International Assistance Dogs Week Celebrated In Malta

International Assistance Dogs Week, which began yesterday and continues until Sunday 9th August, Service Dog Malta Association organised an awareness activity with children at Sagħtrija Childcare Centre in Żurrieq. During this educational and interactive visit, the children had the opportunity to meet and learn more about the role of assistance dogs supporting people with disabilities or medical conditions such as diabetes. The Association brought two service dogs, Tobby and Gandalf, who helped provide a hands-on experience for the participating children.

The visit was also attended by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering, Julia Farrugia. Minister Farrugia described the initiative as a wonderful tool, highlighting the importance of childcare centres in Malta, such as Sagħtrija, choosing to invest in educating children aged between one and three years during Assistance Dogs Week. She added that this is also a form of inclusion, as young children become familiar with the services these assistance dogs provide services which can be vital in the daily lives of people with disabilities or medical conditions like diabetes, where the dog can alert a person when it’s time to take insulin.

President of Service Dog Malta Association, Joe Stafrace, said that during this dedicated week for assistance dogs, they had a meaningful experience sharing with the children the importance of these dogs, dogs that make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. “Children are the women and men of tomorrow, so it is important to educate them now so that when they grow up, they understand what an assistance dog truly means.”

International Assistance Dogs Week (IADW) is celebrated during the first week of August to honour the support assistance dogs provide and the dedicated individuals who train, support, and care for these dogs

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