An agreement was signed between the Ministry for Inclusion and the Service Dogs Malta Foundation that will see the Foundation receive €15,000 from the government towards the training of a service dog specifically to help individuals on the autism spectrum lead a better life.
The Ministry for Inclusion signed an agreement with the Service Dogs Malta Foundation through which, the Ministry will hand over €15,000 in funds to train a service dog. This will be the third service dog that will be trained through the Ministry’s financial assistance.
“We are pleased that once again we will be of help to Service Dogs Malta Foundationin in their exceptional work towards inclusion," Minister for Inclusion Julia Farrugia Portelli said, This grant will not only better the life of an individual on the autism spectrum but emphasises the tremendous contributions by the disability voluntary sector. I look forward to working much more with this organization.”
Managing Director of the Service Dogs Malta Foundation Joseph Stafrace said: “Through the financial aid we are receiving from the ministry, the Service Dogs Malta Foundation will be in a position to continue offering our assistance to train more dogs who give a quality of life to people who are in need. In fact, this year six dogs graduated and I am pleased to announce that there are ten more dogs currently in training to reach the expected level and become qualified service dogs in 2025.”
Stafrace said that this new financial aid will allow the foundation to train guide dogs tailored for the unique needs of people on the autism spectrum and allow them to develop better independence, security and emotional support. He said that this grant will make a big difference in the life of the individual at the receiving end of the dog as it will give them a loyal friend that can help them navigate their daily challenges and generally improve their quality of life.
Amongst those present at the signing was Cedric, an autistic youth whose service dog, Daisy, allowed him to regain much confidence that is helping him in his daily life as well as Kristina whose service dog, Ollie, helped her continue her journey in education at MCAST since Ollie allows her to go out and catch the bus alone, something she couldn’t manage previously.