VISUALLY IMPAIRED FORMER SOLDIER GRATEFUL FOR GUIDE DOGS

"It's very hard for me to imagine how I was able to live my life without a guide dog."

Achiya Klein’s journey as a visually impaired Israeli army veteran spans over a decade. He survived life-threatening injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated while Klein’s military unit attempted to dismantle a booby-trapped tunnel in Gaza.  His ordeal is unrelated to the current conflict between Hamas and Israel, as the incident occurred on October 31, 2013.  But the challenges Klein encountered then were eerily similar to those Israeli soldiers have faced since October, 2023.

Then a 22-year-old commander of a special unit tasked with neutralizing tunnels used for infiltration into Israel, Klein sustained his injuries in an explosion from a tunnel buried 20 meters underground.

"It was built for military purposes; you're not going to find any citizens there. You're going to find people trying to kill or capture you," Klein said.

Klein now lives in Toronto with his wife, two young children, and his guide dog. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Klein, days after he spoke at a fundraising event in Toronto for the Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Center (IGDC).  The IGDC has provided Klein with two guide dogs since 2015.

Achiya Klein addresses the audience at the "Evening of Miracles" gala to support the Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Center on November 3, 2024 in Toronto. (Credit: Chad Derrick)

A Life-Changing Injury

On that fateful day in 2013, Second Lieutenant Klein led 20 soldiers in his Yahalom engineering unit to destroy the two-kilometer-long tunnel originating in Khan Younis. Despite his intensive training and after taking precautions, the explosion caught Klein completely off guard.

"You need to imagine it—like a geyser that came from the ground. My upper face was hit first. I was basically completely burned and had seven broken bones in my face," he recalled.

Injured Israeli soldiers are taken to hospital in Beersheba, Israel on October 31, 2013. (Credit: Dudu Greenspan/Flash90)

Shrapnel riddled his entire body, and four other soldiers were injured, though less seriously. Klein was evacuated to a nearby hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma and put on life support for several days. Weeks later, he underwent eye surgery but faced the devastating reality of his vision loss after asking doctors to remove the bandages from his eyes.

" I realized (that I couldn’t see), because one of the doctors said, ‘I already did.’”

Initially overwhelmed, Klein grappled with the implications of his blindness. He understood that he would no longer be able to drive, read, or even manage daily tasks like brushing his teeth.

"That was a very difficult moment for me. Nobody prepares you to understand how to deal with this kind of injury.  But I feel very lucky that somehow, something in in my mind, my body, was pushing me forward.”

After hearing his prognosis, Klein recalled thinking to himself, “Are you going to feel sorry for yourself, or what do you want to do with your life?’  Whatever happened, happened. This is a new situation, and I need to understand how to deal with that.  I (wasn’t) going to let my disability affect my life, stopping me from doing things. And that was my first step towards recovery.”

Soon after being released from hospital, Klein returned to his army unit and completed another two years of military service.

Finding Independence Through Guide Dogs

Klein likens his vision loss to looking through steam-fogged glass, except much worse.

His rehabilitation introduced him to another visually impaired Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) veteran who used a guide dog. He immediately recognized the potential difference a dog could make in his life.

“I was always with someone that was next to me, I never used the cane - I didn't like it.  And I knew immediately, that was the missing part that I needed in order to really overcome my challenges and to achieve more,” he said.

In 2015, Klein was matched with his first guide dog from the Israel Guide Dog Center (IGDC).  He stayed at the IGDC facility for three weeks to train with his dog, Night, a Black Labrador. The two of them formed a life-changing bond.

“The first time that I walked with him, I felt like, wow, I’m now able to do stuff, but by myself. I don't need anyone next to me to control my pace, if I want to go slow or fast.  I don't need to depend on other people. I can just take the dog with me and go or do whatever I want. And that was a huge part of getting back my independence.”

Night’s primary role was to ensure Klein could navigate safely and avoid obstacles, enabling him to live with greater confidence.

Achiya with Night in 2016. (Credit: Jewish News)

The Israel Guide Dog Center

Founded in 1991, the IGDC provides guide, service and support dogs trained to respond to Hebrew commands. Prior to its inception, Israelis could only acquire guide dogs from English-speaking countries. The organization assists people from all faiths and backgrounds, not just IDF veterans.

In addition to guide dogs for the visually impaired, the IGDC also trains and provides service dogs for individuals with PTSD and support dogs for children with autism and adults with emotional needs. Since its founding, the center has placed nearly 1,300 dogs, including 796 guide dogs, 39 service dogs for PTSD and 442 emotional support dogs.

Demand has surged since the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah began in October, 2023.

Perseverance and Achievements

Since losing his sight, Achiya Klein has managed to overcome the myriad obstacles posed by his vision loss and has made remarkable achievements.  He’s earned an undergraduate degree in Public Relations and a Masters degree in Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security.  He has worked in Israeli intelligence and technology innovation, and excelled as a triathlete and a Paralympic athlete.  A member of Israel's Paralympic Rowing Team, Klein competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, where his team placed sixth in the final of his event.

Achiya Klein with his Mixed Coxed Four Israeli Paralympic Rowing Team. (Credit: Oz Mualem)

His guide dog, Night, was with him throughout training and at all the events.

While being interviewed after one of the races at the Paralympics, journalists were particularly interested in the guide dog.

“Night was the star in Tokyo.  They asked me two questions about the race and then all the other questions were about the dog.”

Klein is also an avid downhill skier, continuing to push boundaries in every aspect of his life.

When Night passed away in August 2023, shortly before the Hamas attack on Israel, the IGDC stepped in again. Due to the ongoing war, Klein couldn’t travel to Israel for a new guide dog. In a remarkable gesture, IGDC founder and CEO Noach Braun brought Klein his new guide dog, Joy, to Toronto and personally oversaw their training.

“He came here for 10 days, and that just shows what the organization is about. It's not just like regular organization. It's very small, and it feels like a family. And I will always be very appreciative of that.”

Achiya Klein with his guide dog, Joy, at Trout Lake in Vancouver, B.C. in April 2024. (Credit: Cynthia Ramsay)

A Message of Hope

After all he’s endured and accomplished, Klein remains committed to inspiring others with visual impairments.

“Almost everything is possible, maybe not the regular way. Maybe you need to adapt and to do it in a different way. Just go out and try to do things. Because once you realize you’re able to do stuff, it's amazing.”