Gennadiy Kofman the Jewish gardener from Hebron who was critically wounded in Hebron felt that his life was in danger, weeks before he was stabbed by an Arab terrorist Monday, 25 Kislev. Gennadiy called the Israel Dog Unit and asked to adopt a dog for protection that could escort him on his daily gardening chores. The chilling text message sent to IDU (Israel Dog Unit) is still on the IDU cellphone that was transmitted on October 19th. The next message from Gennadiy’s phone was received by I.D.U. earlier today by Veronica, Gennadiy’s wife, pleading with all of Gennadiy’s friends and phone contacts to pray for his recovery. Gennadiy had started attending classes in Kiryat Arba to learn how to use and maintain a security dog and I.D.U. was working on pairing Gennadiy with a dog.

Many people have been contacting the IDU(Israel Dog Unit which provides security dogs as well as Search and Rescue services) over recent weeks, in wake of the recent wave of terror. Unfortunately the IDU lacks the resources to immediately station dogs with everyone who needs security dogs in Israel. Dozens of guard dogs and patrol dogs have been allocated in recent months. It is very possible even probable that had Gennadiy been working with a patrol dog at his side that the Arab terrorist would never have succeeded in stabbing him.

IDU officials explain, “We have been working to bring as many good patrol dogs as possible to Israel over recent months to meet the immediate and urgent need for dogs ready for service. Later today I will be meeting with the owner of a large European service dog kennels, who is visiting in Tel Aviv to discuss importing protection dogs ready or close to ready for immediate deployment. Two weeks ago we placed two dogs in Hebron, but that is not enough”.

IDU founder and director Yekutiel Ben-Yaakov adds “In the meantime, I urge all of you to forward this email to whoever you can and to urge them to pray for Gennadiy Chaim Nutah ben Raya Rachel. He is in very critical condition with stab wounds to his heart and lungs”.

Ben-Yaakov is also seeking sponsors as these highly-trained dogs are expensive. The cost of buying a dog ranges between $5,000- $10,000.

See the attached video below– this is the type of dog Gennadiy should have had at his side.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)