Pingtung Prison, university train therapy dogs for inmates

Pingtung Prison, university train therapy dogs for inmates

2024-05-21

Many prisoners face psychological issues caused by prolonged loneliness and stress. To help ease their troubles, Pingtung Prison joined forces with the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology’s Working Dog Training Center on a program to train rescues as therapy dogs.

This Labrador looks around excitably, but snaps to attention as soon as his trainer gives the signal.

He has mastered sit, lie down and stay, training alongside this small gray dog.

Dog trainer
The first thing he did was come to my feet to tell me he’s listening.

These dogs are being trained as part of collaboration between Pingtung Prison and the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. They will soon go to work as therapy dogs for inmates.

Tsai Ching-hsiang
Minister of Justice
By training these dogs, we can help the wellbeing of those in our care. For the elderly and lonely alike, they can have a soothing effect. At the same time, by developing the dogs’ skills, we can help with the stray problem by making them adoptable in the future. So I think this kind of program is a win-win for the dogs and prisoners alike.

Pingtung Prison has nearly 2,300 inmates, 145 of whom are over 65 years old. Eighty-six are disabled and more than 1,000 have sentences over 10 years. Aging, mental health, and loneliness are major concerns, but the Ministry of Justice hopes that the therapy dogs can have a positive impact.

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