Pups Behind Bars

Logan - one of the pups at Borallon

Four Labrador puppies in training have been sentenced to serve 16 months in Borallon Correctional Centre as part of Assistance Dogs Australia’s Pups in Prison program which was officially opened at the centre on 11th March 2010 in partnership with Queensland Corrective Services and SERCO who run the centre.

 

Eight offenders, correctional staff and Assistance Dogs Australia’s community volunteer dog trainers will be responsible for the seven day a week training of four, ten week old Labrador puppies in training, teaching them basic obedience commands which they will one day use to perform tasks for people with physical disabilities. These tasks include opening and closing doors, alert barking on command if the person is in trouble, picking up dropped items and even paying the cashier at the shops.

 

“The Pups in Prison program is what we call a triple treat as it helps the inmates, Assistance Dogs Australia and the community,” Richard Lord, Top Dog at Assistance Dogs Australia, said. “The program aims to reduce re-offending behaviour and gives the men valuable work skills and training. They also give back to the community because eventually the dog they trained will change the life of someone with a physical disability.”

 

Three of the four gorgeous puppies, Oxley (male black Labrador), Cornell (female black Labrador) and Logan (male yellow Labrador) have been named after Queensland pioneers by Borallon Corrective Centre and the community while Sunshine (female yellow Labrador) was named by Ipswich Special School.

 

Assistance Dogs Australia is a non profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to enhance the quality of life and give freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities. As a result of our program these highly trained dogs allow recipients to have greater mobility, gain confidence and have higher self esteem. The Pups in Prison program will now be operating in 6 corrective services centres across Australia.

 

To see photos of the day please click here.