The story of Joey and Marilena

Joey was just a puppy when he was found in Paphos. He was taken by Paphos Municipal workers to the local kennels, where he spent a month before the animal welfare organisation Freedom Angels Animal Rescue took him into its care.
Joey was only eleven months old when he was selected as an Assistance Dog for Marilena.

What is an Assistance Dog and what can it do?

An Assistance Dog is the trained or trainee dog for people with visible or hidden disabilities. Assistance Dogs have free access everywhere, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). They can be identified by a special collar bearing the label ‘Assistance Dog’ and by their official certificates.

The training of an Assistance Dog is especially adapted to the needs of the handler/owner and his/her specific condition. For example, Assistance Dogs belonging to persons with epilepsy are trained so that, on most occasions, they can respond during a seizure and are able to recognize and communicate to their handler/owner that a seizure is imminent.

Furthermore, by their mere presence, Assistance Dogs strengthen the psychological state of disabled persons, helping them gain self-confidence and feel less anxiety and fear, by providing greater safety and freedom of movement inside and outside the home.

The role of Cyta

In December 2021, Cyta decided to offer accessories for smartphones in all its stores, starting from the symbolic amount of €3 only. The entire amount from each purchase was given for the training of Joey, to become an Assistance Dog for Marilena.

Additionally, in an effort to raise awareness within society about the importance of free access everywhere for individuals accompanied by such specially trained dogs, it opens its doors and welcomes Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs in all its stores across Cyprus!

Cyta Partner Network opened their doors and they now welcome Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs in their stores.
We thank the following Partners for supporting Cyta’s initiative.

The innitiative "Training Joey to become an Assistance Dog for Marilena” has been completed.

Thank you for supporting our effort and helping us to sell 2,207 old smartphone accessories at a symbolic sum, raising a significant amount of money for Joey's training. The cheque was delivered to Marilena in May 2022. Joey's training continues and will be completed soon. What is even more important is to ensure that all people accompanied by Assistance Dogs or Guide Dogs will have free access everywhere. We at Cyta made the beginning, opening the doors at all Cytashops throughout Cyprus and sending the message with the support of the Media and our partners.

...because communication is everyone’s right!