Puppy In Training To Be Therapy Dog For The Kane County Jail

KC, New Kane County Jail Therapy Dog
Photo credit Photo courtesy of the Kane County Sheriff's Office

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Kane County Jail will soon have a new four-legged resident: K.C., a three-month-old black Labrador.Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said that in a few months, after K.C. gets a bit older and is trained, he’ll be used in the Kane County Jail as a therapy dog to reduce stress and anxiety."We’ll be integrating him into each one of the cell blocks, probably nine of the 10 cell blocks he will visit. And, strictly just for detainees and just for stay members to hang out with, play with, pet," he said.

Sheriff Hain said KC is just the first part of the jail’s therapy program. He plans, in the next year, to start having detainees train rescue dogs to become therapy dogs.  

"Our entire jail philosophy now is trying to redirect behavior to be a more productive adult. KC goes right along with that in allowing our detainees to train the therapy dogs, not only gives them a job skill, but great coping mechanisms," Hain said.For now and through his training, KC will be living with a Kane County Sheriff’s lieutenant.