Meital Fischman is a student in Ariel University in Shomron. She is also a volunteer in the nationwide program in which volunteers raise puppies that are trained to serve as Seeing Eye dogs. She has now learned that her dog-in-training is banned from the university campus.

The program involves individuals that are not blind training the young dogs for a one year period. Persons applying for the program undergo a rigid screening process since the dogs must be treated and handled in a certain way.

Meital applied to raise such a dog 18 months ago and was just accepted after the long screening process. When she approached the administration at the university, she was told the dog may not accompany her. She appealed to the head of the university, Prof. Shmuel Shachar, but the professor explained that bringing dogs into a classroom infringes on the rights of others.

Fischman turned to MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, who sent a letter to the university. After receiving the MK’s letter university officials stated they are reconsidering the request.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)