Flyaway guide dogs

Roy Perry

Sep 6th 2008, 12:05

As the only Guide Dog Owner resident in Malta t this time I try to read all comments.. It is interesting to note that these comments are similar to those made by the public back in 1994 when Assistance dogs were first carried wuth their owners in the cabin.

I am blind and frequently travel alone with my dog. Catia Lima travels all over the continent alone. GB Airways carried us between Malta nd Gatwick tens of times during the last four years - no fuss or bother. With the animal totally passive during the flight there is little risk of an allergic reaction. Cabin staff make sure we are placed so as not to obstruct any exit - the really sad thing is that if the aircraft has to ditch - the dog is left behind!!!

Finally, a fully trained Guide Dog costs at least €10,000 so why not offer a donation to the Malta Foundation? Go to http://www.maltaguidedogs.org.mt.

isabella peresso fiorentino

Aug 29th 2008, 21:51

It's a streak of intolerance dear Franco, which so much prevails in this unfortunate country.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2008, 18:38

@ I Falzon - I think you are mixing things up to suit your ends, to try and bring the 'gebla qrib il-likk' as the Maltese say.
I think you had nothing to contribute in this item.
Actually, you want to know the truth?
Yes, I quite prefer having animals around me than certain human beings - I do not mean to be disrespectful, sir, but I feel absolute derision in some people's comments: and they include yours.

NB. You know: this item's comments is a further show how divided we are as a nation ... it makes me so sad .... once again, I reiterate that this blog of The Times is bringing out the worst out of people. We simply have to attack people instead of discussing ideas. We simply have to retaliate (myself included, to my shame!) to the attacks of others. A simple letter about guide dogs had to bring the wrath and anger of a group of people.
This is so sad. This blog has uncovered yet another streak within the population. And it's not a nice view.

I Falzon

Aug 22nd 2008, 17:48

@ all guide dog/pet lovers.

with your reasoning you wouldnt complain if said dog is in a spa with you, or swimming in a pool with your kids, or in same room as yours at mater dei. i might be on the extreme....but for me all animals are just that no matter what!

Franco Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2008, 16:59

@ vincecachia - I would love to introduce you to my pets. They would teach you a thing or two about how to be sensitive towards people's feelings and needs; and also teach you something about being civil.
But after more reflection, I would rather not - in case you bite them!
A man is so sad when he does not know what is love for animals.

Joe Tabone-Adami

Aug 22nd 2008, 16:38

Unfortunately, except those by Andrew Borg Cardona and a few others, comments so far on this issue are made up of broadsides between cinophiles and cinophobes. A pity! The issue is one of service to a fellow-humans requiring special attention, not whether one should or should not be asked to sit near a highly trained and affectionate creature which is ready to lay down its life for its master, if need be. Thank you to Air Malta for a decision well arrived at and thank you to Andrew, too.

Justin Tonna

Aug 22nd 2008, 16:03

@Vince Cachia: My dog is very well trained. I'd be happy to introduce you. I think she could teach you quite a few things about civilized behaviour.

@Marvin Mizzi: "in the third class you find animals travelling with you" - Have you travelled anywhere recently? Plenty of animals about and you don't have to be in third class to get the pleasure of their company. And as regards sniffing airline food? Don't think my dog would either sniff it or eat it. Her dog food is tastier.

Andrew Borg-Cardona

Aug 22nd 2008, 15:35

Vince Cachia - civilized people give due consideration to the needs of those around them, a concept that is clearly alien to people like you.

I'm sure that if you happen to be sitting next to someone with a guide dog and you object, an upgrade will be provided if space is available.

The upgrade, of course, would be in favour of the person with the dog, both of whom, I'm sure, would also object to sitting next to you but be too civilized to say so.

patrick camilleri

Aug 22nd 2008, 14:18

To vincecachia:

There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see!

May I suggest you open your eyes to the true facts!

David Buttigieg

Aug 22nd 2008, 13:51

@Vincent Cachia,

"Civilized people do not travel with animals, any type of animals for that matter!!" Quite the contrary, go to any "civilized" country and see for yourself!

Animals only stink if uncared for, same as people for that matter. I would sooner sit next to any dog rather then next to someone like you.

david calleja

Aug 22nd 2008, 13:36

While understanding perfectly that Blind people need to travel with their guide dogs, and also appreciating that other people want to travel with their pets, I also understand people who think differently - so as long as travellers, who, for whatever reason, do not want to sit near pets/animals - have their rights equally protected, I have no problem with the issue, the main thing is that nobody is victimised - loving a pet or not, is an individual choice and does not make for a better or worse person.

André Xuereb

Aug 22nd 2008, 13:05

@ Mr Cachia: (Nice one with writing Xuereb that way; incidentally, the pronunciation of my surname is the subject of some debate with my foreign friends, but I digress.) I believe that your statement "Civilized people do not travel with animals..." is rather baseless and incorrect. Non-pet-owners do not travel with animals; pet owners sometimes do -- and I would hesitate to call such people uncivilised.
PS: Not all dogs stink, and not all humans smell nice, as I once found out on a flight...

Vincent Cachia

Aug 22nd 2008, 12:39

@ Andre" Xwiereb!! The relationship between a blind person and his dog has nothing to do with travelling with the stink of animals beside you!! To Fanku Farrugia I say who cares how much a guide dog costs. Civilized people do not travel with animals, any type of animals for that matter!!

Franco Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2008, 12:39

@ Marvin Mizzi - Pardon me for missing this point:
And if there are any sensitive passengers who are simply too glum and unhappy with the Lord's creation and object to having animals in the same cabin as they are, I suggest that they ask for a seat far away from where the animal is. The cabin is large enough. If THAT doesn't satisfy them either, let THEM go below to where the luggage is! :-)

I have absolutely no doubt that there would be passengers equally delighted to sit next to an orderly and controlled animal - such as myself.

André Xuereb

Aug 22nd 2008, 11:16

I agree with Mr Farrugia. As the owner of a large-breed dog in Malta I am used to to typical, shall we say stupid, mentality of Maltese parents: "Ersaq l'hawn ma jmurx jigdmek!" This is to be contrasted with the attitude of most foreigners, who sometimes stop me for minutes on the street just to talk about dogs and how well-behaved and calm mine is. I guess it's our poor attitude towards nature in general spilling over to pets.

Finally, to vincecachia (quite an original name, I must add): If you cannot understand the relationship between a guide dog and its owner, please refrain from making ignorant comments. Just so you know, I know of several airlines that allow "normal" pets to go onboard (in their necessary cages) and never witnessed a single complaint. Only in Malta, I guess.

Marvin Mizzi

Aug 22nd 2008, 11:04

So now I pay to travel and I have to have a dog near me for the duration of a flight , in a closed environment ---what about people who suffer from allergies and cannot stay in closed environements where there are animals-- in the close amd compact environment you have a dog stiffing at you and when you are eating stiffing your food -- yes it is good for the blind person to have his guide but what about the other clients who paid to have a comfortable trip -- are we going back to the all times when travelling on ships and you travel in the 3rd class you find animals travlling with you.... so is it really a way forward or ....

Franco Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2008, 10:44

it is so irritating when people write comments in a way that shows that they have absolutely no idea what they are actually writing about. (I hope I am not seen as one of them. :-) )

@ vincecachia - With all due respect, have you any idea how much a guide dog is worth? Worth, in terms of man hours for training, for vetting, for bringing up, etc ... Worth, in terms of what the dog in question is worth to his or her human user.
May I suggest that you slightly improve on your sense of human kindness and understanding?
How do you know that this person was travelling accompanied?
And if she in fact WAS accompanied, what difference does it make to the problem? Didn't you read what she said, previously, that the dog could have been distraught and unable to be considered 'reliable' if it had to be put anywhere but the passengers' cabin?
Don't you realise that one of the most important characteristics in the relationship of guide dog - user is that there is a close link of trust between the two?! And if that trust is broken in some way, that dog becomes useless.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2008, 10:09

'guide dogs are not just pets' - While I realise the meaning behind this statement, what's wrong, pray, with an animal being just a pet?
Why shouldn't Air Malta be slightly more helpful when it comes to the travelling of pets? Why shouldn't travellers have the choice of taking their controllable pet with them in the passenger's cabin?

vincecachia

Aug 22nd 2008, 09:53

Blind persons never travel alone, usually, so their dogs need not travel with passengers. Ther is nothing to commend air malta about!!!