How Dogs Help Veterans Restore Their Emotional State: Results of a Unique Programme Presented in Lviv

The pilot project lasted six months

In Lviv, the pilot project UNBROKEN ANIMALS lasted six months — the first systemic programme in Ukraine of emotional support for veterans, women veterans, servicemen and their families involving visiting dogs. During this time, 10 volunteers with dogs learned to work with veterans and now regularly visit patients of the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre and help patients recover.

This is reported by the press service of the Lviv City Council, relayed by “Hronikers”.

UNBROKEN ANIMALS is a pilot programme within which international experience of human–animal interaction is adapted to the needs of people recovering from injuries and traumatic events. Out of 124 people who wished to join the training, 10 volunteers were selected who, together with their dogs, completed more than 40 hours of theoretical and practical training. The classes were held with the participation of dog handlers, veterinary specialists and specialists with experience of working with veterans.

“We are completing the six-month pilot stage and can already see prospects for its development. We are collecting feedback from participants to understand how useful such support is and how the project can be scaled up. We are already talking to deputies about the possibility of turning this pilot into a full-fledged city programme of emotional support for veterans involving dogs. We are also looking for European partners and grant opportunities to continue the work,” said Yuliia Katynska, director of the Lviv Bureau of European Integration.

It is important that the programme is not canine therapy or a method of treatment. Its goal is to create safe conditions for voluntary interaction with animals. Such meetings can help a person shift attention, feel calm, get positive emotions and additional motivation during rehabilitation.

“We are building a new system of rehabilitation approach, guided by the best world experience. Interaction with animals is one of the elements of patient recovery. We observe that it has a positive effect on both the emotional state and the physical capabilities of people, and makes the rehabilitation process more effective. This project has set an example that now needs to be developed, improved and spread to other institutions and regions of Ukraine,” said Oleh Bilianskyi, representative of the UNBROKEN rehabilitation direction.

Despite the end of the training stage, the programme continues to operate. Volunteers with their dogs already visit the facilities of the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Centre twice a week on a set schedule.

Based on the results of the pilot stage, the team has also prepared a practical guide that will help other communities adopt this experience and implement similar initiatives.

The UNBROKEN ANIMALS project is implemented by the NGO “Pro Lviv” in cooperation with the municipal enterprise “Lev”, UNBROKEN, the NGO “U-Hearts Ukraine”, the Lviv Bureau of European Integration and the Investment and Projects Department of the Lviv City Council within the framework of the “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme, implemented with the support of the European Union and its member states Germany, Denmark, France, Austria, Poland and Slovenia.

Source: Hronikers (hronikers.com), https://hronikers.com/2026/11/04/yak-sobaky-dopomahaiut-veteranam-vidnovliuvaty-emotsiynyy-stan-u-lvovi-prezentuvaly-rezultaty-unikalnoi-prohramy/