Province extends program that pairs prisoners with puppies
Posted Jul 18, 2013 02:15:08 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After six months of operation, the province has decided to extend a program that pairs prisoners at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility with young dogs that need to be trained.
Woof, was introduced as a way to help curb violence inside the jail.
There is no hard data showing the program is actually working, but there is a lot of rhetoric that suggests it’s having a positive effect.
Trainer Amy MacRae says she can see the inmates learning to be more patient, and says it’s a big deal for offenders to be interacting with others.
“And focus on using positive reinforcement in our daily life,” explains MacRae. “In our society we generally see a significant amount of punishment.”
Jacque De’on, one of the 10 offenders traning the dogs says the job has made life in jail easier – and more peaceful.
