"They often just come to us wanting a service dog, but as they get engaged with us and learn about the training program… they become part of something bigger as well," Petty said. "That dog offers them increased independence, but they also know that they have taken the hard work that these inmate trainers have put in for two years and really take it out to the real world to make their lives better and to be advocates for what service dogs can do."
At the start of the Retrieving Independence program, every inmate completes 30 hours of intensive training before joining a two-person team and receiving a puppy that will live, work and train with them for 14 to 20 months under the direct supervision of Retrieving Independence trainers and staff. Following their graduation ceremony, each dog is placed with a person in need of seizure or diabetic alerts, mobility assistance or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder support.
"We place our dogs to people that obviously have mobility issues, but we also place our dogs with people that are living with mental disabilities," Petty said. "A lot of times, people think about posttraumatic stress, but as mental health becomes more of an acceptable thing to talk about, we're placing dogs with people that are living with debilitating anxiety, or who have suffered very traumatic events and have become agoraphobic and they're afraid to leave their houses and different things. I just think it's so amazing, the power of a dog, and what they can do for somebody and somebody that maybe has almost given up on their own life; once they have that dog, they'll do anything for the dog. They'll get up and exercise, they'll get up and get out of the house and they'll do things that they never would have done for themselves because they loved that dog and that dog loves them."
For Petty and those at Retrieving Independence, they know the difference their work makes in the lives of those who need it most, but to be recognized from an outside organization adds a new sense of gratification that what they're doing really does make a difference.
The dogs won't know the van they're riding in is one of the best and safest money can buy, but when they meet their new companion, they'll be filled with happiness, and that feeling will be reciprocated.
Man's best friend, indeed.
"For us, personally, to be recognized, it's great validation of what we're doing," Petty said. "We're in year nine, and a lot of nonprofits don't make it past the first few years because funding is a challenge. Especially in this last year, people have lost their jobs, some people lost their lives; there's just so much that's happened. So, for us to get the support, it really moves our spirits a little bit after a difficult year. And just joy that we all have, the van is outfitted now, like when we all pulled up, we saw the Preds logo on the van with our logo, and just was like, 'Wow, that's really amazing.' We're so appreciative."
For more information on Retrieving Independence and getting involved as a volunteer,
visit RIServiceDogs.org
. Fans may also follow @PredsFoundation on social media or
click here for details
surrounding the SuperGrant program.