A Texas-based nonprofit ihas enlisted female prisoners to train man's best friend to help Americans wounded in combat.
Patriot Paws offers service dogs to aid disabled veterans by offering companionship and help with everyday tasks like picking up change off the floor, positioning wheelchairs and opening doors, according to a report in the The Dallas Morning News.
Lori Stevens, who runs the organization, has found an unconventional facility to provide training for the canines: a female prison.
Inmates serving time for offenses like robbery and burglary must pass strict background checks to be allowed to have a canine trainee live with them around the clock.
Melodye Nelson, assistant warden of the Crain Unit in Gatesville, has been part of Patriot Paws since its inception in November 2007.
"There are a lot of tears when these dogs leave," Nelson said. "The inmates feel like they are giving back."
For more on this story, check out The Dallas Morning News.
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