Women Offender Programs and Issues

Pet Facilitated Therapy in Correctional Institutions

D. Background -A Brief Overview

i) PFT in Prisons

There are many prison pet programs in existence in such countries as Canada, United States, England, Scotland, Australia, and South Africa. In Canada, there is an active PFT program active at the Nova Institution for Women in Truro, Nova Scotia, and another about to be re-implemented in the Burnaby Correctional Center for Women. At Nova, Pawsitive Directions aims to introduce women inmates to the basics of dog husbandry and training (Logan, 1996). As well, since 1992, the Burnaby Correctional Center for Women (BCCW) in British Columbia has had a canine program. It has recently been reviewed and modified in order to re-establish the program at that institution.

The types of animals used and the format of the program varies widely. Animals used in the various PFT programs include mice, guinea pigs, birds, fish, horses, cats and dogs, farm animals, wild animals, domestic animals, and exotic animals; though dogs are the most common. Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance; they offer spontaneous affection and undying loyalty (Cusack, 1988). Offenders often experience loneliness as an impact of incarceration; and animals have been shown to significantly reduce feelings of isolation and frustration (Moneymaker and Strimple, 1991).

Some prisons establish the program for the sole benefit of the inmates (e.g. the PAL program in Lorton, Virginia) while others implement PFT with the added goal of saving unwanted animals. (e.g. Friends For Folks program in Lexington, Oklahoma). Descriptions of these programs will be provided in the section entitled Therapeutic Aspects. An overview of the different types of programs is presented in below.

Program	Description
Visitation Programs	Companion animals brought by humane society or non-profit organization
Wildlife Rehabilitation Programs	Inmates care for injured wildlife which are then released
Livestock Care Programs	Calf raising by juvenile offenders Fish breeding, livestock care
Pet Programs	Companion animals owned and cared for by individual inmates
Assistance Animal Socialization Programs	Guide or hearing dogs/puppies raised by inmates
Vocational & Community Service Programs	Inmates care for wild horses Inmates groom and train companion and assistance dogs

The following is a list of PFT programs successfully implemented in correctional institutions and still active today:

Country	Name of Program
Canada	Pawsitive Directions, Nova Institution for Women in Truro, Nova Scotia
	Burnaby Correctional Center for Women (BCCW) Canine Program in Burnaby, British Columbia
United States	Prison-Pet Partnership Program (PPPP), Washington State Correction Center for Women (WCCW) in Gig Harbor, WA
	Friends For Folks Program, Lexington Correctional Center in Lexington, Oklahoma
	People-Animals Love (PAL) Program, District of Columbia Correctional Facility in Lorton, Virginia
England	The Garth Prison Pet Program in Lancashire
Scotland	Community Services Aquatic Club, Saughton Prison in Edinburgh
Australia	Guide Dog Program, Beechworth Training Prison in Beechworth, Victoria
	Pets as Therapy Program (PAT), Adelaide Women’s Prison in Northfield, South Australia
South Africa	Companion Animal Programs, Department of Correctional Services

An overview of some of the PFT programs in correctional institutions are described in Appendix I