On this night, we listen to the extraordinary story of Ben Ladany,
a lone soldier who left his home in South Africa to serve in Israel’s elite Oketz K-9 Unit.
Ben was shot seven times while trying to save his partner, a military dog named Jack.
He spent two months in a coma, and many more months rebuilding his life piece by piece.
Ben’s courage, resilience, and refusal to give up symbolize something deep about the Oketz community: They lead first, they carry the heaviest weight, and they pay a price that most people never see.
Tonight, in hearing Ben’s story, you are entering that circle.
And we invite you to stay in it.
Why Your Support Matters:
American Friends of Oketz (AFO) is the U.S. nonprofit that supports the IDF’s elite K-9 Unit
and its soldiers, veterans, and retired canine heroes.
Together with the Oketz Foundation in Israel, we provide:
• Mental-health support & trauma programs
Peace of Mind, NATAL counseling, and specialized therapy for soldiers processing service-related trauma, including the unique grief of losing a canine partner.
• Resilience programs for veterans
Surf-therapy (Swelldogs), yoga-based resilience (Upward-Facing Dog), mentorship, community-building, and reintegration support.
• Critical care for retired military dogs
Medical treatments, surgeries, food, and support for young soldiers who adopt their canine partners after service.
• Emergency equipment & unit support
Medical gear, veterinary equipment, and wartime needs that keep both soldiers and dogs safe.
These programs exist because of people like you, people who choose to stand with a community that rarely asks for help but deeply needs it.
Every contribution directly supports mental health, veteran care, and lifesaving treatment for retired military dogs.
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