After a week long delay, two Labrador dogs and three pups have been brought into T&T from Germany to assist blind people.
The animals were kept in quarantine in Curacao since last week and because of the risk of rabies local authorities had planned to put them to sleep.
However, Transport Minister Devant Maharaj intervened and after checks all five were cleared by the Immigration Department and handed over to the T&T Guide Dogs Association yesterday.
In an interview president of the Guide Dogs Association, Collin Ng Wai said: “The dogs will be trained between 12 to 18 months.
“We have persons with experience but they are not officially accredited as yet but we are moving in that direction for accreditation. The pups are six months old and the two adults are over a year.”
He said once the dogs are properly trained they would be handed to the T&T Blind Welfare Association.
Meanwhile, president of the association Kenneth Suratt said he was thankful the dogs were allowed into the country.
“We plan to introduce the dogs to the blind people because there are some who are afraid of animals. We will allow them to touch the dogs to overcome their fear,” he added.
Suratt hoped the animals would be allowed on public transportation. Maharaj said he was happy to help the blind folks.
He said the Government had taken a policy decision to allow service access dogs in public buildings.
“I brought this to Parliament and we also amended the Animal Import Regulations Act to allow easier entry for animals in Trinidad.
“Previously we had a six months quarantine period but that is no more because we made the necessary changes,” Maharaj said.
He added that the Government remained sensitive to the plight of the visually impaired. He said discussions would be held to allow the animals on public transportation vehicles.