Pet Therapy For British Prisoners

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16th June 2014 -- Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Oakwood, near Wolverhampton which is managed by G4S plc have introduced "pet therapy" to try and calm down the inmates. For some reason cats are excluded. The inmates can be responsible for the care of dogs, rabbits and hamsters but not take them to their cells.

There were riots at this prison fairly recently, I recall. I suppose this is a novel attempt to try and stop future discontent and rioting. Do pets calm people down? Well, yes, quite definitely. It has been proven scientifically as far as I remember.

G4S have a poor record. They messed up recruitment when they were contracted to manage security at the Olympics. The army had to step in in their place or in support.

Is pet therapy at a prison a hairbrained scheme? It depends how the prisoners respond. If they embrace it seriously and don't abuse it, it will help I believe.

This is the first scheme of this type in a British prison as far as I know. Let's hope it works but why were cats excluded? Probably because the cat is unsuited  - LOL. Obvious reason. Cats don't like change and some cats won't like the male criminal because they are probably a bit clumsy and insensitive towards a cat. Dangerous for the cat. Also I am sure that most prisoners will be dog types. That is the stereotype.

Comments

  1. Anonymous26 June 2014 at 05:56

    Can you help me? I am due in court and I think that I may receive a custodial sentence. I live alone without family or close friends. But I have 3 cats. What will happen to them? if there is no organisation to look after them if I go to prison?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Broad26 June 2014 at 15:37

      Hi Good luck. If you live in the UK, I would contact Cats Protection in your area and ask them to foster your cats. If the sentence is shortish they may just foster them until you are released. If long they may rehome them. I am guessing because this is an unusual problem.

      If you live in the USA there are cat fosterers in the USA. These are individual people working voluntarily for a cat charity who are involved in rehoming. They may be able to help. The fosterer looks after a cat in their home as if they own the cat. They are knowledgeable and good cat people.

      I don't know where you are so can't research a particular organisation.

      Hope this helps.

      Delete
    2. Michael Broad26 June 2014 at 15:44

      If you live in the UK I have just read this:

      The Cinnamon Trust has a network of volunteers to provide help such as walking the dog for an owner who can no longer do so. It has a national pet fostering service for a pet whose owner goes into hospital, and also provides long term care for a pet whose owner has died or moved into accommodation that does not accept pets.

      Delete
    3. Michael Broad26 June 2014 at 16:14

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. Michael Broad26 June 2014 at 16:15

      I thought a short article was in order based on your question but it is not very good.....

      http://cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.org/2014/06/criminal-wants-someone-to-look-after.html

      Delete

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