A negative experience at the Vecchia Napoli restaurant at Skyparks in Luqa for a guide dog user has led to the donation of a Renault Kangoo panel van to the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation (MGDF).

Due to a misunderstanding, the guide dog user was excluded from service at the restaurant. The issue was resolved and staff donated a week’s tips to the foundation.

When a few days later, MGDF chairman Leone Sciberras lost his laptop on public transport, the Alf. Mizzi Group offered to replace it with a brand new Dell laptop.
Following contact from The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, an offer was made to donate a van for the MGDF’s specific needs, in particular for guide dogs in training to be collected and taken them around.

The Renault van is fully equipped with special customised trays, two separate compartments and a window to enable driver and front seat passenger to keep an eye on up to five dogs.

Alfred Mizzi Foundation trustee Julian Sammut said: “We are pleased that good has come out of an unfortunate event. We have all put that behind us and learned from it. We hope the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation will be better placed to continue to upgrade its services to the local community thanks to this van.”