The first guide-dog team on the University of Limerick campus has been welcomed to the college by the president of the university, Prof Roger Downer. Tim O'Brien reports.
Ms Birte Schultz, a post-graduate student and tutor at the university, has teamed up with a labrador/golden retriever cross called Judge - just like the 1960s' RTÉ television character from Wanderly Wagon - to help navigate the college.
Birte, who comes from a small town near Hamburg in Germany, has been living in Ireland since 1996.
At three, Birte began suffering from juvenile arthritis, a condition which gradually affected her eyesight.
She underwent many eye surgery operations last year, aimed at stabilising her remaining peripheral vision in one eye.
Birte's ultimate goal was to own and work with a guide dog and, having applied for training to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, she was accepted for training. A suitable "match" was found in Judge.
Now in the early stages of their partnership, Birte and Judge are concentrating on establishing themselves on regular essential routes. Birte adopts the role of navigator, planning the route, and Judge takes responsibility for avoiding kerbs, obstacles and drops.
They continue to work with an instructor to ensure their safe assimilation into the environment.
They practise travelling on extensive routes in and around the university.