Therapy animals have been shown to provide comfort and help people form better relationships with others. Therapy animals are also being used in jails, including at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, where many criminal suspects are kept prior to and after their court appearances. Managing editor Tami Roleff met one of the therapy animals in a recent tour of the facility, and says the program is extremely popular…
Rusty is adorable, with long ears and big brown eyes, and a gentle manner that encourages people—both inmates and visitors—to pet him. What’s unexpected about Rusty is that he is a miniature donkey. Rusty’s owner, Janelle Denney has been bringing him to West Valley Detention Center for about two years to interact with the inmates there. Groups of nine or 10 inmates are brought in and sit in chairs while Rusty makes the rounds, greeting them and enjoying the attention.
Rubbing his ears, giving him a carrot, petting his soft nose is a way that inmates can relax and forget their worries, at least for a few minutes. Rusty comes in about once a month; other therapy animals, including a dog, also make visits. In the next report, we’ll talk about some of the programs in the jails and how they are being threatened by new legislation.
