Animals represent protection, but also a stimulus for mental health.
A street dog can become the guardian of a woman who has been a victim of gender violence. In Ecuador, 1 in 6 women has suffered some type of violence. Therefore, the project ‘Violet‘of the Quick Action NO Violence foundation (Arnuv) trains dogs to provide them with safety.
Alberto Núñez, director of Arnuv, says that this work focuses on two axes. “We not only take care of or try to ensure the integrity of women, but also of dogs that are found on the street, in shelters. So, we rescue these dogs, we give them training in safety and protection ”, he details.
Once they have been educated they can go to a woman’s home “for protection.” But, in addition to taking care of them, they also work as a support emotional and therapeutic. The care is free.
“It has been shown that having a dog and interacting with it stimulates and increases dopamine, oxytocin, endorphin, serotonin, known as the hormones responsible for happiness ”, explains Núñez.
Process to be a user
Women interested in accessing these dogs must go through different filters. First a psychological evolution, so that the members of the foundation make sure that the dogs end up in the right hands.
An interview with Núñez is then carried out. The ‘ethological’ filter is on the canine part. Both the woman and the dog need to have 180 hours between lectures and practices.
For those who are part of the project, the experience is transformative, since the process restores the security to continue with their lives.
Arnuv is not a shelter for dogs. The process consists in that when someone seeks to be part of the program, a dog is selected and trained. “We cannot impose something on them, because that is also exercising violence,” adds Núñez.
Progressive strength and constant affection
When visiting the foundation a dog is playful and affectionate. And it is that the training does not make the animals aggressive, since the objective “is not to give more problems to the woman”, says Núñez.
What the dog does is use its force progressively. “If the aggressor does not measure the danger with the dog, then the dog does knock him down, knock him down and disables the aggressor.”
In addition, women who have a dog and require this safety training can bring it to the foundation.
Click to contact the foundation
Ninari: a jiu jitsu project for women
In August 2019, Ninari Jiu-Jitsu was born, a project focused on the Self Defense Women’s, prevention and eradication of gender violence.
Its coordinator, Amanda Villavicencio, points out that this group – in addition to teaching Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art discipline – has become a support group that during the pandemic reinforced its spirit of sisterhood and empowerment. “It has become a deep ‘partnership’. When there is a group that supports you, you feel safe in a different way ”, says Villavicencio.
The collective imparts free classes and also holds sessions in parks Quito, although its purpose is to go to other cities. One of those is Cuenca where they have already carried out training sessions.
Women and girls can attend these days. There, basic defense techniques are taught, such as what to do during a sexual assault. (AVV)
To know more about Ninari
La fundación Arnuv también da apoyo psicológico y asesoría legal, independientemente de que la mujer quiera o no adoptar un perro.
Los perros son entrenados para proteger, usan su fuerza de manera progresiva. No son agresivos.
“Part of the classes that our users receive is training them so that they understand the reason for a dog’s behavior. And we also teach them to handle security dogs ”. Alberto Núñez, director of Arnuv.
