Parliament transcriber Brigitte Micallef and her guide dog Barbie were today welcomed at Malta International Airport by Ms Micallef’s colleagues and officials from the Malta Guide Dog Foundation, as the two embark on a relationship which will see Ms Micallef lead a more independent life.

Ms Micallef, 46, and Barbie arrived in Malta from Messina, where Ms Micallef spent a forthnight training as Barbie’s handler for up to five-and-a-half hours a day.

While Barbie calmly soaked in the attention, Ms Micallef said that she never expected such a welcome.

Barbie was officially handed over to Ms Micallef by her trainer, Giovanni Visali Garufi of the Helen Keller Regional Centre Guide Dog School of the Italian Blind Union of Messina. Two other women also received guide dogs and for four members of the group this was their second guide dog.

The travelling expenses were borne by the MGDF’s sponsors, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM).