Seven service dogs trained by offenders in Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) custody graduated from the Retrieving Independence (RI) program last week. Having spent the last 18-24 months living inside TDOC facilities to receive their training, the dogs will now leave prison and go to their forever homes in the community with their new owners.
Over the past 11 years, roughly 100 service dogs have graduated from the program and been placed with individuals living with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, or at facilities within the community.
For offenders, the program teaches teamwork, responsibility, unconditional love, and is a way for them to give back to society.
Currently, there are 28 service dogs being trained by offenders within TDOC.
RI relies heavily on the help of volunteers to keep puppies until they are old enough to start their training, and for weekend furloughs where dogs leave the prison to have socialization with the public. To apply for a service dog or to become a volunteer, please visit https://riservicedogs.org/.
