Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna inaugurated the new office of the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation during a short ceremony this afternoon.
The foundation lost its first office at the Ċentru San Franġisk in Ta’ Qali when this was given to a private operator. Thanks to the Archbishop’s Curia, the premises in St Joseph High Road, St Venera, were given to the MGDF rent-free for 10 years.

The foundation set out to refurbish the premises and, thanks to assistance from various sponsors, has upgraded the place so that it now includes a board room, two desks, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.
Speaking at the inauguration, Archbishop Scicluna said the hard work, intelligence and gift of the guide dog Toby to his master Mr Joseph Stafrace were a clear example of how people can live in harmony with God’s creations. He prayed for the memory of the foundation’s founder, Ron Colombo, and for those who were waiting for a guide dog and were learning to use the white cane.
“I hope that this small place, finished so beautifully thanks to the work and generosity of many, will be a centre for all those who need help and will find it in the best way possible.”

In his address, MGDF Chairman Joseph Stafrace thanked the Archbishop’s Curia for allowing the foundation to have an office in such a prominent location. He gave a short rundown of the foundation’s history since it was set up by the late Ron Colombo in 2006 and to whom the office is being dedicated. He then outlined the services offered by the foundation in white cane training and the provision of guide dogs.

Among those present were the newly appointed Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing Julia Farrugia Portelli and the Opposition spokesperson for persons with disability Maria Deguara, members of the MGDF Board and its founding partners, the Malta Society of the Blind, Torball Society of the Blind, and the Gozo Aid for the Visually Impaired.
Minister Farrugia Portelli praised all the work being done by the Malta Guide Dog Foundation and said that, through this new office, the Foundation will be able to continue its operation in a more efficient way. She said more awareness needs to be raised about the importance of this Foundation in offering the necessary support to visually impaired people through the service of guide dogs provided completely free of charge.
In these times of a pandemic, it is important not to lose sight of the critical role that guide dogs play in enabling persons who are blind or partially sighted to travel safely, confidently and independently. The MGDF continues to lobby with Government and local policymakers to develop and implement legislation to eliminate discrimination against the use of guide dogs in public spaces.
Social distancing practices need to be extended to guide dogs. Although there is no evidence of dogs contracting Covid-19, research has shown that they can act as a fomite (surface) for the spread of disease – that is, they can carry the virus or parts of the virus on their coats, nose, or mouth.
So, it is necessary that proper hygiene be practiced more frequently, not only for yourself but for anyone who will be caring for your guide dog if you are unwell or suffer from an underlying medical condition.
As the world develops strategies to cope with the effects of this pandemic and to eventually eradicate it, the MGDF will continue to insist that persons with disabilities, especially those who are blind and partially sighted, are not deprived of their mobility and other rights, enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and that they remain on the Government’s agenda as they continue to strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).