According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 2 million people are currently incarcerated.
Though that number is enormous in itself, it still pales in comparison to how many stray dogs there are in the United States. Though the numbers are hard to know precisely, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized in a year. How are these two statistics connected? Although it may not be obvious, a team of documentarians had an ingenious idea of how to link them—and help the world in the process.
Their efforts have been documented in a movie called Dogs on the Inside.
The project was directed by Brean Cunningham and Douglas Seirup based on one innovative premise.
The idea behind the film was surprisingly simple. After being in jail or prison for a long time, many prisoners begin to feel isolated, become aggressive and generally cause problems for themselves and others. Similarly, many dogs found in shelters have trust issues and are aggressive, requiring extra patience and love to make a recovery. The team behind the film then had an important question.
Could stray dogs and prisoners help rehabilitate one another?
As it turns out, the filmmakers may have been right.
The team brought many dogs into a Massachussetts state prison to be paired with prisoners there who could take care of them. The team even brought in instructors and counselors to explain to the inmates how the process would work. “Just be calm and be confident. The dogs are going to get their confidence from you!” she said. Working together, both the dogs and the inmates seems to make huge strides.
According to one of the wardens, the result was a huge “softening” in his prisoners.
Needless to say, the filmmakers here could really be onto something if their idea works!
Many people have noted that United States is badly in need of prison reform but we also don’t know where to start. Similarly, too many animals are euthanized and left uncared for in this country. If bringing animals into prisons could help inmates with their behavioral health issues, prisons and jails could in effect become huge animal shelters! After all, it can be difficult sometimes to feel compassion for other people who have wronged us—strangely enough, though, it’s a lot easier to feel compassion for a cute and innocent animal.
Check out the trailer for the film below and tell us what you think in the comments!
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