Help us send these seven puppies in prison!

PRESS RELEASE

November 10th 2009

On February 18th 2010 Colorado Service Dogs first litter of puppies are going into the
Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program. We are trying to raise $4,000.00 needed for the entry.
If you are able to help, please contact Lija Day.

Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF) in Denver, Colorado will be going to the dogs in February, and persons with disabilities will be benefiting from that transformation.

The facility, which is part of the Colorado Department of Corrections, is a part of The Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program (PTKCP) a program which provides the outside community with pre-trained dogs. PTKCP is partnering with Colorado Service Dogs, Inc., to train service dogs to assist persons with disabilities. When these seven dogs graduate in a month they will be trained in there basic manners training includes sit to greet a person, sit to go through a door, crate training and house training. Basic obedience includes: sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, come when called and basic heeling on lead.

“This program not only benefits persons with disabilities who will gain more independence from these dogs, it also helps the inmates to become more productive citizens once they are release.” says Colorado Service Dogs, Co-Founder Lija Day.

The PTKCP is an inmate vocational program that allows inmates to learn new skills, improve self-esteem. Inmates from the PTKCP are eligible to earn vocational certification in Canine Behavior Modification while simultaneously preparing dogs to assist persons with disabilities. The program is part of the Department’s Re-Entry initiative, which is focused on preparing inmates for successful re-entry into society upon release from the correctional facility.

When these seven puppies complete the program, they will be released to Colorado Service Dogs, Inc., for additional training before being placed with persons with disabilities.