The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Prisoners help train dementia dogs as part of rehabilitation.
Prison: Training dogs is used as part of inmates’ rehabilitation
Inmates at a Perthshire prison are helping train man’s best friend to support the daily lives of dementia sufferers, as part of their rehabilitation.
The new dog-training programme at HMP Castle Huntly is a joint collaboration between Paws for Progress, the Dementia Dog Project and the Scottish Prison Service.
The scheme aims to prepare men in custody for life back in the outside world through a canine training course, which also equips the dogs for life with people living with dementia.
Inmates have now started training dogs to perform key tasks for people with the debilitating condition, from opening doors to even helping remove articles of clothing.
The project was officially launched at HMP Castle Huntly yesterday.
Visiting the prison, Glenys and Ken Will of Arbroath said their dog, Kaspa, had completely changed their lives.
Mr Will, 83, was diagnosed with vascular dementia several years ago and described his life before his four-legged companion as a “dark hole”.
Mrs Will, 71, added: “Life was just unbearable. Kaspa’s changed our lives around. He brings the mail, he brings the post, the alarm goes off and he brings Ken’s medicine pouch.
“Ken also has mini-strokes, they last about 20 minutes. He’ll paw at me and I’ll know there is something wrong, and he’ll just lie on Ken’s feet until they pass. He won’t move.
“The only way I can describe it is like we had a bracelet – we lost that link and this is the missing link. Ken’s never alone for a second.”
Frank Benham’s wife, Maureen, also
Kaspa’s changed our lives around. He brings the mail, he brings the post, the alarm goes off and he brings Ken’s medicine pouch
suffered from dementia before she passed away last year.
The 78-year-old, of Marywell, said their dementia dog Oscar had brought about immense improvements in the final years of her life.
He added: “We just fell in love with him right away. My wife, the first thing she lost with dementia was communication skills. She failed to speak to me. Within one week of having the dog I’m in the bedroom (and I said), ‘who’s she talking too?’ She was talking to Oscar.
“If we hadn’t had the dog, I think Maureen would have been in a care home at least a year before she did go in. It is a marvellous thing.”
Paws for Progress development manager Rebecca Leonardi said the project had “wider community benefits” and would also help inmates at Castle Huntly seek employment upon release.