The JLAD program is a perfect example of how the power of rehabilitation and second chances extends not only to the individuals incarcerated but also to the service dogs and the lives they touch. It’s a journey of transformation, healing, and the bonds that form between humans and their four-legged friends.
Joys of Living Assistance Dogs are bred specifically for temperament and are trained by inmates in three of Oregon’s Correctional institutions.
They are proud that their dogs do “triple duty,”
- Giving inmates a purpose and a means to “give back to the community” through the endless dedicated training they provide for JLAD.
- Our socializers benefit from working our dogs when they come out of prison on a two-week rotation. Socializers enjoy taking our trained dogs and incorporating them into their daily lives.
- Our dogs are placed with recipients where they will change lives by providing the perfect combination of companionship, obedience, usefulness and affection. Persons with disabilities rely on these special animals to perform a multitude of tasks and provide practical aid. When an ideal match is made, the mobility and freedom the dogs’ efforts afford, help provide a new and profound sense of independence to the owner, creating a pathway toward a safer and more empowering way of living.
Visions of Hope has had the privilege of witnessing this project for many years. More needs to be made known of the power of the program. Absolute miracles have come from it. Learn more at https://www.joydogs.org/