During the Holocaust, the Nazis turned almost every tool imaginable into a weapon of terror – even animals. Large guard dogs, often German Shepherds or Dobermans, were trained to attack, intimidate, and control Jews and other prisoners. In ghettos, during deportations, and inside concentration camps, dogs became part of the machinery of fear.
Survivors tell of the constant presence of snarling dogs on leashes held by SS guards. They describe how a single command could unleash vicious attacks. Some remember being herded onto trains by dogs, while others speak of the humiliation of being bitten, mauled, or even killed at the whim of a guard.
The Nazis weaponized dogs to dehumanize Jews, reminding them at every turn that their lives were seen as expendable. For many survivors, the fear of dogs remained etched into memory long after liberation.
And yet, out of this dark history, something remarkable has happened. In Israel today, dogs symbolize the exact opposite of that terror. At the Israel Guide Dog Center, dogs are trained not to oppress but to uplift. They are no longer tools of cruelty but partners in independence, dignity, and hope.
This transformation – from instruments of fear to companions of freedom – tells a powerful story about resilience, healing, and the Jewish commitment to life.
How Nazis Used Dogs
To understand the depth of this transformation, we must not look away from the painful history. Dogs were used in several cruel ways during the Holocaust:
- As guards and intimidators: In camps like Auschwitz and Dachau, dogs patrolled the fences, ensuring no prisoner dared attempt escape. Their growls and barks were enough to keep people terrified.
- As enforcers of punishment: Dogs were deliberately trained to bite and maim. Guards sometimes set them upon prisoners for failing to march fast enough, for falling behind, or simply for their own amusement.
- In deportations and roundups: In ghettos and occupied towns, dogs herded Jewish families into trains or chased down those who tried to flee.
- As psychological weapons: Even when they weren’t attacking, dogs stood as living symbols of Nazi power. Survivors often describe the fear of dogs as among the most lasting scars. In this way, the Nazis perverted the bond between humans and animals, turning a natural relationship of trust into one of violence and fear
Reversing History: Dogs as Healers in Israel
Today, in the heart of Israel, dogs have been given a new mission – one of compassion, partnership, and dignity. The Israel Guide Dog Center has redefined what dogs can mean to the Jewish people. Instead of being remembered only as weapons of terror, they are now regarded as trusted partners and lifelines.
Guide Dogs for the Blind
For Israelis living with blindness or severe visual impairment, a guide dog represents freedom. No longer must they rely on others for daily tasks. With a dog by their side, they can safely navigate crowded streets, ride public transportation, and enter workplaces. What was once dependence is transformed into independence.
Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD
Many IDF veterans return from service carrying invisible wounds. PTSD can bring flashbacks, nightmares, and overwhelming anxiety. A specially trained service dog provides calm, grounding, and security. Veterans often describe how their dogs help them reconnect with their families, return to work, and reclaim their pride.
Emotional Support Dogs for Children with Autism
For children on the autism spectrum, daily life can be filled with stress, sensory overload, and social challenges. An emotional support dog helps soothe, comfort, and stabilize them. Parents often say the dog changes not only the child’s life but the life of the entire family, bringing peace to a household once marked by constant tension.
The Ripple Effect of Dignity
Every dog trained at the Israel Guide Dog Center touches countless lives. A blind adult who gains independence inspires coworkers, friends, and neighbors. A veteran with PTSD who can leave the house again brings healing to their spouse and children. A child with autism who feels secure strengthens the resilience of his entire family. This ripple effect is powerful. Where once dogs symbolized humiliation and terror, they now symbolize dignity and hope. And that dignity extends not only to individuals but also to families, communities, and Israeli society as a whole.
From Past to Present: A Story of Transformation
When we remember how Nazis used dogs to strip Jews of their humanity, the work of the Israel Guide Dog Center takes on even deeper meaning. It is not only about helping individuals live independently today – it is about reclaiming and transforming history itself.
A Personal Experience
In 2012, Erez Barkai, a current employee of the Israel Guide Dog Center, was a member of the Center’s delegation to the March of the Living.
Erez and his dog – along with five other guide dog users and their dogs – walked together through places where Jewish life once thrived, and where it was brutally silenced.
Erez recounts:
“At Auschwitz, I met Max Glauben, a Holocaust survivor living in the United States. Max told me how he had participated in March of the Living for years, but this time it was different.
Max said, ‘Right here, many years ago, the Nazis set dogs on me to kill me. Today, I want a photo with a Jew from Israel – with a dog that helps instead of harms.’
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that memory isn’t only about pain – it’s about what we choose to do with it. Because when fear becomes trust, there is hope.”
Dogs are no longer symbols of fear for the Jewish people. In Israel, they are symbols of life, resilience, and healing. They represent the Jewish ability to turn despair into hope, cruelty into compassion, and oppression into freedom.