06/29/2026
🐾⛺️ Camp Kuzco was PAW-sitively the BEST way to celebrate my 9th birthday! ⛺️🐾
Hi friends! It's me... Kuzco! 🐶💙
I spent the day doing one of my favorite jobs—making kids smile! My birthday party turned the Barrie Center into Camp Kuzco, and I don't think my tail stopped wagging all day.
We roasted "s'mores," cast our lines at the fishin' pond, built the perfect trail mix, played games, took silly pictures around the campfire, enjoyed birthday cake, and made so many wonderful memories together. Every camper even got to head home with a backpack filled with fun goodies, snacks, a camping photo of ME and a flashlight for their next adventure!
But here's my favorite part...
At the Barrie Center, children usually come because they're carrying something incredibly heavy. For just one day, they walked through our doors and stepped into Camp Kuzco instead. The rooms that are normally used for difficult conversations became places filled with laughter, games, camping adventures, and smiles. They weren't thinking about trauma—they were making memories, celebrating, and simply getting to be kids. That's what made my birthday the greatest gift of all.
I wish I could show you every single picture because the smiles, laughter, hugs, and joy on the children's faces were the very best birthday gift a facility dog could ever ask for. ❤️
I also have some very special thank-yous to my amazing friends:
🐾 Thank you to everyone who donated items to fill our Camp Kuzco backpacks—you helped make each child feel extra special. Thank you to my friend Jessica Brown for the tent! It was so cozy!
🍪 Thank you to Cookies by Allison and Samantha for creating the most beautiful (and delicious!) birthday cookies. And Allison even baked me my very own pupcake! I have to admit... I gobbled that thing up in one bite. (No regrets. 😂)
🍪 Thank you to the Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama for donating Girl Scout cookies that made our campers' day even sweeter!
As for me? I was spoiled with yummy treats, my delicious pupcake, a cozy new blanket, squeaky toys, endless belly rubs, hugs from my favorite little friends, and so much love. A birthday pup couldn't ask for anything more.
Thank you to everyone who celebrated with me and helped transform the Barrie Center into a place of adventure, laughter, healing, and hope. You helped create a day where children could simply laugh, play, and remember what it feels like to just be a kid. That is a birthday I'll never forget.
Until next year's camping trip...
🐾❤️ Love,
Kuzco
Head Camper • Professional Hug Receiver • Full-Time Good Boy
HERO - Alabama's Courthouse Facility Dog Program
Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc. (ANCAC)
James M. Barrie Center for Children
United Way of Etowah County
Cookies By Alison & Samantha
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism
Gadsden Police Department
Canine Companions
