visit reminded everyone that whether we walk on two legs or four, we all play an important role in making the world a better place. And just like the K-9s, we are at our best when we work together.

What a fantastic day it was, filled with kindness, learning, and a whole lot of wagging tails!