Helping Paws reunites Logan Correctional Center inmates with mobility service dogs they trained

LOGAN COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - On Tuesday morning, there was a special reunion inside Logan Correctional Center. 

Helping Paws, an Illinois Correctional Industries Program at Logan Correctional reunited women in custody with mobility service dogs they trained. 

"They put so much time and energy into training the dogs, so it's really neat to bring them back together," said Michelle Yuen, Director of Animal Intake and Care for Paws Giving Independence. 

Helping Paws launched an LCC in 2001. It partners with Paws Giving Independence in Peoria and the MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation in Chicago.  

Tuesday was the second time in program history that the women were able to reunite with the dogs they spent close to a year training.

"The dogs come into our program at about six months and they are trained here until about a year and a half. During that time these women are helping train skills for people they have never met." 

David Ross received his dog Ace, a Labrador Retriever, back in October. He uses Ace to help with mobility issues, like walking. On Tuesday, David met Jessica Lighthart, a woman incarcerated at Logan Correctional. She helped train Ace to be David's companion. 

"I knew about the program, but I never had a face-to-face with Jess all I had were letters," he said. 

Ross told WAND News he knew when he walked into the room which of the women helped train Ace. He said while he was standing in front of the group Jessica kept looking at Ace and Ace would look right back. 

"I'm just so grateful that they are willing to come in, meet us, and see what we do firsthand," said Lighthart, who's been a part of the program for 15 years. 

The room was filled with emotion as each recipient, like David, shared their stories and how their dogs have impacted their lives. 

"This is absolute justification for all the things we do," said Tameeka Newson, who's been a part of the program for 5 years. 

Helping Paws is based in Logan Correctional Center, which is just a 45-minute drive for PGI and a 2-hour drive for MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation. The organizations said having the program based at LCC is vital to their success. 

"It really works with the correctional center and the community because we have college volunteers and community volunteers, so we are relying on the prison because that's where all of our skills training happens," said Yuen. 

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