I am Zoltan (Zoli) and I am the founder of Angel Dog, the only local organization dedicated to training guide dogs. Since 1996, I have dedicated my life to dog training, working with thousands of dogs and discovering, step by step, the extraordinary bond between humans and animals.
It all started with visits to schools and hospitals, where we were invited to work with children. In 2003, we began training therapy dogs. It was impossible not to notice their profound impact on children with disabilities.
An unforgettable moment was meeting a little girl with autism during a school event. While she was watching us attentively, she had a panic attack. The teachers tried in vain to calm her down. Leo, an affectionate Labrador, approached her and rested his head on her back. The little girl calmed down immediately. That was the moment I understood that these dogs can do more than we imagine.
The dream of training guide dogs for visually impaired people seemed, at first, unattainable. In 2010, we embarked on this journey, alongside our partners from Hungary, the Baráthegy Foundation. We learned that a guide dog is not a GPS, but part of a team based on trust, empathy and collaboration.
Each dog changes a life, offering independence, perfect safety in movement and the confidence to go one’s own way.
Although the road was not always easy, our story is about courage, empathy, hope and freedom. It is, in a way, a reflection of the journey that many of those we support take.
