|
|
| RIDOC recognized for pup program |
| By Lynne Murray, Corrections.com News Intern |
| Published: 10/08/2008 |
|
RHODE ISLAND - On September 24, Director of Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Ashbel T. Wall II was awarded the 2008 Distinguished Service Award from the Rhode Island Statewide Independent Living Council for the RIDOC’s Prison Pup Partnership. Under this partnership, inmates train canines to become seeing-eyes for disabled people. RISILC Executive Director Camille Pansa praised the program for its “continuous efforts, personal involvement and dedicated commitment to helping those individuals with disabilities and their loved ones who reside here in Rhode Island and our neighboring communities and elsewhere.” Correctional Officer Captain Nelson Lefebvre, Deputy Warden Kirk Kaszyk, and Chief Public Information Officer Tracey Z. Poole joined Wall in the celebration. Kaszyk and Lefebvre are credited with making the program so successful at the John J. Moran Medium Security facility. While accepting the award, Wall acknowledged the staff responsible for making the program possible, along with inmates in two men’s medium security facilities, and the disabled who have been teamed with RIDOC-trained dogs. “We think we have a lot of positive stories to tell, but none is an easier sell than this program,” says Wall. RIDOC’s Prison Pup program began in 2005, and has continued to expand. Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans were founded in 1976. To date, there have been more than 1,000 teams formed in more than 30 states. This averages each year is around 55 new assistance teams (a human partner and his or her trained assistance dog). RIDOC also participates in a new program called Canines for Combat Veterans, which was designed to provide service dogs to disabled veterans. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|