Said to be man’s best friend, working dogs are found everywhere. They pull sleds in the Arctic, search for hidden drugs, protect people and property, rescue those trapped by avalanche and earthquake and comfort the sick and elderly. In public areas they give mobility to those with a sight, aural or physical disability. The Malta Guide Dogs Foundation provides animals who enable the visually impaired to lead a normal life.
For the dog and his owner there are two important messages to be learned by the community at large and by service providers generally across the Maltese Islands……
1. What is a Guide Dog and how does it help?
2. What can we do to help make things easier for this partnership?
A guide dog is not a pet, nor is it a pest. It should be admired and not shunned. In the owners and trainers home it can relax but when out on the streets under a harness it has just one aim; to give mobility to it’s owner and allow them both exactly the same access to restaurants, shops, transport, banks, offices, clinics, hospitals and accommodation as a normally sighted person. The best guide dog is one who will not interfere, or obstruct, or despoil the environment. It will, in effect, become invisible.
There will be places and activities where this partnership will be difficult to accommodate, such as on a crowded bus, inside a small store and a theatre or cinema. There are also places where they should not be accepted, such as commercial kitchens, public toilets and swimming pools.
Please get used to the sight of guide dogs in Malta.
At the present time we have one experienced Guide Dog and three young dogs in training in the Maltese Islands. In order for them to learn and operate successfully, they must be allowed to accompany their owners and trainers when entering any public area in Malta. The Equal Opportunities Act 2000 states that an assistant for a blind person must not be discriminated against.
To make identification easy each owner or trainer will carry a special ID card issued by this Foundation and we ask that all commercial, residential and administrative premises allow these owners and trainers complete freedom of access as soon as their credentials are established.
DEMOSTRATIONS,
PRESENTATIONS
AND SUPPORT
A number of successful presentations to explain the use of a Guide Dog have already been made to clubs and associations. As soon as the second trained dog arrives we would like to expand these to schools and colleges. Various Fund-Raising activities, collection sites and sponsorship packages are being developed. Watch for details in the media.
Il-Fondazzjoni Maltija Klieb Gwida (Malta Guide Dogs Foundation) is a non-profit-making NGO run by volunteers, most of whom have a visual impairment. Our aim is to purchase or rear, train and support Guide Dogs throughout their lives, to select, train and support prospective owners and to relieve these owners of any financial burden they may have during the life of the dog.
WANTED – Trainee Mobility Instructor and Prospective Guide Dog Owners.
With the possible addition of six more dogs to Malta later this year we need to engage an apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. The role of a qualified GDMI is to oversee all aspects of Dog and Client training, provide backup after the partnership is formed, give presentations and lectures and help with the selection of owners. The training course is of university standard, lasts for three years and will take place overseas. Applicants must be between 20 and 30, have a liking and experience with handling animals and be dedicated to the task. For applying please call Charles Borg on Tel No. 21339044.
The Malta Commission for Persons with Disabilities (KNPD) will shortly be contacting suitable candidates for consideration as Guide Dog Owners. Only those on their list can be considered as potential owners at this stage.
Roy S. Perry
Public Relations Director
Malta Guide Dogs Foundation
Telephone; 21554153
Email; [email protected]