Learning with Purpose: Inmate Values Opportunity to Train Psychiatric Service Dogs

Healing Companions, a 501 (c)(3) organization, serves mentally ill residents of Northeast Ohio and changes the lives of shelter dogs – adopted and trained to become Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs), persons experiencing a mental disorder – providing them with a PSD, and inmates – who train the dogs and gain job skills and “soft skills” to help them obtain employment and contribute to the community upon release.

In this clip, an inmate talks about a recent visit with one of the people who received a PSD. He was greatly moved by her story as she shared her experiences living with mental illness and how her life has changed now that she has a service dog. He now has a better appreciation of how the Healing Companions program changes lives and is grateful for the experience he is able to have in helping with the dogs’ basic training.