A dog is a man’s best friend, and the same holds true for the inmates inside the walls of the Kingston Penitentiary. Kim Pritchard and Gwen Howard from Luv-A-K9, together with their pack of therapy dogs, Luke, Piper, and Face, have made regular visits to the men confined in the Regional Treatment Centre (RTC), the infirmary section of the prison. The small hospital houses inmates suffering from both physical and mental health issues.

Pritchard and Howard have made visits ever week since October of last year.

Howard, who owns and operates Luv-A-K9, was first approached by Vicki Rombough, an employee at the RTC, who asked Howard if she was interested in having the dogs visit the inmates. Howard admits that the process was a bit difficult, and it took over a year to get through all the red tape.

According to Rombough, most of the inmates housed in the RTC are somewhat difficult to approach and reach out to due to their mental and physical health. This forced Rombough to look for alternative programs for them,

She said that she’s seen a tremendous change in the inmates ever since the therapy dogs started visiting them. Many of them look forward to visits and have formed bonds with the dogs.