Kids & Family

MCI Framingham Prisoners Train Dogs for Veterans and Those in Need

One of the most well-known placements out of MCI Framingham was with former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords of Arizona courtesy of America's VetDogs. The shooting victim now has a yellow Labrador named Nelson.

Monday's Veterans Day ceremonies paid tribute to MCI Framingham's Prison Pups program, under the direction of Superintendent Lynn Bissonnette, in conjunction with NEADS, out of Princeton.

The dogs trained by inmates for more than a year, get socialization on weekends from local families, and eventually end up helping those in need from veterans to children with disabilities.

Bissonnette talked about her program and its effect on others, during a ceremony in Cushing Chapel Monday.

Editor's Note: Attached to this report his a video of her during the ceremony.

Bissonnette, who starting the first Prison Pups program in the Commonwealth in 1998, when she was in Gardner brought it to Framingham when she arrived in town in 2004.

Puppies start the program at just two months old. About, 90-95% of NEADS puppies are trained in 10 correctional facilities throughout New England. 

Each puppy lives with an inmate handler (a backup inmate participates in case the primary handler is unable to complete the program). Puppies spend most of their time with the primary handler going to classes, recreation areas, and dining halls. Each puppy sleeps also sleeps with her handler.

NEADS trainers conduct classes for the inmates in the program at the prison. In class, the inmates learn how to teach their puppy tasks and exceptional obedience skills. In addition, they learn how to groom and properly care for their puppy, provide basic first aid, and monitor canine health. The NEADS staff trainers assess each puppy to make training recommendations and assign homework for the handler.


While the inmates spend time with them during the weekday, local families continue the training on the weekends. 

"These weekend puppy raisers, specially trained in socialization skills by NEADS, are assigned to a puppy for the entire time the dog is in the prison program."

Puppies spend their weekends at a volunteer’s home and follow the volunteer’s routine around town. This way, the puppies become accustomed to things like car rides, traffic, bus stations, movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, and all the typical experiences of life.

Once the puppies complete training at MCI Framingham, almost 18 months later, they go to NEADS or America's VetDogs for more specialized training and to be matched with a child or an adult.

One of the most well-known placements out of MCI Framingham was with former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords of Arizona courtesy of America's VetDogs. The shooting victim now has a yellow Labrador named Nelson.

More than 100 dogs have been placed from MCI Framingham since 2005.

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