Goodwill dog
December 04, 2024
Humanities graduate and UVic employee Rob Johns, BA ‘91, took a special goodwill trip to Ukraine over the summer with therapy dog, Tango, to bear witness to the devastation of war.
Rob Johns has noticed over the years that even a brief interaction with an animal can bring a moment of joy, distraction and peace to emergency workers. Johns, who serves as UVic’s manager of emergency planning, owns Tango, an eight-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer with a friendly and calm disposition.
The UVic grad was moved by the hardships experienced by the people of Ukraine as the war with Russia grinds on. He decided to take Tango on a goodwill mission. Getting the dog approved to visit the country was complicated, requiring pre-planning, bloodwork and vaccinations. Now, Tango has his very own pet passport issued from Ukraine.
The duo travelled in Ukraine over 11 days, meeting people, listening to their stories and letting them interact with Tango, who often trots around Victoria wearing a “pet me” vest in a project that Johns terms “Kindness Dogs.”
“In Ukraine, the people have been through so much and the physical and psychological impacts are ongoing as the war continues,” says Johns. “My inspiration for travelling with Tango was simple in concept: I firmly believe that light wins over darkness and the positive actions we each take, no matter how small, make a difference in the lives of others. I wanted to learn firsthand what was happening in Ukraine and offer, in a very small way, a bit of compassion, caring and kindness.”
Johns has expert training in dealing with disasters, and Tango is naturally curious about people. He senses when someone is having a bad day and gives them extra attention. In turn, Johns takes care of Tango. “I pay close attention to what he is signalling to me and anticipate when he needs to shift his activity, take a break or move along. We have built trust in each other and understand many of the ways we each communicate.”
Their mission began by entering western Ukraine via Poland, starting with Lviv, which Johns describes as a remarkable and beautiful city. They then travelled by train to Kyiv, a city of about three million people, full of reminders of its rich and long history.
Tango was a popular visitor, says Johns. “It was easily apparent that people enjoyed their time with him. Some simply sat with him and petted him, while others chose to talk about their lives. I heard many stories of fear, loss and the negative consequences of war. However, I also encountered strength, resilience, resolve and a very strong sense of identity.”
The trip was not easy. The two experienced the threat of drone and missile attacks and witnessed the devastation of a bombed children’s hospital. At one point, Johns was walking through a field of flags in Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) that included Canadian flags, each representing a life lost. “As I walked through these flags, I was overwhelmed by grief and began to weep. I could not reconcile this tremendous loss of life and the profound effects on loved ones, friends, co-workers and the country.”
Still, Johns was never alone. On the return trip home, he acquired COVID for the first time and was ill for several days, he recalls. “Tango, true to his caring nature, did not leave my side.”
—Jenny Manzer, BA ‘97
This article appears in the UVic Torch alumni magazine.
For more Torch stories, go to the UVic Torch alumni magazine page.