At the Central Military Hospital in Bogota, an unusual unit patrols the hallways with a mission unlike any other battalion: lifting the spirits of soldiers wounded in combat.

Kratos, Rafa and Lupa make up the so-called “furry force,” a group of emotional support dogs that visit service members recovering after being injured in clashes with Colombia’s illegal armed groups.

Second Sergeant Jeisson Sánchez Duque, who was shot during fighting in Anorí, Antioquia, was among the first to welcome them. Kratos, the most senior of the dogs, greeted him with a paw after receiving treats. Nearby, Lupa settled on the floor to be brushed as Sánchez remained seated due to his back injury. “It’s something different … you forget the pain and focus on the dogs,” he told The Associated Press.

Launched in April 2024, the program aims to provide psychological support and ease recovery for soldiers facing both physical and emotional scars, including amputations from landmines and injuries from drones dropping explosives.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), incidents involving explosive devices in Colombia rose 94% between January and July compared to the same period in 2024.

For soldier Luis Miguel López, who lost part of his leg to a mine in Puerto Valdivia, the dogs’ visits helped break through depression.

“When those dogs come in, they change you because they bring happiness,” he said.

The experience also reminded him of Goma, an anti-explosives dog who saved his unit several times before being killed by a blast.

Hospital officials say the program has since expanded to allow patients’ own pets to visit during hospitalization and to provide wellness breaks for medical staff.

AP Video shot by Marko Alvarez