The Safe Harbor Prison Dog Programme began in Kansas in August 2004 at the Lansing Correctional Facility. Seven dogs were taken from local dog rescue homes and quite literally sent to prison.

The Safe Harbor rehabilitation programme comes to the aid of rescue dogs who might otherwise have been considered unsuitable for rehoming or have difficulty finding a new home. Each dog is assigned to a team of prison inmates and, while living with them, is taken through a rehabilitation and training programme which includes house training, obedience training and basic social skills. Formal training is carried out via weekly sessions with professional dog trainers using positive reinforcement methods. The inmates take part in their own informal training sessions and also provide a source of love and security to the dogs.

It is not only the dogs who gain from these relationships. The founder of Safe Harbor says “Inmates tell me daily how having a dog around improves the quality of their life and lets them be free to feel and love again.”

Lansing Correctional Facility

Luis Guiterrez, one of the inmate dog handlers at the state prison in Lansing, teaches Speedy, a Jack Russell Terrier, to jump into his arms.

As of 16 January 2005, Safe Harbor has rehabilitated an amazing 192 dogs. Applications for adoption are available on the Safe Harbor website. All the dogs have been taught basic obedience and are spayed or neutered, have been vaccinated, are parasite free and have been heart worm tested.

Visit www.safeharborprisondogs.com to find out more about Safe Harbor and to view some dogs currently available for adoption.