It’s common for most to confuse service dogs with guide dogs, but Service Dogs Malta Foundation PR volunteer Jo Cremona insists that despite the commonalities, there is an important distinction to be made. 

Set up by Joseph Stafrace, who coincidentally is also the Chairman of Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, Service Dogs Malta has a specific mission: “A guide dog’s mission is to support a person with visual impairment while a service dog helps with several conditions, including diabetes and autism,” says Jo.

Training for the two follows separate procedures: “It’s different training since it has a different purpose,” Jo explains. “Diabetic alert service dogs are trained through saliva and sweat samples collected from clients during an episode,” she continues, adding that training requires a lot of cooperation from clients.

In the case of certain diabetics, service dogs are trained to scent a change in a client’s blood sugar level: “They can know an hour ahead of time before sugar levels spike or drop,” Jo reveals. The volunteer quickly clarifies a common misconception: “Their training is specific to one individual, meaning they are not able to smell out and assist another diabetics in the room,” she explains.

Service dogs are especially helpful to autistic children and people with self-harming inclinations as Jo illustrates: “Due to the fact that autism suffers struggle with verbal communication, it’s one of a parent’s biggest fear for their child to bolt off and for them to be unable to pass on basic information about themselves when found,” she explains. “Dogs are connected to their client by a leash and instructions are given directly to the dog. The dog then makes sure the child keeps in line with these instructions by preventing him from crossing a junction, or keeping put,” Jo says.

In the case of people with a tendency of injuring themselves, service dogs follow a particular routine: “if it’s one of a client’s major troubles, the dog will be trained to use his weight and calm the person down,” Jo says.

Service Dogs Malta Foundation, who has been in operation since 2013, marks a big milestone this year: “Very luckily we managed to have our own litter – 5 dogs!” Jo reveals excitedly. It’s a fantastic achievement for multiple reasons; service dogs need to have a specific bloodline and purchasing such breeds can set the NGO back anything between €2,000 and €3,000 per canine. It’s a considerable expense, especially when you consider that the organisation sources, trains and gives dogs to families for free.

Despite their bloodline, not all dogs are cut out to be service dogs: “dogs have a good sense of scent, but some dogs are born with a higher intuition,” says Jo, adding that not all dogs qualify as service dogs.

Now, Service Dogs Malta Foundation are urgently looking for five foster families to assist the organisation with the training of these pups: “The idea is for families to take them out as much possible and be exposed to shops, restaurants and escalators so they get accustomed to noise,” says Jo. Foster families will also be instructed on how to teach basic obedience to the dogs by the foundation’s professional trainer. Over time, the trainer starts teaching more advanced commands and behaviours, and again families are instructed on how to implement them in their daily routine.

The foundation pays for all the dog’s expenses themselves including food, vet visits and grooming but demands one thing from foster families: “It is crucial that families follow our instructions,” says Jo, adding that even by giving a dog human food (which is prohibited) can negatively impact the efficiency of a dog’s training. After about a year and half, the dog will then be moved to a client.

If you’re interested in becoming a foster family and assisting in this noble cause, you can get in contact with Jo by phone: +356 79049675 or via email: [email protected].