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Female Inmates To Train Dogs As Companions For The Elderly

Mabel Bassett Correctional Center
KWTV Channel 9
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Creative Commons

Oklahoma prison officials have broken ground on a new dog kennel for the state's prison inmate dog-training program.

The kennel at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center is expected to be finished next spring. It will offer female offenders who participate in the program a place to house and care for the dogs they train, as well as space for parenting and reading classes.

The Oklahoman reports Mabel Bassett became the second site in the state to institute an inmate dog training program in January. A men's prison, the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center, has had a similar program for years. Inmates in that program have a kennel and obstacle course for their dogs.

Offenders are allowed to prepare canines for life as companion animals for the elderly in the program.

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