In Israel, military service is a rite of passage which is deeply ingrained into the national psyche. It’s an experience that shapes society and all who serve. But many also carry scars of that service long after their mission is complete and their uniform is retired.

PTSD is a life-long and often debilitating condition. Despite it’s prevalence in Israeli veterans, Israeli society still lacks understanding of this trauma.

Service dogs have become an essential source of support, healing, companionship, and independence.

Providing specially trained dogs for those in need is where the Israel Guide Dog Center excels. In fact, many Israeli veterans come to us for a Service Dog but also for the support that comes along with it.

War Trauma Comes in Many Forms

War trauma is often honored — soldiers receive medals, societal gratitude, and public ceremonies. Yet this recognition rarely acknowledges the emotional scars. These painful wounds are often deeply personal and are mostly experienced privately. It’s often seen as a tremendous “noble burden,” but the nobility doesn’t erase the pain.

Beneath each request for a dog lies a complex story of visible and invisible wounds. Some of the veterans who come to the Center have experienced combat, while others have been exposed to prolonged stress from high alert or having lost close friends in service. All trauma is not the same nor is the detail of their trauma. What is the same for our veteran clients is the way that their trauma continues to impact their bodies and minds long after they have ended their service.

War Trauma on the Brain

Beyond the emotional symptoms of PTSD, there are physiological changes in the brain. Research by trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk shows that trauma impacts brain function in multiple ways:

  • The amygdala, which governs the fear response, becomes hyperactive. This means a person is more easily triggered by perceived threats — even in situations that seem benign to others.
  • The hippocampus, responsible for organizing memory and establishing time frames, tends to shrink, making it difficult to distinguish between past and present danger.
  • The prefrontal cortex, which handles reasoning and executive function, often goes “offline” during episodes of stress, reducing one’s ability to make decisions or put things into perspective.

In addition, with elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline, the body can remain in a state of chronic alert long after the actual threat is gone.

This is why people with PTSD may panic in crowds, freeze when hearing sudden noises, or shut down emotionally.

These reactions are not signs of weakness. Instead, they are physiological and psychological adaptations—a body’s way of surviving an environment that once demanded constant vigilance.

Trauma Can’t be Erased

Dr. Judith Herman, a pioneer in the field of trauma studies, presented one of the most powerful insights when she wrote “healing is not a return to who someone was before the trauma, but rather the creation of a new life in full awareness of what has been lived.”

In layman’s terms, there is no complete “recovery.” But there are ways to cope. There is strength in not forgetting and purpose to learning to move forward while carrying the weight of the past. This philosophy guides everything the Israel Guide Dog Center does.

Our Role: Creating Partnerships not Cures

The work of the Israel Guide Dog Center does not revolve around therapy. Our focus is on creating highly trained Service Dogs that are carefully matched with veterans to be their companions, protectors, and co-pilots.

These dogs do not “heal” trauma, but they do something equally powerful. They offer presence and grounding. They help their partners feel safe in a world that often feels overwhelming.

Our dogs:

  • Create enough space in a crowded room to keep someone from spiraling
  • Wake their partners from nightmares
  • Nudge their partner to relieve rising anxiety

Most importantly, our dogs help restore dignity and a person’s agency — reminding them that they are not broken, that they are not alone, and that they have the capacity to take positive steps towards healing.

The bond of client and dog is not just functional; it is deeply emotional. The dogs don’t flinch, they don’t ask questions, they don’t offer words of advice — instead, they simply stay and support. Their mere presence says, “I’ve got you.”

The Importance of Understanding

We share all this information not to evoke pity but to building understanding. The more we speak about the realities of war trauma and how it works, the better we can support those who are experiencing PTSD.

In Israel, we still struggle to name and validate the internal battles that our veterans face. Honoring our veterans’ service needs to also acknowledge and honor their pain. With the support of our Service Dogs, their healing journey becomes easier.

You Help Make our Work Possible

Your support is what allows this work to continue. Every dog we train, every veteran we assist, every family we support — it all begins with understanding and generosity.

We are deeply grateful to you for helping us change lives.

Written by
Erez Barkai and Shirley Sherman