It’s amazing how much a wagging tail and a furry companion can do to change the atmosphere and uplift spirits. In a unique and heartwarming initiative, the Orange County Jail has introduced pet therapy to its inmates, thanks to the Pet Prescription Team. Bringing therapy dogs into a facility typically associated with tension and high stress is a game changer. These therapy dogs, with their color-blind, unconditional love, offer more than just a friendly face—they provide healing.
A New Take on Justice: Dogs as Therapists
Who would have thought that a dog could change the way we think about justice? For years, the criminal justice system has struggled to find ways to treat inmates with dignity and humanity. Pet Prescription Team’s therapy dogs are now showing that sometimes, the most effective healer doesn’t come in a lab coat. Instead, it might have four legs and a tail that never stops wagging.
A Weekly Dose of Furry Love
Three days a week, the Intake Release Center at the Orange County Jail becomes a little less intimidating. Therapy dogs like Faith and Stevie are brought in to work their magic, and the difference they make is immediate. The atmosphere shifts, stress levels drop, and what was once a tense space turns into one filled with calm. As Krystal Emery, director of the Pet Prescription Team, says, “You can’t put a prescription to that.” The dogs are proving to be the perfect antidote to the emotional weight many inmates carry.
Magic in a Wagging Tail
When Commander Nate Wilson describes the effect the dogs have on the inmates, he calls it “magic,” and he’s not exaggerating. The dogs have this way of connecting with people that even the best therapy sessions sometimes can’t achieve. The change in the inmates is almost instant, like someone flipped a switch. Suddenly, they’re more relaxed, more open, and ready to engage. It’s incredible what a simple belly rub or a nuzzle can do to shift someone’s entire mood.
Helping Inmates Feel Human Again
Many of the inmates at the Intake Release Center struggle with mental health issues. Often, these issues isolate them from others, making it difficult for them to reach out for help. Enter the therapy dogs, who seem to break through these emotional barriers with ease. Kim Gully, a Pet Prescription volunteer, puts it perfectly: “You see them feel like a person.” It’s a moment of joy, something they might not experience often in jail, but it’s a powerful reminder that they are still humans, deserving of love and care.
From Withdrawn to Engaged
Geoffrey Glowalla, Manager of the Correctional Behavioral Health Division, has seen firsthand how these dogs change inmates’ lives. Before meeting the dogs, some inmates are withdrawn, refusing to engage with others or participate in any kind of therapy. But after just one encounter with the dogs, they start to open up. They show emotions they’ve been hiding, they come out of their cells, and they begin to take part in other therapeutic activities.
Therapy for Staff Too
It’s not just the inmates who benefit from the Pet Prescription program—jail staff also see the positive effects. Caring for inmates, some of whom can be aggressive or dangerous, is a tough job. But when the dogs are around, the environment becomes less charged. Inmates are calmer, which makes the staff’s job easier and safer. Instead of needing force to handle certain situations, staff can rely on the calming influence of the dogs to keep things under control. It’s a win-win for everyone.
A Lifeline for Dangerous Situations
For deputies like Commander Wilson, there are times when dealing with an aggressive inmate is unavoidable. But with the therapy dogs around, those situations happen less often. The dogs help defuse potentially volatile situations, making it easier for deputies to interact with inmates without things escalating. As Wilson explains, if a dog can calm someone to the point where deputies don’t need to use force, that’s a huge success.
One Dog, One Difference
Krystal Emery believes in the power of one dog to make a difference in someone’s life. Inmates who might have felt forgotten or hopeless are reminded that they still matter, thanks to these therapy dogs. The dogs don’t see past mistakes or criminal records—they just see someone who could use a little love. And sometimes, that’s exactly what it takes to change the course of someone’s life. For Emery and her team, knowing they’ve made that difference is what keeps them going.
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