Pet therapy sessions return to Smithtown nursing facility

Nesconset-based Paws of War reopened its first pet therapy session last Wednesday, June 23, at the Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. The residents at the facility happily looked forward to meeting the trained therapy animals as it’s been over a year since the nonprofit’s team was able to host any sessions.

To start off the program, Paws of War will be returning to the rehab center at a minimum of once a month. The program will prioritize areas on Long Island that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19, and are actively reaching out to other facilities, such as camps and schools, that would like to use their services.

“We just want to bring some kindness and some human connection back,” said Kelli Porti, veteran and community outreach liaison. “It’s amazing what happens when you pet a dog, it brings you a warm fuzzy feeling, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish, is bringing some happiness and smiles.”

Since 2014, Paws of War has been training and placing shelter dogs to serve and provide for U.S. military veterans and first responders who suffer from the emotional effects of war.

Navy veteran Paul Baran, who served in the Hauppauge Fire Department for over 40 years, was ecstatic to see the therapy dogs. He has owned animals his entire life and is eagerly anticipating the next time the charitable organization will return to the rehab center.

“I’m definitely an animal lover,” Baran said, while gently petting one of the therapy dogs.

The trainers at Paws of War take pride in preparing their animals for therapeutic use, and the number of participating animals has risen from single digits to triple digits in the past four and a half years.

Facility training at the nonprofit’s location has reverted to in-person training, where veterans, their friends and their animals can safely come together again.

A trainer and employee, Rebecca Stromski, explained how exciting it’s been to get back to in-person training. Currently, the facility is holding outdoor training to ensure safe practices, but it dually benefits the dogs and veterans since there are more distractions outside.

“It’s incredible to see the change between the dogs and the people and watching them both light up,” Stromski said. “I love watching that light bulb click.”

As a military spouse herself, she began volunteering for Paws of War in her free time while her husband was deployed. Fast forward to a few years later, and she has become an essential employee to the organization’s team and veterans.

She even adopted a service dog for her husband once he returned home from his deployment.

“He’s been home for two and a half years now, and it’s nice that I can really see how the training works at home too,” Stromski said, while pointing to her bulldog Boba.

Korean War veteran, Andrew Caputo, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, has always had dogs in his life and was equally as thrilled to see the animals.

While petting the dogs, Caputo reflected back on his life as a serviceman and explained how greatly he wanted to join the military at the young age of 18.

“Being in the Corps was the best experience of my life,” Caputo said. “When the war broke out [in 1950] I wanted to volunteer, but they said I was too young, so I joined the reserves.”

Having uncles and grandparents serve in past wars influenced Caputo to join the Marine Corps at such a young age. After serving with the reserves for two years, Caputo went fully active for the next four years, ending his duty by being honorably discharged.

With the help of Paws of War being able to resume its monthly pet therapy sessions, veterans such as Baran and Caputo can lighten up the room with smiles once again.

“We love our veterans and first responders,” Porti said. “They’re all welcome into our facility. We love when they come in. It’s like a second home to them so we’re happy to open back up and have that again.”