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Post by anokacomel on Jan 26, 2024 16:22:56 GMT
Has any jail started a Therapy Dog program of any kind? Specifically a mental health therapy dog? Or a jail dog that isn’t specific to drug sniffing? Thank you in advance 😊 Noelle Flesher • Programs Sergeant WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA: SHERIFF'S OFFICE direct: 763-682-7655 • fax: 763-682-7877 Law Enforcement Center, 3800 Braddock Ave NE, Room Programs, Buffalo, MN 55313 www.co.wright.mn.us |
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Post by Miranda Neuwirth on Jan 26, 2024 16:33:19 GMT
Crow Wing County uses a Pet Therapy dog. They come in sporadically but are scheduled on Tuesdays during library time for about an hour so we can catch a few groups of inmates. They come to our programs office and when the inmates arrive for gym and library we check with each group to make sure everyone is ok with dogs. If they are, then the dog and handler will go see them and let the inmates pet the dog and visit for a bit. If someone doesn't want to be with the dog, then we wait until the inmate leaves or they won't go in with that group. The volunteer goes through our orientation and also supplies us with the dogs pet therapy certification. Thanks!
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Post by Jake Schak Dakota County on Jan 26, 2024 17:07:08 GMT
Dakota County, had one coming in back in 2010. But there was no structure to it. I have a volunteer interested in coming in now. But they are only available in the evenings. So, we most likely will not go forward with it. My thoughts with a Therapy Dog program in jail setting: Define what a Therapy dog is. What is the goal of bringing the dog into the jail? Handler and dog must be trained. For example, petpartners.org is what my current volunteer has gone through. Allergies, make sure staff and inmates are ok with it. Signed wavers from inmates that want to be around the dog. Do not bring the dog to housing unit. Bring inmates to the dog. Make sure County Attorney is good with it. Equal access for the inmate population. Space, and time. |
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Post by anokacomel on Jan 26, 2024 17:27:36 GMT
Freeborn County has a Pet Therapy Program. We started a couple years before Covid and it continued after restrictions were lifted. Alliance of Therapy Dogs is the organization and they carry their own insurance. It is a very popular program. We have had no issues or problems arise.
Blue Earth County - Similar here. We reached out to that group (Alliance of Therapy Dogs) after they had been involved with an event at MNSU-Mankato. After getting in touch with the organization, they put out a “request for services” regionally and I started getting providers contacting us. After screening several providers we landed on two providers that each come into the jail here once a month.This most definitely falls under the Therapeutic Recreation category. Very well attended most sessions.
Pre-covid Steele County had volunteers that brought in therapy dogs. The dogs were certified and insured. It was extremely popular with the inmates.
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