Waymart Receives Pups, Service Dogs from New Hope Assistance Dogs

​SCI Waymart is partnering with New Hope Assistance Dogs for Paws for a Cause, the prison’s puppy program. Four pups will be trained by inmate handlers for 10-12 months as the dogs learn basic and advanced commands in the first phase of their service dog training. Once trained at Waymart, they will return to New Hope for advanced training and placement with an individual with special needs. 

The pups are Ginger and Nutmeg (Goldendoodles), Leena (Dutch Shepherd) and Carmen (Belgian Malamute Shepherd). 

New Hope also brought two older dogs who are fully trained and who went through a similar DOC training program as puppies. They are Zane (Labrador Retriever) and Nixie (Golden Retriever). They will serve as facility therapy dogs and work in the FTC, ICU and MHU to provide therapeutic assistance to inmates with intellectual disabilities and impaired mental health stability.