Two guide dog puppies arrived last night from Sicily and were officially handed over to their new guide dog partners.
The two new ‘teams’ are Michael Scerri from Xagħra, Gozo, and his guide dog Justy, and Joseph Vella from Marsaxlokk and his guide dog Juno.
Both Justy and Juno had been raised in Malta, and the families that raised them were present for yesterday's ceremony. Malta Guide Dogs Foundation Chairman Leone Sciberras and Hon Secretary Lilibeth Cachia were also present.
Justy and Juno were initially brought to Malta in August, 2014, from a breeding centre in France. A year later they were taken to the Helen Keller Regional Centre Guide Dog School of the Italian Blind Union, where they were entrusted to professional trainers Francesco Cucinotta and Giovanni Visalli Garufi.
Justy will be Mr Scerri's second guide dog after his first guide dog, Pixy, was retired. Juno will be Mr Vella's first guide dog. Both men spent two weeks in Messina bonding with their guide dogs and learning how to be proficient guide dog handlers.
Mr Scerri said he now felt confident entrusting Juno to work with him as he commuted every day on public transport and on foot to the office.
Mr Sciberras expressed satisfaction that the two puppies have been successfully matched with local handlers: “We have now started a phase in the lifecycle of the MGDF when guide dogs currently in service will be retiring either for age reasons or for other reasons, so we will be seeking to replace a number of these dogs over a period of time.
“We also renew our appeal to those suffering from visual impairment who wish to obtain new freedom and independence through OM (orientation and mobility training) and eventually wish to have a guide dog to approach the MGDF. We provide this service free of charge to them.”
Mr Sciberras thanked the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), which is covering the travelling expenses, and Borg Cardona & Co. Ltd, who supplied Royal Canin dog food for free to the puppies. For more information visit www.maltaguidedogs.org.mt.