The Comfort Dogs of Uganda | 30 min | Documentary | 2025 | Australia | Director/Producer/Cinematographer: Richard Wainwright

In the shadow of the brutal 20-year conflict in Northern Uganda, The Comfort Dog Project pairs survivors of the Lord’s Resistance Army who are suffering severe PTSD with rescued and abandoned dogs. The film highlights their transformative bond as both the survivors of the conflict and their dogs heal together.

We meet Lucy and her dog Sadik, one of the program’s first graduates; Francis and his rescued guard dog Tommy; and Jennifer who credits her dog Ogen with saving her life. Interwoven with expert insight from human-animal bond researcher Meg Daley Olmert, the film explores how oxytocin, the “trust hormone,” plays a key role in this unique path to healing.

A deeply moving exploration of trauma, recovery and the power of connection, The Comfort Dogs of Uganda is a visual testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the extraordinary role dogs can play in helping us find our way back to life.

the comfort dogs of uganda film poster