Prison Dogs

Prison Programs Help Abandoned Dogs Become Service Animals

Prison’s not exactly meant to be fun—but in some cases, the chance to make a new friend can give an inmate the opportunity to learn and grow. Especially if that friend has four legs.

At the Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas, a nonprofit group called Safe Harbor places abandoned puppies with convicts, giving the inmates the opportunity to bond with the dogs and rehabilitate them so that they can eventually be placed with families.

The dogs aren’t the only ones who benefit from the experience. Danny, who was imprisoned for kidnapping and aggravated assault, says that his work with the dogs has inspired him to set up his own animal rescue center after his release from prison.

“Working with the dogs, it helps me to help them. Big time. You know it is such a joy to do that,” he told BBC News.

Safe Harbor isn’t the first nonprofit organization to bring pets to prison—the groundbreaking Prison Pet Partnership Program launched in Gig Harbor, Washington, in 1981. That program helps inmates train rescued dogs to become service animals for people with disabilities. The organization has now placed more than 700 dogs as service dogs throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Today, there are hundreds of prison-based dog training programs in existence throughout the U.S. and internationally. Years of analysis show that the programs have been proven to improve prisoners’ behavior and help them avoid returning to prison for another infraction upon release. Plus, it saves serious costs as far as the dogs are concerned: a service dog can typically take upwards of $10,000 to train, but the prison pets are able to become service dogs for a small fraction of the cost.

How you can help: Organizations like the Prison Pet Partnership Program and Safe Harbor can always use help to link up prisoners with their training dogs. The groups will happily accept donations of dog treats and supplies, or take financial contributions to help the dogs make a smooth transition into the jailhouse and back out again

I've followed this program since its inception. It is truly a win win situation. The first time I hear of it it was a program on tv. It went round to many of the prisons that fostered this worthwhile program.

Lately, I havn't heard much about it. Inquired whether it had stopped or not. Glad to see this article on it.

What could be better? The dogs win with a second or third chance and the inmates win by doing something needed and worthwhile. Oma