# Integrated Canine-Assisted Services and Art Therapy in Prison: Pilot Study of Animal Well-Being Aspects and Its Impact on Inmate Critical Events

## TL;DR

This pilot study explores combining dog-assisted therapy and art therapy in prisons to improve inmate well-being and reduce critical events, while ensuring the dogs' welfare.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel integrated approach combining canine-assisted services and art therapy in prisons with a focus on animal well-being.

## Key findings

- Dogs adapted successfully to the prison setting and maintained stable well-being.
- Inmates showed a significant reduction in critical events like self-harm and external incidents.

## Abstract

Professional occupations in correctional facilities, such as prisons, present substantial psychological challenges for both personnel and inmates, necessitating innovative interventions for enhancing the institutional socio-emotional climate. This pilot study describes an integrated intervention program that combines canine-assisted treatment with art therapy to promote the well-being of inmates. A significant methodological consideration of our study was to ensure that the dogs involved were not instrumental agents, but active co-participants whose well-being must be guarded before, during and after the program. In line with this, three dogs were selected based on their individual temperaments, and their well-being was longitudinally monitored throughout one-year program. Findings confirmed that the dogs adapted successfully to the prison setting. At the same time, the inmates involved in the program showed a decrease in critical events, such as self-harming behaviors and external incidents. This result substantiates the efficacy of the integrated protocol as a significant asset for rehabilitation, illustrating that favorable outcomes for human participation can be attained without compromising the welfare of the animals involved.

Animal-Assisted Services (AAS), together with art therapy, represent an innovative resource in prisons, promoting the emotional and relational well-being of inmates. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated protocol of Animal-Assisted Services and art therapy, with a focus on the selection and monitoring of dogs included in AAS. Forty-two male inmates from a prison in southern Italy were involved. The year-long intervention included weekly group activities with three trained AAS dogs chosen by their personality profiles. The dogs’ well-being was monitored at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the program; data was also collected on the occurrence of critical events for the inmates. The results showed that the dogs maintained a stable profile of psychological and physical well-being and good behavioral regulation, while the inmates showed a significant reduction in critical events. In conclusion, the integrated approach tested, based on the careful selection of dogs, activities tailored to the needs of inmates, and continuous monitoring, proved effective in ensuring animal well-being and promoting improvement in prison conditions.