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Prison Puppy Program helps train service dogs

Brianna Fox, program coordinator of SCI Laurel Highlands’ Prison Puppy Program tells service dog Louise to sit. Mirror photo by Russ O’Reilly

CRESSON — Three well-behaved yellow Labrador retrievers instantly drew attention as they entered Mount Aloysius College on Friday afternoon.

But the public might not be as aware of the dogs’ abilities as they are of their cuteness.

Students on Friday learned about the service animal training process and the tasks those animals can facilitate.

The dogs help increase independence and quality of life for people with physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities.

Fully trained service dogs require 2.5 years of training, said Susan Flemming, liaison between Canine Partners for Life and the State Correctional Institution at Laurel Highlands.

SCI Laurel Highlands’ “Prison Puppy Program” helps train service dogs, said Brianna Fox, program coordinator.

They are trained for a year by inmates and then finish their training with Canine Partners for Life based in Chester County. From there, the dogs are matched with recipients, Fox said.

Once trained, the dogs perform tasks that many people take for granted, such as pushing elevator buttons and retrieving objects. And their skills can be honed to go even further.

“They are alert dogs. They scent out changes in body chemistry,” Flemming said.

They use their keen noses to detect chemical changes in the body, including blood sugar drops and changes in blood pressure, she said.

Some dogs don’t pass the training. However, they may be adopted as therapy dogs. Such dogs keep people company in nursing homes and provide a calming presence for people including courtroom witnesses.

“We call them courtroom companion dogs,” Flemming said.

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O’Reilly is at 946-7435.

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