The no-kill animal shelter is now taking care of your childrenas well.

Brookhaven Animal Rescue League will hold their first Dog Daysof Summer Doggy Day Camp for children from July 26-July 30, from 9a.m. to noon. BARL volunteer Lu Becker said the camp will be agreat experience for teaching kids about pets.

“We’ll have programs every day, for example how to handle astrange dog and tips on grooming,” she said, adding that there willbe a dog groomer, a canine officer, a veterinarian and a dogtrainer that will come to speak to the children during the week.”Then we’ll have a doggy parade on the last day that they can bringtheir own dogs.”

BARL volunteer Samantha Sivils said there will also beinstructions that will help children with their own pets athome.

“They’ll learn the basics of caring for a pet, and each daythey’ll be taught tricks to go home and teach their pets,” shesaid.

The camp is open to children ages 5 through 12, and each childwill receive a camp T-shirt, as well as snacks and crafts and otherprizes. The cost of the camp is $40 per child.

But on top of that, Becker said, they come out of it withvaluable lessons about companionship.

“Children need to learn about animals because they love you nomatter what. Their love is constant and it doesn’t vary based onyour mood, and what you do doesn’t matter to them,” she said. “Theylove you if you have on make up or not, it doesn’t matter. I thinkthat’s important to have that kind of constant love anddevotion.”

And on Saturday, BARL held its first Bark-N-Bubbles at FirstBank, where people could bring their dirtiest dog and for a smalldonation, volunteers would wash, condition and dry clean theanimal. Becker said there was such a good turnout that future washevents are probably in the works.

“We washed over 20 dogs in two hours, and we adopted out fourBARL dogs to great homes,” she said. “There was wonderfulparticipation, and we just appreciate the public’s involvement. Weplan on doing it again.”

Meanwhile there is always a need for volunteers, Becker said.BARL enlists three certified dog handlers that train volunteers todeal with the animals, so it doesn’t matter how much exposuresomeone has had to the animals. All they need is a willingheart.

“We have great volunteers and always need more. Our animals canonly go to these events if they have a handler,” Becker said. “Whatvolunteers need to understand is there’s no job too small tovolunteer for, anything is appreciated.”

And it’s important to remember that not only do animals profitfrom people’s support of the shelter, but people do as well, Beckersaid.

“To support BARL in any way, I believe that will bestow aspecial blessing on that person,” she said. “Scripture that says arighteous man regards the welfare of his animals.”