Puppies in Prison?

Yes, that's right, puppies in prison. You see, there arefor Assistance Dog Service (NEADS) in central
prison programs in place that prepare puppies to helpMassachusetts. NEADS is a non-profit organization
the disabled population. There's an expected changethat provides assistance dogs for the deaf and
coming in the number of disabled with the thousandsdisabled. They have more than 80 puppies in eight
of wounded veterans returning from wars in Iraq andcorrectional facilities around New England.
Afghanistan, so the demand for these assistance dogsThe puppies complete their training in four months and
will increase. Whoever thought of this was really onare then provided to members of the disabled
the ball!population through a waiting list. There are
In some of the low and medium security prisonapproximately 85 people requesting assistance dogs
facilities, inmates are chosen to take a puppy to raise.currently.
These inmates are non-violent and have goodHaving these dogs in a prison setting has provided
behavior records. The puppies are with the inmates allbenefits for the prison atmosphere, too. They seem to
the time ... at mess hall, at the gym and sleeping in dogbring out the best in the inmates and their very
crates in their rooms. These facilities are not cells, butpresence diffuses tension. The inmates selected to
rooms with doors, to better acclimate the puppy forraise the puppies are distracted from missing the
the real world."outside" and get unconditional love... not what you'd
The inmates, along with a professional dog trainer, puttypically find in a correctional facility. The puppies also
the dogs through a rigorous program that preparesbenefit as they truly get undivided attention and
them for advanced training at the National Educationaffection. A real win-win situation.