Malta has welcomed an adorable new arrival, Ink, a Labrador puppy beginning his journey to become a fully trained service dog.Ink arrived in Malta from Belgium as the government announced a new agreement with the Service Dogs Malta Foundation, backed by an investment of more than €150,000 over three years.Under the agreement, more than €50,000 will be invested every year between 2027 and 2029, helping fund the training of three service dogs annually.And Ink’s name has a special meaning too, it was chosen as a shortened version of “inclusion”.Before arriving in Malta, the young Labrador underwent socialisation training in Belgium, learning to walk on a lead and getting accustomed to everything from restaurants and supermarkets to different people, animals and forms of transport.Now in Malta, Ink has joined the Coleiro family, who will be his puppy raisers over the coming months.They will help expose him to everyday situations and build the skills he will eventually need as a service dog.Once Ink is old enough, he will move on to formal training with a professional trainer before being matched with a person who could benefit from his assistance.Service dogs can help people with disabilities or other conditions with mobility, orientation and everyday tasks, while providing greater independence and confidence.Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia said the new funding would help create more opportunities for people who need this type of assistance to live independently and participate fully in their communities.Meanwhile, Service Dogs Malta Foundation’s Joseph Stafrace said the investment would allow the organisation to train more dogs and ultimately improve the quality of life of the people paired with them.For now, though, Ink has plenty of learning, and probably a few treats, ahead of him before he’s ready for his very important job.Share this adorable pupper!•