USA: Puppies Behind Bars by Radhika Chalasani

BEACON, NEW YORK: Tyrone (C) and Andy (R) escort their puppies, Happy and Rezzie, back to their residence after visiting sick prisoners in the medical ward at Fishkill Correctional Facility as part of the Puppies Behind Bars Program. The patients look forward to the visits which are also used as a training exercise for the puppies...The Puppies Behind Bars (PPB) Program works with prison inmates in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to train service dogs, including ones who help injured...
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BEACON, NEW YORK: Tyrone (C) and Andy (R) escort their puppies, Happy and Rezzie, back to their residence after visiting sick prisoners in the medical ward at Fishkill Correctional Facility as part of the Puppies Behind Bars Program. The patients look forward to the visits which are also used as a training exercise for the puppies...The Puppies Behind Bars (PPB) Program works with prison inmates in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to train service dogs, including ones who help injured soldiers. The puppies arrive at 8 weeks-old and remain at the prisons, mostly working with one inmate, for 20 months. Fishkill Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in New York with 22 men in the puppy program. The emotional element of caring for the puppies breaks down the hard façade that most prisoners create for themselves to survive prison life. Prisoners learn responsibility and pride in helping others. The program often gives them a new outlook on their crimes, their time in prison, and goals when they are released.
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