Work program based on the convicted people and the dogs interaction

Abstract

Work program with convicted people based on their interaction with dogs conducted at the Penitentiary Facility in Sremska Mitrovica consisted of the fact that convicted persons who were staying in the halfway department of the institution, with the expert's help, learn how to train and nurse dogs, preparing them for homestay. In addition to the practical and theoretical tutoring of dogs training, the convicts also had psychological support through group work that was intended to help them in better understanding themselves and their practices through the dog training experience. This program has combined several forms of work with convicted people: their education, ie new knowledge acquiring and skills that they can apply in their personal and professional life in the future on the freedom, changing their attitudes, feelings, behavior patterns, and organizing leisure time by prosocial activities, that also contain elements of work engagement and entertainment elements. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the effects of the program revealed positive changes on the convicts in the terms of developing a feeling of empathy, patience, emotional connection with the animals involved in the program, as well as other participants in the program, the sense of cooperation and team work and in general the ability of communication and interaction with people and animals.