Pups program reaches milestone

Acting Corrective Services Minister Robert Schwarten applauded Queensland’s innovative prisoner rehabilitation program after it notched up a milestone with more than 100 puppies being cared for by prisoners at Numinbah Correctional Centre (NCC).

“Pups in Prison is an outstanding program that sees prisoners caring for puppies. The program provides prisoners with positive experiences, helps them establish new levels of responsibility, self-esteem and communication skills while also developing patience, compassion and cooperation,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Through programs like this prisoners are able to make real changes to their lives and significantly reduce their likelihood of reoffending.”

The latest litter of nine Cattle cross puppies to arrive at the centre will be cared for by prisoners during the festive season on behalf of the Gold Coast-based Animal Welfare League (AWL).

Female prisoners foster the puppies and their mothers until they are old enough to become family pets.

The prisoners assist the pups to gain weight, toilet train them, exercise them and teach them social skills and good behaviour.

AWL then place the dogs with new families.

The successful Pups in Prison partnership with AWL has also been expanded to prisoners caring for pets left temporarily homeless following family breakdowns as part of the “Pets in Crisis” program.

Low-risk prisoners also complete community service at the AWL’s shelter two days a week.

Prisoners provide an average of 120 hours of labour each month to the shelter, to hydrobathing of dogs, organising and maintaining food stocks, grounds keeping and general day to day maintenance.

NCC General Manager Bernie Kruhse said since Pups in Prison was launched at the centre in 2006 it has delivered important outcomes for all involved.

“The dogs have a calming effect that provides a therapeutic benefit for the prisoners involved,” he said.

“AWL benefits by having the pups trained for placement and the dogs benefit by being cared for and prepared for their new homes.

“We look forward to continuing this great partnership with AWL,” Mr Kruhse said.

AWL’s Animal Welfare & Enrichment Officer Michelle Critchley said having NCC as a foster home solved a problem for the shelter.

“It allows us to get mums and large litters into a foster home without splitting them up,” she said.

“It also means all the pups receive an equal amount of socialising.”

Michelle said having prisoners work at the shelter was a win-win situation.

“We rely on volunteers so having the prisoners here on a regular basis is very helpful to us,” she said.

“It also allows the prisoners the opportunity to make use of their nurturing skills.”

The AWL of Queensland cares for more than 12,000 stray and abandoned animals every year.

Darling Downs Correctional Centre also hosts the Pups in Prison program in partnership with Assistance Dogs Australia, a non-profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help enhance the quality of life and improve the level of independence for people with disabilities.

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