skip to main content

Monday, May 29, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Advocates call for a climate peace clause in U.S.-E.U. trade talks, negotiations yield a tentative debt ceiling deal, an Idaho case unravels federal water protections, and a wet spring eases Iowa's drought.

play newscast audioPlay

Gold Star families gather to remember loved ones on Memorial Day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will vote on a debt ceiling bill this week and America's mayors lay out their strategies for summertime public safety.

play newscast audioPlay

The growing number of "maternity care deserts" makes having a baby increasingly dangerous for rural Americans, a Colorado project is connecting neighbor to neighbor in an effort to help those suffering with mental health issues, and a school district in Maine is using teletherapy to tackle a similar challenge.

Utah Female Prisoners Train Service Dogs for Veterans

play audio
Play

Tuesday, April 22, 2014   

DRAPER, Utah - A program new to Utah allows female prison inmates to train shelter dogs to serve as companion and service animals for veterans suffering from mental health challenges. Cathy King, executive director, Canines With a Cause, says the dogs live with the selected inmates at the Utah State Prison for up to nine months of training, then are paired with veterans to help them cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and other conditions.

"The benefits really are threefold," she explains. "Not only is the dog getting out of a shelter and going to a veteran to help them really improve their life, but the program has been so amazing for the women at the prison."

King says the animals are specially trained as psychiatric service dogs, which is a benefit the Veterans Administration does not provide. The program saves thousands of dollars in training costs, King points out, noting that a trained service dog can cost $15,000 or more.

Currently, six dogs are being trained by inmates serving sentences ranging from two years to life in prison, she says. For veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and are now struggling to readjust to civilian life, she adds, the dogs can be a huge help in making that transition.

"A lot of these guys wouldn't be able to leave their homes without these dogs because of their high level of anxiety," she explains.

Canines With a Cause has placed more than 200 dogs with veterans since the program started four years ago.

More information about the program is at http://canineswithacause.com.





get more stories like this via email

A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court means ephemeral streams, such as this one in the mountains east of San Diego, are no longer protected by the Waters of the United States rule. (Chris Hunkeler/Flickr)

Environment

play sound

The U.S. Supreme Court has gutted federal protections for much of the country's wetlands. The court found that the Waters of the United States rule…


Environment

play sound

Environmental advocates say the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to the Clean Water Act and to Maine's ability to protect some of its most …

Environment

play sound

A U.S. Supreme Court case that began in Idaho has weakened protections across the nation under the Clean Water Act. The justices on Thursday handed …


As workers try to move forward from the pandemic's aftereffects, labor leaders, including the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, say protections and stronger benefits should help get their careers back on track. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota legislators adopted a lot of major policies in this year's session, including actions to support workers in many different fields. State …

Environment

play sound

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

The "Water Year" typically starts on Oct. 1, and represents the time when new water Iowa receives goes to help the next year's growing season. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

Health and Wellness

play sound

As the opioid epidemic continues to take its toll, a Virginia group is working to keep people safe. The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition in Roanoke …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Extreme heat kills about 700 people in the United States each year, but a new toolkit and weather alerts can protect folks in Texas and beyond…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021