Over the past twelve months or so, Kildare College students Amy Harris (Maisy) and Renae and Felicity Manfredi (Ripley) became volunteers who provided nurturing environments and early training for RSB and Assistance Dog pups.
Recently ‘star puppies’ (pupils) Maisy and Ripley graduated to become Assistance Dogs with the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB). They will now become invaluable mobility support and companions for a person who is blind or vision impaired, or someone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The ultimate reward for Amy, Renae and Felicity was to see their dogs graduate at a recent ceremony and meet the recipients of the wonderful dogs they raised and helped train.
While it may not have been easy to say goodbye, it was very rewarding to see their dogs take the next ‘paw’ (step) in their roles as Assistance Dogs.
Angie Selga
HASS teacher
