Clients Reunite Service Dogs with Handlers Who Raised Them at San Quentin

Two men smile while sitting outside; a black service dog sits between them. The background features landscaped bushes and a building with barred windows.On Friday, March 28, Canine Companions joined San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in an annual celebration of our puppy raising program. This year, clients Ben Carter and Robert Quigley, whose new service dogs were the first puppies raised at San Quentin, joined for the event and brought along their four-legged helpers.

Last year, Ben Carter of Oregon and Robert Quigley of California were matched with their service dogs, at no cost. Ben is a wheelchair user and Artemis opens doors for him, picks up dropped items and helps with other physical tasks to help Ben live more independently. Robert is Deaf and was matched with Hearing Dog Wendel. Wendel is expertly trained to alert Robert to important sounds in his environment that he would otherwise miss.

Two men pose together with two black Labrador dogs, one wearing a blue vest and the other in a yellow vest, in an indoor setting with various items in the background.

Ben and Robert reunited their dogs with the incarcerated men who raised them, and got to meet them in person for the first time. The reunion was emotional and heartwarming, and it got the attention of national media. Check out the Associated Press and ABC News stories below!

With tears and tail wags, San Quentin inmates reunite with puppies they raised into service dogs – Associated Press*

Emotional reunion at San Quentin prison in California – ABC News*

With tears and tail wags, San Quentin inmates reunite with puppies they raised into service dogs – Washington Post*

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