Two Labrador puppies aspiring to be guide dogs arrived in Malta yesterday to start the two-year transformation process that will eventually change the lives of two blind people.

French-born Higgins and Holly, barely four months old, landed just after midday on a flight from Lyon.

“When the flight landed, it was as though they did not realise they were on a plane. They seemed unaffected but were happy to get out of their cages,” Malta Guide Dogs Foundation trainer Robert Spiteri said.

They will be spending the first year of their life in Malta living with two families, known as puppy walkers, while they get basic training from Mr Spiteri.

After that, they will head off to Messina, Sicily, where they will undergo a year of intensive training before they graduate as guide dogs. Meanwhile, they will be matched with their new owners who will also travel to Sicily for a few weeks to participate in training.

Since the foundation was set up in 2006, seven guide dogs have been trained.

Another three puppies are in Messina and have almost completed their training, Mr Spiteri said.

The Malta Guide Dogs Foundation has been calling on the Government for financial support to fund the training of animals that help blind people gain independence.

The foundation would like the authorities to help them set up a guide dog school in Malta by paying for the training of at least two guide dog instructors and assisting in the acquisition of land.

As things stand today, the foundation has to fork out about €14,000 per animal. The foundation pays for the expenses through fundraising and sponsors.

There are about 1,800 visually impaired people in Malta and the foundation would like to be able to afford to train more puppies.