Working Wonders

ETHAN & MELANIE

Ethan, 9, has autism and struggles with emotional self-regulation and anger outbursts, fuelled by his limited verbal communication. He is partnered with Melanie, a female Yellow Labrador. “During a recent particularly bad meltdown, Melanie was the only one able to calm him enough to get him to school,” shares Ethan’s mum. “In art therapy that day, he made this beautiful drawing, captioned ‘Melanie makes me feel happy.’ It moved me to tears – realising that this angel on four legs found a special way into my son’s heart.”

YIGAL,YAEL & CHICA

Chica is a female Yellow Labrador with a gentle soul. In early 2024, she was paired with Yael and Yigal, a couple in their 50s living in a kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope. On 7 October, they survived the massacre in their community but lost many friends and neighbours. “We were evacuated for a few months and eventually returned to the kibbutz, but nothing is the same. Every path, every house, is a painful memory. We are both coping with anxiety and depression, but Chica is a huge source of comfort. On some mornings, she is the only reason we get out of bed. Every day, she is the reason we smile.”

ATIAS FAMILY & LENNY

Dana is a single mother to Shira (9) and Itamar (7). After being displaced from their moshav in southern Israel on 7 October for over a year, they chose to start fresh in a village in the north. Once settled, they were joined by emotional support dog Lenny, a male Golden Retriever. “The past two years have been surreal. We ‘only’ lost our home, but the emotional scars run deep. The children, and especially Itamar who is on the autistic spectrum, still fear being alone and have nightmares and anxiety,” says Dana. “But Lenny changed our lives. He is so patient and loving and responds to every change in the children’s mood. He is bonding us together and helps me keep my family afloat.”