Guide dog visits a St Albans school

Crumbs! A student at a St Albans secondary school takes the biscuit when it comes to naming puppies, with his entry in a charity competition proving he is top dog.

Marlborough Science Academy in Watling Street recently received a visit from a cute chocolate brown Labrador puppy in training to become a Guide Dog.

It enabled the puppy to meet the pupil who named her in a competition organised for Marlborough youngsters.

After successfully sponsoring a Guide Dog puppy two years ago, the school has recently raised close to £4,000 to sponsor a second pup.

And a competition was held for Years 7 and 8 pupils to suggest a name for the canine trainee.

Ibrahim Islam suggested the winning name – Biscuit – and as part of his prize, met the puppy. when she came to visit the school.

He also presented Guide Dogs For The Blind with the money raised.

A spokeswoman for Marlborough said that as Biscuit was being trained, students were not allowed “to make too much of a fuss but they were very excited”.

The school has already received its first monthly update on the puppy’s training, with the report saying she was already confident on stairs and lifts, and had already visited a care home where she “was loved by everyone”.

Apparently Biscuit also coped well with flashing lights and loud music during an “unusual” visit to a ten-pin bowling alley.

Once trained, Biscuit will help provide mobility and freedom to people who are blind or partially sighted.

According to the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association the cost of training a dog is £28,000 for its time in active service – but nearly £50,000 to support a dog from birth all the way through to retirement.