AMBASSADOR'S OUTREACH  

(L-R: Ambassador Foley with Tom Aplin, Chairman of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind walking the guide dog Alvis at Dublin Airport: May 9, 2007.)

Ambassador Foley welcomed Alvis, the first guide dog to come to Ireland under new regulations allowing for cooperation.  Alvis came from Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ in response to a call from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Such exchanges have only become possible recently with a change in the quarantine regulations and flight regulations to allow for the special circumstances surrounding guide dogs.

Ambassador Foley walking the guide dog Alvis at Dublin Airport: May 9, 2007.

When the guide dog of someone here in Ireland died unexpectedly of cancer, they found themselves in a difficult situation which limited their mobility and lowered their quality of life.  Unfortunately, there were no guide dogs available in Ireland to fill this need in the near future.  There was an additional problem because the person was used to working with German Shepherds and the only dogs available in Ireland were Retrievers.  They would need to wait for at least three years to get another dog. 

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind put out an international call for help and Seeing Eye of New Jersey in the United States responded.  They donated Alvis, a two year old German Shepherd, and his full kit.  Continental Airlines donated airfare for Alvis, who rode business class to Dublin.

Alvis will undergo two months of training in Ireland to get him acquainted with the living situation here.  He will then be presented to the person who lost their dog, bringing a happy ending to someone who suffered the tragic loss of his canine helpmate.