Yes, that's right, puppies in prison. Currently, there are prison programs in place that select inmates to prepare puppies to help the disabled population. There's an expected change coming in the number of the disabled population, with the thousands of wounded veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will create a higher demand for these assistance dogs. Whoever thought of this really had great foresight!

There are some low and medium security prison facilities where inmates are chosen to take a puppy to raise. These inmates are non-violent and have demonstrated a good behavior record. The puppies are with the inmates all the time ... when they eat, when they work out and when they sleep. The puppies sleep in dog crates in the inmates' rooms. Yes, rooms. These facilities are not cells, but rooms with doors, to better acclimate the puppy for the real world.

The inmates, along with a professional dog trainer, put the dogs through a challenging program to prepare them for advanced training classes at the National Education for Assistance Dog Service (NEADS) in central Massachusetts. NEADS is a non-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for the deaf and disabled. They have more than 80 puppies in eight correctional facilities around the northeast.

The puppies complete their training in four months and are then provided to members of the disabled population through a waiting list. There are some 85 people currently requesting assistance dogs.

The prison atmosphere has also benefited from having the dogs there. The puppies seem to bring out the best in the inmates and their very presence diffuses tension. After all, who doesn't love a puppy! The inmates selected to raise the puppies benefit from the distraction from where they are and get unconditional love in the process .... not typically found in a prison setting. The puppies benefit as they get undivided attention and affection. A real win-win situation.

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