Pets, Puppies, and Prisoners 

As a society, we’ve learned that people aren’t perfect. People make mistakes that they often regret, and those same mistakes may cause them to wind up in the prison system, serving sentences for months or years at a time. Prison life is hard for many people: they are separated from their families, confined to small living quarters, and surrounded by strangers of all backgrounds. While prison is the proper consequence for crime, it should be centered around healing and learning from one’s mistakes, instead of being confined in a cold, depressive space. 

Pet therapy for prisoners has helped many people, bringing a sense of joy and comfort to those that lack emotional support in jail. I know whenever I am upset or have anxiety, I spend time with my dogs, and they never fail to bring a smile to my face. Animals can help fill a void in someone’s life. Not only does pet therapy provide company for prisoners in need, it also saves  many innocent animals who would be euthanized otherwise. The prisons rescue and train the dogs, giving both the inmates and the animals a second chance. 

Pet therapy is not just exclusive to the United States. An article by animals.com states that there are “more than twenty prisons in Spain that adhere to the program and more than 40 animals that take part in it.” The animals in Spain live with the prisoners, which means that the inmates have immediate access to them. However, pet therapy in the United States works differently. In the United States, “prisoners can train the dogs as part of their rehabilitation” as opposed to simply calling on the animals when they are needed. I think this is a great option, as it provides the opportunity for the prisoners to gain an emotional connection with the dogs and find a new purpose in their lives. The prisoners who get the opportunity to work with these dogs, though, must pass an evaluation in order to assure that they are in the position to take proper care of an animal. 

The TAILS program in Florida is a great example of the benefits that pet therapy can provide for prisoners. ABC News covered a story on this amazing program, explaining that it costs roughly $80,000 annually to run, and that over 500 dogs have been fostered or adopted through the program. They describe the many emotional experiences that inmates have had with these animals, but one inmate in particular was more than inspired by this program. After he was released from prison, he wanted to become a dog trainer. TAILS provided him with a scholarship that allowed him to become a certified veterinary technician and “promoted as head of adoptions at the shelter.” These success stories are astounding, further emphasizing the need for the expansion of programs like pet therapy in prisons.

Puppies Behind Bars is another amazing organization, similar to TAILS, that supports this outstanding initiative for prisoners. The dogs that are trained through this program are adopted by wounded war veterans, first responders, and others in need of a service animal. If you want to support this amazing program, you can donate or foster a dog yourself. They have locations in New York and New Jersey where you can volunteer if you are over the age of 18. Even if you are unable to donate or make a commitment to one of these programs, you can do your part by raising awareness and educating people for the cause. 

Prisoners often wind up in jail because they lacked a purpose in life or somebody to lean on. Pet therapy can teach these broken people to value life and the feelings of hope and love. Dogs and other animals are incredible creatures. They provide unconditional love as long as you reciprocate it, simultaneously teaching prisoners about the concept of mutual respect in a relationship. Knowing that these people can rely on animals when they need them the most makes my heart happy. I can only hope that the number of prisons using pet therapy continues to grow.