Maryland prisoners train service dogs for veterans
Maryland prisoners are training service dogs for veterans in a program that has transformed hardened criminals into empathetic souls with soft hearts. The dogs have helped the inmates pass the days of their sentences with purpose, and have brought them and their supervisors closer.
- Dumplin’ walks with his trainer, an inmate at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners are training service dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Kent Brewer, 61, walks Trooper outside Unit 2 at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Brewer is among several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Delta, a golden labrador, looks at Terry Dorsey, 50, his trainer. Dorsey is one of the incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. They have worked with them about a year and the dogs can pick up dropped canes, turn lights on, and can lend assistance in other ways. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Terry Dorsey, 50, is among several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Dorsey served as an Army combat engineer from 1982-1988. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Terry Dorsey, 50, is seen with Delta, a labrador he is working with to be a service dog. Dorsey is among incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Terry Dorsey, 50, gets a lick from Delta, a labrador he is working with to be a service dog. Dorsey is among incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Delta will be graduating and leaving the prison. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Kent Brewer, 61, and Trooper, walk toward the auditorium at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Brewer is among incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Sunny, a labrador training to be a service dog at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown, shows how to turn on a light switch. Incarcerated veterans and other prisoners are training service dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Grover, a 14 month old Labrador Retriever, opens a file cabinet door by tugging on a nylon strap. Grover is one of the future service dogs being trained by incarcerated veterans and other prisoners at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Service dogs in training get together outside Unit 2 at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners are training the dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Service dogs in training get together outside Unit 2 at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners are training the dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Service dogs in training get together outside Unit 2 at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. Several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners are training the dogs for wounded service people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Trooper lays on Kent Brewer’s bed in Brewer’s living area. Brewer is one of several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Kent Brewer, 61, holds Stormy, a cat, as Trooper, a future service dog, looks on. Brewer is one of several incarcerated veterans and other prisoners training service dogs for wounded service people at Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Wayne Webb is warden of Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Dumplin’, a future guide dog, and an inmate demonstrate how the dog suppoprt the weight of a person who has fallen so they can get up. Dumplin’ also picked up the dropped cane. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)