Only 40 of the nearly 1,000 people locked up at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln Illinois are allowed to participate in the Helping PAWS program run by Illinois Correctional Industries where incarcerated women train service dogs for people with mobility challenges and emotional support needs in schools and courtrooms. Blanca Solis was suicidal before joining the program but now spends her days teaching Teddy a one year old golden retriever Labrador mix how to sit lift legs take off shoes and perform other tasks he will need when he becomes a working service dog in the outside world. The trainers live in a designated wing of the prison and raise puppies from two local nonprofits Paws Giving Independence and MidAmerica Service Dogs Foundation with dogs living at the facility for about a year and a half before getting another year of outside training. During a recent December visit the doggy day room was decorated for Christmas and service dog recipients met the incarcerated trainers who helped prepare their companions.
Jamie Daniels told the group of trainers that her service dog Oliver the Magnificent has helped her pick up objects in public spaces after two years spent mostly inside her house following a spinal cord injury and most importantly given her courage to show up be seen again and build a life beyond fear. Program supervisor Lisa Dial says the training provides incarcerated women with Department of Labor certificates and valuable skills for when they leave prison. The youngest recipient in program history was eight year old Kassidy Chenoweth who is now 11 and attended the reunion with her dog Tibbs alongside trainers Jessica Lighthart and Tara Morgan who helped prepare the service animal. Amber Cannella, one of the 40 primary or secondary trainers in the program, reunited with Oliver and his owner during the emotional December gathering saying that the dogs helped her heal and she considers herself a forever dog mom to every puppy she trains.
