British Ambassador to Israel
Tom Phillips and his wife Anne had a reunion of the four-legged variety this week when Daisy the Labrador – a guide dog they had fostered for over a year - popped round with puppies Romy and Rocko to pose for a family photo.
Romy and Rocko have just started guide dog school at the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind in Beit Oved, outside of Tel Aviv. Training lasts for six months, after which Romy and Rocko will be fully-employed as seeing-eye dogs working with the blind and partially sighted.
The four-legged family photo was taken ahead of a special event to be hosted by Ambassador Phillips at his Ramat Gan residence on October 15 to raise awareness about seeing-eye dog users in Israel.
Romy, Rocko and the ambassador (Photo: PRM Public Relations)
In addition to the ambassador, Social Affairs and Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog will also address the unique event – which will include a special obstacle course where people will be blindfolded and led by the guide dogs. There will also be musical performances by Israeli singers Danny Robas and Nili Zeidel, who is herself a guide-dog user.
Ahead of the event, Ambassador Phillips said, "Anne and I and indeed all the staff at the residence were proud to have played a part in raising Daisy and to learn that she had been chosen as a breeder. We hope her puppies will do sterling service helping the blind and visually impaired in all communities in Israel."
There are around 26,000 people currently living in Israel who are registered blind or partially-sighted, including 1,200 children. This number grows by an additional 2,000 every year.
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