Thursday 9 May, at the National School for Guide Dogs for the Blind in Scandicci, the President of the Rotary Club Lucca Giuseppe Lunardini and his partner Vittorio Armani participated in the delivery ceremony to the foster family of the Labrador puppy donated by the Club to the Italian Blind Union of Lucca.
After this experience of family life, which lasts a year and a half, the dog will follow a training course for another six months, before being finally handed over to a visually impaired person.
On the occasion of the visit, the director of the School, Massimo Bugianelliexplained to the two visitors the important work that is carried out in training a puppy to transform it into a guide dog, guiding them on a tour of the facilities where around thirty people work, including technicians, assistants and administrators, involved in the care and in the training of around twenty dogs, who are prepared every year to carry out their role as guides.
“The school, – continued the director – was founded on 25 September 1929 with the delivery of the first three dogs and is the oldest still in business; since 1 April 1979 the School has been attributed to the Tuscany Region, which has preserved its national character. Together with Braille printing houseguarantees i rights of people with visual disabilitiesthe protection of their condition and their social inclusion, aiming to achieve well-being that improves the quality of life. In addition to thefarm and to theLabrador and Golden Retriever dog training and to theassignment of puppies to volunteer familiesthe School organizes orientation and mobility courses aimed at learning the techniques necessary for optimal use of the guide dog, pet therapy and many other activities.”
