CENTRAL POINT, OR – Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) and Prison Pet Partnership (PPP) are proud to announce a new partnership that will bring Service Dog Puppy Raising to incarcerated women at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, combining both organizations’ missions of empowering people and improving lives—human and canine alike.
Future Service Dog, Julia, was the first puppy placed in the program with the Prison Pet Partnership in late July 2025.
This partnership will launch in July with three puppies: two will be raised and later returned to DBL’s West Campus in Oregon to begin professional training as Hearing Assistance Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, or Facility Dogs, while one will remain in the PPP program to continue training as a Service or Therapy Dog through their established curriculum. Going forward, the partnership will continue to prepare more dogs for lives of service through both programs while creating positive opportunities for the people who help raise them.
This collaboration builds upon evidence that Puppy Raising Programs in correctional facilities lead to positive, measurable outcomes. Published studies have shown that these programs reduce recidivism, improve communication and life skills, and create marketable job training opportunities. Participants engage mentally, emotionally, and physically—learning responsibility, patience, and compassion—while contributing to a cause greater than themselves.
“This program is a beautiful example of what happens when two missions intersect with purpose,” said Gwen Dudek, Vice President of Program at Dogs for Better Lives.
“By expanding our puppy raising network to include the dedicated handlers at Prison Pet Partnership, we’re not only helping to raise the next generation of Assistance Dogs, but we’re investing in people who deserve second chances. Everyone wins—especially the communities that will one day be served by these incredible dogs.”
Prison Pet Partnership, a nonprofit with more than 40 years of experience enriching lives through the human-animal bond, views the partnership as an extension of its core mission.
“Our goal is to provide incarcerated women with the skills, confidence, and compassion they need to succeed when they reenter their communities,” said Sam Zuanich, Training Director of PPP. “Working with DBL allows us to prepare more dogs for lives of service while empowering our program participants with purpose and hope.”
For more information on this partnership or how to support these programs, please visit:
www.dogsforbetterlives.org
www.prisonpetpartnership.org
Media Contacts:
Dogs for Better Lives
Sara Ifert, VP of Marketing
sara@dogsforbetterlives.org
774-255-3518
Prison Pet Partnership
Olivia Simons, Programs Director
olivia@prisonpetpartnership.org
About Dogs for Better Lives: Dogs for Better Lives is a national nonprofit organization that professionally trains and places Assistance Dogs with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, children with autism, and professionals working in facilities like schools or hospitals. Assistance Dogs are placed free of charge and backed by a lifelong commitment to both the dog and the client.
About Prison Pet Partnership: Established in 1981, Prison Pet Partnership is a nonprofit organization that enriches the lives of incarcerated individuals, animals, and the community through the human-animal bond. Prison Pet Partnership provides vocational education in the pet industry to provide gainful employment upon release. Assistance dogs trained by Prison Pet Partnership support the independence of individuals with disabilities.
