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Soldiers

Prison Program Helps Inmates Train Service Dogs for Veterans

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

At Fort Grant State Prison in Arizona, a pioneering program brings together inmates and veterans in a unique partnership. The state prison has partnered with Soldiers Best Friend, a non-profit organization that connects veterans with service dogs. Inmates, who participate in a rigorous interview process and 6-week dog trainer course, work closely with the dogs, learning basic obedience skills and how to handle them. This program not only provides the dogs with essential socialization and training but also gives the inmates a sense of purpose and hope for their future.

Key Takeaways:

  • The program, a partnership between Fort Grant State Prison and Soldiers Best Friend, allows inmates to help train service dogs for veterans in Arizona.
  • Leslie Bryant, prison program director for Soldiers Best Friend, selects dogs from local animal shelters that have potential and trains them in collaboration with inmates.
  • The program participants, selected through a rigorous interview process, undergo a 6-week dog trainer course to learn basic obedience skills and how to handle a dog.
  • Kevin Taylor, an incarcerated dog handler and veteran, attests that a service dog can change a life, citing his own experience with medication and PTSD.
  • The program allows inmates to stay with the dogs for 12 weeks at a time, giving the dogs essential lifestyle experience while in a contained environment.
  • Taylor notes that the program is not just about dog training but also helps participants develop a sense of purpose and hope for their future.
  • Although the dogs leave the prison after 12 weeks, Bryant sees the positive impact on the inmate handlers, providing them with a skill to take back into society.
  • The program is a pilot for Soldiers Best Friend, with plans to expand to other prisons, including Phoenix.

Statistics:

  • 12 inmates participate in the program at Fort Grant State Prison.
  • 7 dogs are trained in the program at a time.
  • 6 weeks is the duration of the dog trainer course for inmates.
  • 12 weeks is the duration of time inmates stay with the dogs.
  • 100% of participants undergo a rigorous interview process before being selected for the program.

Sources:

  • Bryant, Leslie (prison program director for Soldiers Best Friend)
  • Taylor, Kevin (incarcerated dog handler and veteran)
  • Soldiers Best Friend (non-profit organization)

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