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| Puppy training program brightens life behind bars |
| By yourdailyglobe.com |
| Published: 02/10/2014 |
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BARAGA (AP) - Inmates at the Baraga Correctional Facility took charge of a pair of puppies recently, and have begun training them for lives on the outside as guide dogs for the blind. Prison officials say it's a win-win formula for everyone, with carefully chosen inmates able to volunteer the huge amount of time needed to train the dogs properly, and the dogs giving the prisoners a sense of accomplishment, responsibility and empathy. "These guys took something from the world. Now their time has meaning and they're giving something back," Michigan Department of Corrections regional assistant director Michael Curley told The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton. At the same time, the dogs seem to improve inmate moods. "There's less negative behavior, misconduct and prisoner grievances," Curley added. "Dogs just make the unit less threatening." The dogs come from a Detroit-area charity called Leader Dogs for the Blind, which provides dogs, inmate and staff training, and support for the program. It takes the dogs back after a year, then provides advanced training and testing, and eventual free placement with a handicapped person - for those dogs that show they're up to the task. Read More. |
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