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Five assistance dogs have completed the training and preparation program to be able to assist people with different conditions, during their daily lives. After completing the necessary training, Balto, Dom, Sam, Pablo and Kaydi graduated during a ceremony organised by the Service Dogs Malta Foundation, which took place at St. Anthony's Palace under the patronage of the President of Malta. Training each dog costs around €15,000, but the voluntary organisation takes care of all the costs of acquisition and training and passes them on for free to the people who benefit. Balto and Kaydi will now be assigned to people with mobility difficulties, Dom has been trained to provide assistance to a person with diabetes, while Pablo will serve as an assistance dog for a person with a psychiatric condition. The training of Sam, a Labrador retriever, was made possible through an investment of €15,000 from the Government of Malta, and he will now be assigned to a 7-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, to offer her ongoing support in her daily life. Sam has been specially trained to address her specific needs, providing security, emotional stability and practical support in everyday situations both at home and in the community, thus offering the girl the inclusion and autonomy she needs to live a more independent life. In her speech during the graduation, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, praised the work of the Foundation and its volunteers, for the hope and comfort they offer to individuals and families in need of these assistance dogs. The President interpreted the graduation of these five dogs as a new beginning for those who will depend on them in their daily lives, and a testament to how with dedication, patience and commitment we can change people's lives for the better. Joseph Stafrace, the founder and Operations Manager of the Service Dogs Malta Foundation, explained how the graduation of assistance dogs is part of a wider programme of intensive and specialised training. Stafrace expressed the pride, emotion and unforgettable moments of the journey that leads the dogs to this graduation, while he expressed the moment of giving the dogs to people in need as a celebration of years of dedication and commitment by a group of dedicated people. During the ceremony, the Archbishop of Malta, His Excellency Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna blessed the dogs and the individuals and families who will benefit from them. In his message, the Archbishop described the occasion as a celebration of harmony between man and creation. “We are also celebrating the efforts of the trainers, who have prepared these friendly dogs of ours, to be of service. We are also celebrating the fact that with their help, five of us will have more autonomy. Therefore, we are celebrating the possibility of improving the quality of the person, something we wish for everyone.” For her part, the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering, Julia Farrugia, stressed that the Government's investment in this training programme is evidence of the commitment towards measures that directly improve the quality of life of persons with disability. "This graduation shows how, through collaboration with voluntary organisations, we can create real and tangible change in people's lives, particularly of people on the autism spectrum and their families," concluded the Minister. The Shadow Minister for Inclusion and Consumer Rights, Graziella Galea, described the graduation ceremony of these five dogs as "a celebration of a more independent and autonomous life for the five people who will benefit from them." At the end of the ceremony, the Service Dogs Malta Foundation also launched the song 'Dejjem Tiegħek', with lyrics by Rita Pace and the interpretation of mezzo-soprano Vanessa Vassallo. This song tells the story of the unique and special bond between assistance dogs and their owners, built on trust, loyalty and unconditional love. Anyone wishing to receive more information can do so by sending a message on the 'Service Dogs Malta Foundation' Facebook page or by contacting Joseph Stafrace on 79617814. Photo: OPR