FURRY FRIENDS BRING HOPE, JOY TO UKRAINIAN VETERANS
In September 2015 Ukrainian Echo published an exclusive piece about Hero’s Companion, a new Ukrainian-Canadian project which helps to address the growing need for psychological rehabilitation in Ukrainian veterans using the power of man’s best friend – dogs. In this follow-up piece, Hero’s Companion Director Kalyna Kardash gives us an update on the project’s progress and plans for the future.
“I’m going to kill him, does he know how easy it is for me to get a gun these days?! I’ll show him..!” It’s 9:40 a.m. on a rainy Sunday morning in Kyiv. We’ve been waiting for half an hour for this last veteran to arrive so that the group can begin its Tomatis therapy session.
“Ok Oleh, first we need to calm down, take a few deep breaths and tell me what is making you so upset,” says the young therapist presiding over the session, gently making her way over to him and placing down a chair.
That morning Oleh had had a misunderstanding with his wife, allegedly catching her cheating on him. Kora, my service dog in training who regularly works as a therapy dog in Kyiv, instinctively trots over to the distraught veteran, plopping herself down next to his feet. Automatically he reaches down to pet her. At first his movements are brisk, imbued with frustration as thoughts obviously continue to race through his mind. “Just keep focusing on the dog,” I tell him as I get Kora into position for him to work on a breathing exercise with her.
Eventually he picks Kora up, placing her in his lap, which makes for a bit of a funny sight as she, being a Golden Retriever, is not exactly small. But by this point Oleh has calmed down, and we are able to begin the session.
Situations like these aren’t uncommon, one psychotherapist tells me. Many soldiers find the return home difficult, as much, including themselves, has changed while they were away. Divorce rates among veterans tend to jump significantly, as do broken down familial relations.
Since the Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine began in April 2014, over 250,000 soldiers have taken part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. Over 110,000 have already been demobilized, a number that will steadily climb as time goes on. Of these 110,000 it is estimated that at least 30 percent suffer from psychological injuries as a result of time spent in combat operations. For many, integrating back into civilian life has proven more difficult than imagined, often shadowed by the invisible but very real effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological injuries. Left untreated, these mental health issues can lead to economic marginalization, poverty, substance abuse, and violent behavior.
This is where Hero’s Companion, together with other non-profits, has stepped in to fill a void that an unprepared Ukrainian government was ill-equipped to handle. Hero’s Companion is the first and only organization of its kind in Ukraine, and operates in two areas: service dogs and therapy dogs. Service dogs are highly trained dogs, specially prepared for one individual with whom they constantly live with. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are dogs that belong to individuals who volunteer their time by visiting hospitals, rehabilitation centres, veteran houses, and other establishments with their certified dog.
While service and therapy dogs are a relatively well known concept in North America, the opposite is true in Ukraine. During my time in Kyiv I tried to get out in public as much as possible with Kora, in part to further develop her training as a service dog, but more importantly to raise awareness about the role service dogs can play in the lives of injured veterans. It was also a useful public awareness experiment, seeing how onlookers would react to a dog wearing a service vest.
In most cases people were quite accepting of the dog, and some restaurants even offered her a bowl of water. Other times, however, she was categorically denied entry, such as the time we tried to enter the Globus shopping centre in downtown Kyiv.
That time we had walked by three security guards by the entrance of the mall, none of which said anything. But the fourth, who was inside, almost immediately approached us, telling us we had to leave. My friend and I tried to explain to him that this was a service dog, that we were training her for an injured veteran, and that she was specially trained not to disturb anyone or anything while inside. But none of this helped our case. “No dogs allowed, only small dogs that can be carried in your arms,” he said. Perhaps he noticed my confused expression, so he continued, “Even if the person was blind, and the dog was a guide dog, we still would not let it in.”
After a few more minutes of us trying to explain to him what a service dog is, we realized it was futile and the only way of solving the problem was to take his advice and write a letter to the owner of the mall.
While a bit discouraging, such incidents did not stop us in our determination to further develop our service and therapy dog programs. In April, Hero’s Companion conducted its second Canadian-Ukrainian training mission, during which two Canadian trainers came to Ukraine for ten days to continue preparing our core team of Ukrainian service dog trainers. It was also during this mission that a new veteran-service dog team was welcomed and began their training.
“With the training sites that were developed before we came, we were able to get some good training in, building on what we had done last time,” said Christopher Lohnes, one of the volunteer Canadian trainers who for 20 years has worked in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police K-9 Unit. “We also narrowed the number of trainers that we are working with, so we are down to a select group and that select group has very strong dog handlers, so we are just teaching them what the service dog standards and protocols are.”
Perhaps most noteworthy of all of the project’s developments over the past few months is the expansion and popularization of its therapy dog program. When we first started the program we were often told that it was “very unlikely” that we would get access anywhere indoors at medical institutions servicing soldiers and veterans. And indeed, at first there were difficulties; we were not allowed into hospitals, and medical professionals were skeptical of the concept that dogs would be beneficial in the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Our first therapy dog visits took place outside in a hospital courtyard. After hospital staff realized the popularity of these visits (along with some persuasive lobbying by our side), they allowed us into a ward at the Main Military Hospital in Kyiv. To our knowledge, this was the first time something like this had happened in Ukraine. Since then, and thanks to the openness and acceptance of psychologists, doctors, and volunteers, we have established partnerships with a variety of health centres and rehabilitation programs for veterans in Ukraine.
To meet growing demand our therapy dog program also expanded, adding 7 new dogs to our roster, bringing the total up to 10. While the program was originally begun with the goal of helping injured soldiers and veterans, the idea of dog therapy has gained momentum and is spreading to other areas. In addition to working with soldiers, Hero’s Companion volunteers have visited schools with special needs children and have been invited to participate in festivals with our fan-favourite canines.
Caregivers and onlookers are often amazed at the effect the therapy dogs have on the children. The positivity and joy evoked by the presence of the dogs, which leaves a lasting impression, is perhaps the strongest argument in favor of this new form of therapy in Ukraine.
In one instance, we were visiting a school which had many special needs children in its student population. One of the students, Anya, had cerebral palsy and was bound to a wheelchair, unable to speak or otherwise communicate effectively. Her grandmother, who was with her at the time, told us that Anya had been afraid of dogs her whole life. Initially Anya shied away from the dogs, but after seeing how gentle and friendly they were took interest, first petting the dog’s back, and eventually working up to the dog’s face and ears. By the end of our visit Anya even insisted on holding onto the leash, having the dog walk beside her wheelchair as her grandmother brought her back inside the school.
“I haven’t seen so much emotion on her face in a really long time,” said her grandmother, almost in tears. “She has really come alive.”
The ongoing war in Ukraine has forced the Ukrainian government and its society to create new institutions and practices to care for thousands of veterans and injured soldiers. In its efforts to come up with the necessary services as quickly as possible, Ukraine has turned to the West, learning from its lessons and best practices. It is in large part this new mentality, one more welcoming of change and new methodologies, which is a primary reason why Hero’s Companion has been able to make the inroads that it has thus far.
But there is a greater, possibly more powerful reason why we have never been turned away by the veterans and soldiers the program is aimed at helping. As has been observed so often on the front, Ukrainian soldiers relish their time with their four-legged companions, often strays or those left behind by fleeing civilians.
“It’s easier to talk amongst one another if our small friends, dogs, are present,” said one returning soldier. “It’s mental relaxation. They lower levels of stress. If you walk the dogs, feed them, you feel like you’re at home.”
It is this natural bond between soldier and canine that Hero’s Companion has striven to capitalize on. And as experience has shown us, the power of the human-canine bond transcends the battlefield and can continue to be a powerful instrument when collaboratively used in the healing journey of hundreds, if not thousands, of injured Ukrainian soldiers.
In September 2015 Ukrainian Echo published an exclusive piece about Hero’s Companion, a new Ukrainian-Canadian project which helps to address the growing need for psychological rehabilitation in Ukrainian veterans using the power of man’s best friend – dogs. In this follow-up piece, Hero’s Companion Director Kalyna Kardash gives us an update on the project’s progress and plans for the future.
“Ok Oleh, first we need to calm down, take a few deep breaths and tell me what is making you so upset,” says the young therapist presiding over the session, gently making her way over to him and placing down a chair. 
Situations like these aren’t uncommon, one psychotherapist tells me. Many soldiers find the return home difficult, as much, including themselves, has changed while they were away. Divorce rates among veterans tend to jump significantly, as do broken down familial relations. 
This is where Hero’s Companion, together with other non-profits, has stepped in to fill a void that an unprepared Ukrainian government was ill-equipped to handle. Hero’s Companion is the first and only organization of its kind in Ukraine, and operates in two areas: service dogs and therapy dogs. Service dogs are highly trained dogs, specially prepared for one individual with whom they constantly live with. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are dogs that belong to individuals who volunteer their time by visiting hospitals, rehabilitation centres, veteran houses, and other establishments with their certified dog. 
While service and therapy dogs are a relatively well known concept in North America, the opposite is true in Ukraine. During my time in Kyiv I tried to get out in public as much as possible with Kora, in part to further develop her training as a service dog, but more importantly to raise awareness about the role service dogs can play in the lives of injured veterans. It was also a useful public awareness experiment, seeing how onlookers would react to a dog wearing a service vest. 
In most cases people were quite accepting of the dog, and some restaurants even offered her a bowl of water. Other times, however, she was categorically denied entry, such as the time we tried to enter the Globus shopping centre in downtown Kyiv.
While a bit discouraging, such incidents did not stop us in our determination to further develop our service and therapy dog programs. In April, Hero’s Companion conducted its second Canadian-Ukrainian training mission, during which two Canadian trainers came to Ukraine for ten days to continue preparing our core team of Ukrainian service dog trainers. It was also during this mission that a new veteran-service dog team was welcomed and began their training.
“With the training sites that were developed before we came, we were able to get some good training in, building on what we had done last time,” said Christopher Lohnes, one of the volunteer Canadian trainers who for 20 years has worked in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police K-9 Unit. “We also narrowed the number of trainers that we are working with, so we are down to a select group and that select group has very strong dog handlers, so we are just teaching them what the service dog standards and protocols are.”
Perhaps most noteworthy of all of the project’s developments over the past few months is the expansion and popularization of its therapy dog program. When we first started the program we were often told that it was “very unlikely” that we would get access anywhere indoors at medical institutions servicing soldiers and veterans. And indeed, at first there were difficulties; we were not allowed into hospitals, and medical professionals were skeptical of the concept that dogs would be beneficial in the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Our first therapy dog visits took place outside in a hospital courtyard. After hospital staff realized the popularity of these visits (along with some persuasive lobbying by our side), they allowed us into a ward at the Main Military Hospital in Kyiv. To our knowledge, this was the first time something like this had happened in Ukraine. Since then, and thanks to the openness and acceptance of psychologists, doctors, and volunteers, we have established partnerships with a variety of health centres and rehabilitation programs for veterans in Ukraine.
To meet growing demand our therapy dog program also expanded, adding 7 new dogs to our roster, bringing the total up to 10. While the program was originally begun with the goal of helping injured soldiers and veterans, the idea of dog therapy has gained momentum and is spreading to other areas. In addition to working with soldiers, Hero’s Companion volunteers have visited schools with special needs children and have been invited to participate in festivals with our fan-favourite canines.
Caregivers and onlookers are often amazed at the effect the therapy dogs have on the children. The positivity and joy evoked by the presence of the dogs, which leaves a lasting impression, is perhaps the strongest argument in favor of this new form of therapy in Ukraine. 
The ongoing war in Ukraine has forced the Ukrainian government and its society to create new institutions and practices to care for thousands of veterans and injured soldiers. In its efforts to come up with the necessary services as quickly as possible, Ukraine has turned to the West, learning from its lessons and best practices. It is in large part this new mentality, one more welcoming of change and new methodologies, which is a primary reason why Hero’s Companion has been able to make the inroads that it has thus far. 
“It’s easier to talk amongst one another if our small friends, dogs, are present,” 
