One of the contexts in which pet therapy with dogs proves particularly effective is prison. An ex-inmate tells us about it — “reborn” thanks to a very special friend.
A first-hand account is, often, the best way to get to the heart of a reality. That is why listening to the words of an ex-inmate, "reborn" precisely through an encounter with a golden retriever, can give — more than many explanations ever could — a clear idea of what pet therapy really is.
There are many contexts — disability, hardship, isolation — in which this practice can bring genuine benefits, and several organisations in Italy are dedicated to it. One of them is Do re miao!, which runs projects in prisons, where relational problems and loneliness afflict inmates on a daily basis. Alessandro (40 years old) spoke to us about it: he spent a year locked up in the Don Bosco remand prison in Pisa where, more than anything else, the experience with dogs — and in particular with the gentle golden retriever Zoe — helped him cope with the difficulties of prison life. Like him, many people owe a debt of gratitude to their four-legged friends, who are engaged every day in support and rescue activities. The event Trainer cani eroi show 2017, held on 16 and 17 September at the Parco fluviale di San Donà di Piave, in the province of Venice, was dedicated to celebrating precisely these realities.
How did you first encounter pet therapy?
In 2015 I entered the Don Bosco prison in Pisa to serve a remaining sentence of one year. After three months I was moved to the reduced-security wing, the Prometeo section, which is something of a flagship within the Italian prison system. The organisation there is more like that of a community: cells remain open during the day and there are workshops and a multipurpose room used for various activities, including pet therapy courses.
What made you decide to try this experience?
My cellmate suggested it, but at first I was very hesitant, because I had left my dog Roy — a rottweiler I had adopted from a shelter — at home. The separation from him had been painful for me, and I was afraid that being around other dogs would make things worse. Eventually, though, I was persuaded to give it a try, and that is how I met the people from the association Do re miao!, who came to see us once a week.
Leggi anche: Pet Therapy: tutto sulla terapia con cani e gatti
What did the pet therapy course involve?
We did exercises and games to learn how to interact with dogs correctly. I, in particular, grew very attached to Zoe, an eight-year-old golden retriever. What was interesting for me was discovering that, despite the experience I already had with dogs, there was still so much to learn about them. So I decided to continue the course and to open myself up even more to this world. A wonderful moment was when they managed to bring my dog Roy to me, after six months without seeing him. An incredibly powerful emotion that I will never forget.
So you have always had a passion for dogs?
Yes, I have done voluntary work at a shelter and I have adopted dogs. I took Roy from the shelter in Modena after he had been removed from his previous owners. When I brought him home he was suffering from the after-effects of a hip operation, and no one could work out how to resolve the situation. After quite some time it emerged that some sterile gauze had been left inside, preventing the wound from healing. Fortunately the problem was eventually resolved, and from that moment on he became attached to me in an almost obsessive way. I like to think that the bond between us is due in part to the shared experiences we have both been through.
Leggi anche: 5 motivi per cui cani e gatti fanno bene alla salute
Had you already heard about pet therapy specifically?
Yes, because my father was the director of a care home for the elderly where they had run courses with Alzheimer's patients, with excellent results. I also have a friend who tried pet therapy with horses for her son, resolving several of his insecurities in the process.
What did you learn from this experience?
I understood how much animals can give you. To explain what you feel, I always use a comparison that is a little stark, but real. During prison visits with my family we always ended up talking about some problem or other. When Roy came, on the other hand, it was as if we had never been apart, as if nothing had happened. He picks you up right where he left you. He doesn't judge you.
Did all of this help you cope better with the situation you were going through?
Yes, also in terms of relating to other people. I come from a quiet family and a perfectly normal background. So at first I was living with a kind of paranoia about my situation and I would isolate myself, constantly afraid of being judged by everyone for what I had been through. The pet therapy experience, on the other hand, helped me understand that, just like animals, people too can be capable of looking at you not for what you have done but for who you are and what you do now.
Leggi anche: Cani da valanga e da salvataggio. Razze e addestramento dei nostri eroi a quattro zampe
How did the other inmates experience the pet therapy sessions?
Very well. There were people who were quite "battered" or who suffered from self-harm who, during the dog sessions, did not even seem like themselves anymore. They managed to bring out something that in ordinary moments of daily life they were unable to express. Unlike other courses, where the conversation always turned to legal matters or personal problems, during the pet therapy hour you were simply there, interacting with the animals and doing the exercises. After that hour I always went back to my cell feeling relaxed. I felt as though I were walking ten centimetres off the ground. And in an oppressive environment like prison, that is no small thing. Especially because, after a while inside, all you can think about is the fact that you are shut between those four walls.
Since you got out, have you seen Zoe again?
Yes, I sometimes take part in the association's events. Seeing Zoe is very moving for me because it means remembering the good moments lived through in a difficult period.
What would you say to other people going through the same difficulties you experienced?
That it is always worth trying an experience like pet therapy. It can truly help in many situations and, in any case, it can't do any harm.