Pound Puppies: The Rehabilitative Uses of Dogs in Correctional Facilities

• NCJ Number: 205437
• Journal: Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2004 Pages: 74-79
• Author(s): Todd Harkrader; Tod W. Burke; Stephen S. Owen
• Date Published: April 2004
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the features and benefits of inmate programs that involve assistance-dog training.

Abstract

Training programs may be for guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs. Guide dogs are used to aid the visually impaired, and hearing dogs provide aid to the deaf and hearing impaired. Service dogs provide assistance to individuals who have physical disabilities that restrict or impair movement. In addition, there are prison animal programs that take animals who would otherwise be euthanized and give them to inmates, who train them in basic obedience skills that will increase their appeal for adoption by families. Through these dog training programs, inmates learn responsibility, patience, tolerance, and skills as animal trainers. The dogs also provide a bridge between the inmates and the guards and reduce inmate-staff conflicts. Successful prison dog-training programs have support from both the community and local dog-training schools. Prison administrators have the responsibility of convincing a dog-training school that the prison is prepared for training dogs and that it has facilities necessary to conduct the training. The prison management staff must work with the schools to obtain professionals to teach the inmates how to train the dogs properly. The training schools must also be convinced that the inmates are sincere and responsible in their desire to work with the dogs. The prisons must have a strong base of community volunteers who will care for and keep the dogs for weekend furloughs throughout the training programs. Each successful program profiled in this article has a careful screening process for those inmates who participate in the training program. Aside from an occasional Federal grant, prison puppy programs depend heavily on community assistance and donations. Several of the programs described in this article receive considerable donations of supplies from guide/service dog programs. Inmates also generate income through bake sales or by selling items manufactured in the prison workshops. Both the community and the inmates benefit from these prison dog-training programs. 5 notes