Posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
A look into the past and most recent history of the prison dog programs reveals a litany of irrefutable evidence for the power of these programs to change lives, canine and human, in and out of prison.
These programs are providing shelter dogs with an alternative that in most cases results in a permanent, loving home. They are proving a significant benefit to the physically disabled, to the hearing and sight impaired, and to the selfless organizations that train and supply these wonder dogs. Waiting lists for the dogs would be much longer if it weren’t for the programs that utilize both shelter dogs and puppies raised specifically for service careers.
The Prison Dog programs are providing a valuable service to society as a whole. Prisoners are being released with employable skills and a new attitude about themselves and others. Human-abuse crimes have been proven to be directly related to animal-abuse tendencies and actions, but released inmates who have worked with these dogs prove to be better fathers, mothers, husbands and wives. Recidivism rates are down substantially for those involved in dog programs, with some programs reporting an unofficial 100% “no return” rate. Those that aren’t released are better inmate citizens.
Prisons where the dog programs flourish are better places to live. The dogs within the facilities are changing the way people act and interact with each other. These prison dog programs leave no doubt that they are among the most successful, if not the most successful programs in our correctional institutions. These programs are proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that not all prisoners and dogs are irredeemable -even those thought to be the worst of the worst!
Tags: better prison atmosphere, lower recidivism, prison dog prgrams change lives
