Therapy dogs join parenting classes at the Westchester jail

At the Westchester County jail in Valhalla, a therapy dog sits in on parenting classes, ABC7 New York reported. Pace University's program, Parenting, Prison and Pups, pairs the lessons with visits arranged through therapy-dog groups around the region. Pace students join the classes and work alongside the participants.

A distinguished professor at Pace who helped start the effort said research connected to the program has found higher self-esteem and more parenting knowledge, along with lower stress and depression. The dogs are part of the class, not a substitute for it. The measured changes are in how participants describe their skills and their stress, not a claim that a visit shortens a sentence.