Inmates team up with nonprofit to train service dogs
Posted By: Bayley Bischof Channel 8 Eyewitness News
Domesti–pups has teamed up with Lincoln Corrections Center, having inmates train service dogs.
Monday, the dogs inmates trained for the last year were united with the people’s whose lives they could change.
Presley the poodle is one of those dogs. His new handler is Abigail Arthur, a Lincoln woman living with diabetes.
Presley is trained to detect blood sugar changes.
"He can alert me to those whether I’m sleeping or driving or even walking down the street,” Arthur said.
When Arthur’s blood sugar is high, Presley with tap her with his nose. When it’s low, he’ll tap her with his paw.
This action, Arthur said, has the potential to save her life.
“Low blood sugar, if not caught early enough, can cause seizures, coma and even death,” she said.
But Presley didn’t come upon these skills on his own.
For the last year he’s been trained by Robert Norfolk, an inmate at Lincoln Corrections Center.
"I trained this dog from 6am until maybe 8 at night, that’s how long we keep these dogs, every day, seven days a week,” Norfolk said.
This is all done through Domesti–Pups, a non-profit that helps get service animals to those who need them.
They’ve partnered with the corrections center for the last ten years, and have trained dozens of dogs in Nebraska’s prisons.
Domesti-pups officials said this partnership not only impacts the recipients, but also the inmates.
"To see the things these dogs can do for these recipients is amazing,” Douglas Mantich, an inmate said. He said he feels like it’s his obligation to give back to the community.
It also can change the inmates outlook on life, Norfolk said.
"It’s made me ease up on myself a lot, made me kinder and more gentle,” he said.
The recipients said they are extremely grateful.
"He has given me such an incredible gift,” Arthur said.
Two other dogs graduated the program.
Levi, who is going to a young girl in a wheelchair and Taylor, who will help his new handler with his seizures.
