Inmates knit coats for pups
‘‘It gives them the ’aww’ factor.’’
Prisoners are helping pound puppies find new homes with coats knitted behind bars.
A group of women at Arohata Prison, Tawa, have knitted the coats for Wellington SPCA’s littlest animals to wear while they wait for adoption.
Team leader community engagement at Wellington SPCA, Jennifer Rizzi, said the coats kept the animals warm but served another, very important purpose.
‘‘The coats make puppies even cuter and draw people towards them.
‘‘It gives them the ‘aww’ fac- tor,’’ Rizzi said.
‘‘A lot of our puppies look similar and the coats appeal to adopters.’’
She said the SPCA had a long relationship with Arohata Prison and the prisoners helped out with fostering orphaned kittens throughout the year.
Corrections officer Rae Nottingham managed the knitting programme and organised the donations of the knitted garments to local groups.
She said the projects group was used as an incentive for the women and helped with their rehabilitation and reintegration back to society.
‘‘Knitting offers a lot of therapeutic benefits for these women as well, and it’s great to see the women developing their skills and putting them towards making a positive contribution to their community.
‘‘The women are very committed to this cause and willingly embrace everything that is asked of them.
‘‘The high quality of their work is greatly valued and appreciated.’’