Unlike Guide Dogs and PTSD Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs (ESD) are not explicitly trained for a specific career path but provide companionship and love. Not any dog can be an ESD. The dogs we provide have excellent characteristics and temperament, making a qualitative difference in the lives of those who receive them.
Over the years, these ESDs have been given primarily to children on the autism spectrum. Since the outbreak of the war with Gaza, the Israel Guide Dog Center has provided Emotional Support Dogs to survivors, evacuees, and individuals who have suffered emotional trauma because of the war. Below are a few stories we can share with you:
A family living on a kibbutz near Gaza returned home in January 2024, three months after being evacuated. The father has had PTSD since the war with Gaza in 2014. At the time they left the kibbutz, the mother was pregnant. There are two additional children, one on the autism spectrum. The child with autism exhibited symptoms of severe regression due to the bombs and stress, as well as the abrupt move in October without preparation, taking this child out of a secure framework. The outbreak of the war only worsened the PTSD symptoms of the father. Even after returning to the kibbutz, many missiles and sirens continued. Both the child and the father were on edge. After receiving a beautiful Labrador Retriever, this dog has brought significant stability into their lives, and they all report that it has helped them cope with the new reality. The situation is still challenging, but getting one of our dogs into their lives has been made much better.
An IDF commander from Sderot is the father of six children, with one child on the autism spectrum. The events in Sderot in October and the outbreak of the war have caused severe emotional challenges for the family. This is not only because of the father’s absence but is compounded by the loss of colleagues and friends who died in the war and individuals held hostage in Gaza. Their family psychiatrist recommended they adopt a dog. The dog provided by the Israel Guide Dog Center is very connected with the children, particularly the child on the spectrum who didn’t speak with people outside of her family. She is now beginning to talk because her dog has given this child a sense of security. The dog has given this family “hope” for the future.
Another child on the autism spectrum, whose father has been in the reserves continuously since October 2023, received an ESD that the family says is “one of the biggest presents we could have ever received.” Previously, the child had not spoken coherently or at all. Their ESD dog has made a massive change in their lives. The child speaks clearly and is motivated to communicate when the dog is present. The dog walks the child to school, and after school, when the child goes to the park with the dog, the child begins playing with other children, something that had not occurred before adopting their dog.
Every ESD dog that we provide is life-changing, especially during the current moment.