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The people's choice is Trilby

29 July 2010

Vision Australia's latest canine recruit for its 'Seeing Eye Dog' program is set to be named Ty if staff from the firm which is sponsoring the puppy have their way.

The Golden Retriever/Labrador pup which will be trained to be the 'eyes' of a visually impaired person is sponsored by leading Queensland personal injury law firm Trilby Misso as part of its Community Spirit Program.

The firm has asked staff to come up with a short-list of names for the nine week old canine, which will be trained under Vision Australia's 'Seeing Eye Dog' program.

Trilby Misso CEO Graeme McFadyen said more than 70 names were suggested and a short list of six names included Charlie, Harvey, Ty, Trilby, Titan and Buddy.

Staff were granted a 'people's choice award' on the name and the winner was Ty which is short for Tybalt - "he who sees".

However, a final decision on the dog's name rests with Vision Australia. The puppy will be officially named at a ceremony to be held at Trilby Misso's Brisbane CBD head office on August 19.

The Victorian-born pooch will soon start an intensive training program with a carer in Brisbane before he is eventually placed with a visually impaired person.

"We are his sponsors and we'll continue to follow his progress over the years and we hope our staff will feel that he is their puppy," Mr McFadyen said.

Trilby Misso has been running its Community Spirit Program for the past four years.

The program has contributed to organisations such as the Royal Children's Hospital, Youngcare, the Leukaemia Foundation, the Paraplegic Benefit Fund, Multicap, Montrose Access, Brain Injury Association of Queensland and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.