Inmates train dogs to work with children with physical or mental disabilities
By Maya Hanley
Nine Labrador puppies arrived at Plainfield Correctional Facility recently. Eighteen inmates will train them with the help of Indiana Canine Assistance Network’s Service Dog Apprenticeship (ICAN) programme.
The 18 inmates who will train the 9 puppies will have a chance to give back to their community and will help the dogs learn to assist children with physical or mental disabilities.
“You’ll see the most hardened felons turn into the sappiest guys,” said prison spokesman Kevin Mulrooney. “It’s incredible the difference that a few dogs can make.”
30 years ago, a nun called Pauline Quinn, from Michigan, came up with the idea and now four area prisons participate in the 9 year old ICAN programme run by Sally Irvin.
A total of 42 dogs are in training at Plainfield and the Branchville Correctional Facility, Indiana Women’s Prison and Rockville Correctional Facility for women.
Irvin said it costs ICAN about $1,600 to train one dog, so the program depends on donations and grants.
“Private citizens are by far the biggest donation source,” Irvin said. “Since we only charge clients $950 for the dogs and offer two weeks of training and a lifetime follow-up, it takes a lot of financial support.” Each dog lives in the housing unit with the inmate-trainer and remains with trainers nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To qualify for the program, offenders must have a background clear of violent behavior, have had no negative conduct reports for at least a year, and apply and interview for the programme as they would for a job.
“The programme requires (offenders) to take complete ownership in their job,” Mulroony said. “They all know that there’s a lot of effort that goes into the training for the dog and how it will benefit the community.
“When you see an offender walking through the hall with their dog, you can just tell that there’s a bond already. That dog and this job becomes their world.”
30 years ago, a nun called Pauline Quinn, from Michigan, came up with the idea and now four area prisons participate in the 9 year old ICAN programme run by Sally Irvin.
A total of 42 dogs are in training at Plainfield and the Branchville Correctional Facility, Indiana Women’s Prison and Rockville Correctional Facility for women.
Irvin said it costs ICAN about $1,600 to train one dog, so the program depends on donations and grants.
“Private citizens are by far the biggest donation source,” Irvin said. “Since we only charge clients $950 for the dogs and offer two weeks of training and a lifetime follow-up, it takes a lot of financial support.” Each dog lives in the housing unit with the inmate-trainer and remains with trainers nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To qualify for the program, offenders must have a background clear of violent behavior, have had no negative conduct reports for at least a year, and apply and interview for the programme as they would for a job.
“The programme requires (offenders) to take complete ownership in their job,” Mulroony said. “They all know that there’s a lot of effort that goes into the training for the dog and how it will benefit the community.
“When you see an offender walking through the hall with their dog, you can just tell that there’s a bond already. That dog and this job becomes their world.”
