Service Dog Awareness Campaign Launched in Maltese Schools

As part of activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an educational campaign on service dogs has been launched in Maltese schools to raise awareness about the crucial role these animals play within the community.

The initiative is being led by the voluntary organisation Service Dogs Malta Foundation.

The campaign was officially launched at St Nicholas College, Rabat Primary School, which has 403 students, including around 50 children with disabilities. Through this programme, students from various schools will participate in interactive and demonstrative sessions showing how service dogs support people with disabilities by providing independence, safety, and emotional wellbeing.

The goal is to encourage a culture of empathy and respect from a young age, while teaching children how to appropriately interact with service dogs during their duties.

Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia praised the campaign, calling it an important step toward a more aware and accessible society. She said early education is essential for nurturing inclusive values. “Inclusion isn’t something we speak about only during this week; it’s a vision we must live every day. By educating children on the role of service dogs, we are building a generation that better understands diversity and contributes to a fairer Malta,” the minister said.

Service Dogs Malta Foundation President Joseph Stafrace emphasised the importance of raising awareness. He noted that teaching children what a service dog is, how to behave around one, and what to avoid, helps strengthen understanding and respect. The foundation also distributed books about service dogs to encourage children to learn more. “Our mission is to help people see ability, not disability,” Stafrace added.

The campaign will continue to grow in the coming weeks and months, promoting essential information on the value of service dogs in daily life.

Photos: MIV
Video link: https://we.tl/t-rSVMnzWJfD