Pups in Prison
Assistance Dogs Australia’s Pups in Prison Program is now in its 8th year and has expanded into six prisons across four states of Australia.
Recently seven Labrador puppies in training were sentenced to serve time for good behaviour at Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison in Hobart and Borallon Corrective Centre in Queensland, as part of the program.
Inmates, correctional staff and Assistance Dogs Australia’s community volunteer dog trainers are responsible for the seven day a week training of the gorgeous puppies.
Since February, Tassie, Tarkine and Freyci have been training in the Tasmanian big house while pups Cornell, Oxley, Logan and Sunshine entered Borallon Corrective Centre in March.
One handler at Borallon expressed how much of an impact these pups can have on the lives of offenders and the overall environment of the centre.
“For the first time in years it will allow us to show softness, tenderness and affection. Caring for these dogs will help us rekindle certain feelings and emotions, help us lighten up and bring a little more humanity into our lives…
Instead of taking from society, it [the Pups in Prison Program] provides us with an opportunity to actually give back. From criminal to contributor.
"It [the Pups in Prison Program] has a win-win-win-win aspect to it. It will help us inmates, it will help Assistance Dogs Australia, it will help people with special needs and it will also help the prison environment, by improving
self esteem and empathy levels among inmates, increase positive behaviours and moods, create better relationships between staff and inmates and open up more opportunities for education, training and employment…
I know that at times this job will not be easy but I also know that this will be one of the most rewarding things we ever do and this will show in the interactions with [Assistance Dogs Australia’s] trainers, our dedication to the dogs and the care we put into their training.
It will be rough when the time comes for the dogs to leave. But in spite of this heartache, I feel as though it will be well worth it.”
If you would like to help us train more fantastic Assistance Dogs donate now.
Photos courtesy of Dean Saffron
