Joseph Stafrace’s life changed dramatically in 2007 when Macy became a part of his life. Macy is Stafrace’s five-year-old Labrador cross Golden Retriver and while other people have strong bonds with their pets, the relationship he has with Macy is even more special. As well as being part of the family, friend and colleague, Macy is also Stafrace’s eyes.

Climbing our badly-built, unlevel staircase, Stafrace had no problems with Macy at his side despite being totally blind.

“He has given me independence I have not known since I lost my sight at the age of seven. I am able to go out and do things on my own. Simple things that people take for granted, like going out to do the shopping, have always been difficult for me because I had to rely on other people. Now if the milk runs out and there is no one at home, I can go out and get some.”

Macy is the first guide dog that came to Malta from a guide dog training school in Bratislava. He is one of only six dogs working on the island, despite a blind population of 1,200.

“Being paired with a dog is a long process. It is not as simple as picking up a qualified dog for the job. It is really important that the dog is matched with the person involved.

“If a person walks quickly he needs to have a dog that can keep with his pace, if he walks slowly, then he needs a dog that will wait for him. Before Macy was given to me an instructor came over from the school to assess my home and find out as much as they could about me to ensure a safe and successful relationship for both the dog and myself.”

Uniting a blind person with an appropriate guide dog is a long process that may take up to two years to complete. A substantial amount of financial resources as well as time for training is involved therefore instructors need to be sure that the right dog is going to the right person.

Puppies that may be appropriate for the job are adopted by volunteer families at three months old and trained in basic obedience. When they can do simple things like sit, lie down, come, and heel among others, their temperament is assessed to determine whether they fit the bill.

“There are two puppies in the preliminary stages of training in Malta. If they are deemed suitable then they will be sent to a school in Messina, which the Malta Guide Dog Foundation has an agreement with. During the intense training the dogs are taught how to co-ordinate stairs and pavements, how to get onto a bus and how to deal with crowds as well as how to navigate ice.

“The training is on-going. When I need to take a new route, I learn the route myself first, taking a stick with me. After that I take the dog along. It is always the person that needs to take decisions. If I want to cross the road it is my decision not the dogs. Of course I try as much as possible to use zebra crossings and pelican lights which I can hear beep when it is safe to walk.”

There is a lot of added responsibility with having a guide dog and Stafrace’s day begins at 6:30am with looking after Macy’s needs.

“We go out for a walk first thing in the morning so Macy can do his business, then I come home and brush him every day. Every four weeks I meet up with the owners of the other guide dogs and we take them for a free run so that they can behave like ordinary dogs and not be working all the time.”

Guide dogs have a working life of about eight years and are retired at 10. Although Macy still has another five years left in him, Stafrace is concerned about what will happen when he has to retire.

“Thinking about that time already upsets me. When I have to retire Macy I know that I will take a step backwards. Even after he retires we are obliged to keep the dogs as pets for the rest of their natural lives, so he will always be part of my family. However getting a new guide dog is not an easy process and I know there will be a time in my life when I have to return to being dependent on my wife again.”

Purchasing a fully qualified guide dog is expensive business with the cost of a dog being in the region of €10,000 to €15,000. Funding of the organisation is mainly through the group’s fund raising activities, the next event on the 18 June to be held at Bay Street will include a cake sale, sale of key chains and mugs, face painting and hair braiding.

The organisation also rely on donations from the public and various charities. The Community Chest Fund have helped the Malta Guide Dog Foundation acquire three of the six dogs.

What guide dogs do

• Keep on a direct route, ignoring distractions such as smells, other animals and people

• Maintain a steady pace, to the left and just ahead of the handler

• Stop at all curbs until told to proceed

• Turn left and right, move forward and stop on command

• Recognize and avoid obstacles that the handler won't be able to fit through (narrow passages and low overheads)

• Stop at the bottom and top of stairs until told to proceed

• Bring the handler to lift buttons

• Lie quietly when the handler is sitting down

• Help the handler to board and move around buses, subways and other forms of public transportation

• Obey a number of verbal commands