Service dogs can be life changing for military veterans struggling with various disabilities, but these incredible animals are also changing the lives of the people training them.
This past Friday, three future service dogs and their trainers completed the first round of training as part of the Doc’s Dogs for Vets program, which paired the rescue dog from Fresno Humane Animal Services with inmates from the Valley State Prison.
By the end of the program, veterans will be able to receive trained service dogs that will drastically improve their quality of life. “I went down a dark path. I became addicted to oxycodone and came to a point where I didn’t want to live anymore,” said John “J.C.” Cook, a Navy veteran who spoke at the ceremony about losing his leg and struggling with addiction before getting his service dog. “There’s so many things dogs can do for people. … Part of the reason I went down that path was because I didn’t have a purpose. This (Ivy) gives me a reason to wake up every day. I’m not alone.”
But the program also allows the inmate trainers to learn valuable skills, take responsibility for something in their lives, and help them make amends for their crimes.“I’m an ex-gang member, so when you’re on the streets you only care about yourself,” Jones said. “This taught me to care about something other than myself,” said Andrew Jones after six months of training and caring for his dog, Samson. “We’re hoping that Sierra is able to go and impact a veteran’s life and make life easier for him or her,” said Victor Trillo. “This is a way to give back to society for the wrong that I have done.”
Watch the entire video below to see how far these dogs and their trainers have come because of this program.
Can you believe how much this program has impacted these inmates? Let us know what you think in the comments below and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.
[Featured image: Mercedsunstar.com]
Inmates Make Amends By Training Service Dogs For Veterans is an article from: LifeDaily