‘The dog hears the siren and waits calmly by the door, ready to go to a shelter’

For many, a guide or service dog isn't just a companion; it's an essential partner, providing independence and stability. This bond is acutely tested in Israel, where emergencies can erupt without warning.

Erez Barkai, director for community relations at the Israeli Guide Dog Centre, knows this first hand as a guide dog owner himself.

The shift from one's home to a crowded public shelter is abrupt and disorienting, he says. "The dog, usually calm and in control, is exposed to noise, tight spaces and unpredictable reactions."

The reality of being woken by an alarm, then, with your guide dog, having to urgently navigate your way into a confined space already packed "sometimes with small children or elderly individuals", is a challenge for both guide dogs and their owners.

Erez Barkai with his guide dog (Photo: Israel Guide Dog Centre)[Missing Credit]

Barkai, who started losing his sight at 17 due to a genetic condition, addresses the key challenge involved in managing public interaction within shelters – namely that “people in the shelter, under pressure themselves, sometimes turn to the dog for comfort”.

While a calm dog and owner can offer solace, there are times when "the dog may be tense, the person may need silence, and any uninvited interaction can disrupt this fragile balance”.

Barkai, who is now supported by his third guide dog, Venus, understands the delicate boundary required between knowing when his dog is receptive and when space is crucial. Polite requests like “This is a working dog, please avoid touching” are often lost in a noisy shelter, he says, where “not everyone has the emotional capacity to manage themselves”.

However, in spite of the challenges facing guide dogs at the centre, Barkai says new ways to cope with emergency routines are continuously being developed, with the knowledge that dogs are able to adapt to “new and effective patterns and able to respond to emergency routines with understanding and confidence”.

He cites the example of "a dog who hears a siren and waits calmly by the door, knowing they are about to go to the shelter, where a treat will be waiting".

Puppies at the Israel Guide Dog Centre (Photo: Israel Guide Dog Centre UK)[Missing Credit]

He also refers to "a dog who recognises the alert tone from a mobile phone and immediately approaches the person they are responsible for, offering support in a moment of anxiety, even before a word is spoken".

These newly implemented routines build positive associations, allowing dogs to respond to emergencies with a sense of stability, says Barkai.

When home visits are restricted due to attacks, the Israel Guide Dog Centre, located 20 minutes from Tel Aviv, supports guide dog users remotely. "We maintain close contact with clients, offering guidance by phone and tracking needs as they emerge in real time."

However, a significant issue is "insufficient public awareness about appropriate interaction with the dogs", says Barkai. "There is a real need for shared dialogue that respects sensitivities without fear or judgment."

"We aren't asking for special treatment," he stresses, speaking for both the centre’s clients and his own experience. "We are asking for recognition of a partnership; a person and a dog, working together in daily life and in times of escalation."

Karen Brosh, executive director of the Israel Guide Dog Centre UK (Photo: Israel Guide Dog Centre UK)[Missing Credit]

Karen Brosh, executive director of Israel Guide Dog Centre UK, told the JC that the need for the centre, which also trains some of its animals to become PTSD service dogs or emotional support dogs, had “got greater and greater since October 7th”.