Many of Belev Echad’s soldiers suffer from PTSD and need a reason to leave their beds in the morning. Our Dogs 4 Soldiers program gives them purpose and meaning.

Dogs need to be cared for. They need to be fed and walked, entertained and loved. The best part is they love their owners back unconditionally — a healing element for soldiers who have seen the horrors of war.

Therapy dogs provide our soldiers with a sense of comfort and peace and help improve their sleep. As our soldiers have shared, the Dogs 4 Soldiers program has saved their lives.

Caring for the dogs forces our soldiers to leave their homes, even if it’s the last thing they want to do. This motivation is critical to start living one’s life again. Therapy dogs provide companionship, love, and a new community: one of fellow dog owners. This connection and friendship further encourage our soldiers to continue their new daily routine.

Since October 7, a new pressing need arose for service dogs. These dogs provide safety and independence, alleviating the isolation and hyper-vigilance common in PTSD. They help wounded soldiers go to places they’d avoid alone, wake them from nightmares, and stop panic attacks. Similar to medical alert dogs, they detect adrenaline spikes during anxiety or fear episodes.
Belev Echad’s service dogs offer safety act as social barriers, and can even provide balance assistance. Studies show that soldiers will experience oxytocin peaks within minutes of pressure therapy from their service dog. Oxytocin can have a powerful effect. It can lower the heart rate and blood pressure and may also lead to reduced stress levels, enhancing our heroes’ overall well-being.

Both types of dogs require weekly training that is done primarily at Belev Echad’s Beit Yitzchak Farm. We work closely with companies that specialize in this area to ensure the dogs are best equipped to address the specific needs of our soldiers.

Working closely with Belev Echad staff in the house, they
identify soldiers who would most benefit from the program and match them with a new best friend.

The Dogs 4 Soldiers because it is a gift that continues giving and growing after it has been received. It can fundamentally change a soldier’s life and restore their passion to live.