Media Advisory: Warrior Canine Connection, DPSCS Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods and More Launch Service Dog Program

(JESSUP, MD) – Tuesday, January 30th at 11 a.m. at Jessup Correctional Institution, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs hosts Warrior Canine Connection and Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Woods for the launch of the Warrior Canine Connection service dog program, the newest restorative justice program in State prisons.

Warrior Canine Connection has placed three service dogs-in-training behind the walls of the maximum-security Jessup Correctional Institution, where incarcerated men will train them throughout their journey to eventually becoming service dogs for wounded American heroes. The Department is proud to partner with Warrior Canine Connection. The partnership has even named a dog in honor of Governor Wes Moore.

“This program facilitated by Warrior Canine Connection and the Department is the epitome of restorative justice,” said Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs. “I’ve witnessed the powerful connection and bond between the dogs and our incarcerated men and women who participate in similar restorative justice programs, and the impact programs like this have on the lives of our incarcerated population is life changing.”

Warrior Canine Connection is a nonprofit organization that breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with Service Members and Veterans with visible and invisible wounds. The nonprofit utilizes its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training model to help recovering Warriors train dogs for their fellow Veterans. In doing so, the participant can also benefit from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation and patience to promote an act of service while receiving a therapeutic benefit.

Demonstration of the dogs’ skills will be displayed, and Governor Moore’s namesake service dog, Wes, will be present for media and photographs.

WHO:
MD DPSCS Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs
MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods
Warrior Canine Connection Founder and Executive Director Rick Yount

WHEN:
Tuesday, Jan. 30th, 11 AM 

WHERE:
Jessup Correctional Institution
7805 House of Correction Rd
Jessup, MD 

Media interested in attending should RSVP to Mark Vernarelli by Friday, January 26th at 3 pm: Mark.Vernarelli@maryland.gov