Milestone Millie PUP-Date: Patriot PAWS service dog in training moves to next training phase in prison unit

ROCKWALL, TX (July 9, 2021) Since the last Milestone PUP-date in early April, Patriot PAWS service dog in training, Millie, has made significant progress and moved on to her next phase of training, which is actually held at a Texas prison through the Inmate Trainer partnership Patriot PAWS has with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Her trainers say that she has been improving her skills each day and that she is one step closer to becoming a Patriot PAWS Service Dog for a U.S. Veteran in need. Millie’s sponsor, Milestone Home Service Co., recently checked in with Marissa, the Development Coordinator at Patriot PAWS, to get a ‘PUP-date’ on how her new phase of training is going in the prison program.

Millie at the Carry The Load Memorial March Event

What is the Patriot Paws Prison Program?

First, you might be wondering, what exactly is the Patriot Paws Prison Program? It started in 2008 when Patriot PAWS entered a partnership with the service dog training program within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. There are three different correctional units that participate in this program, including the Lane Murray and Crain Women’s Correctional Units located in Gatesville, and the Boyd Men’s Correctional Unit in Fairfield. Each inmate is paired with a dog, and they live in a “dormitory-like-space” together.

What does Millie’s training in the Prison Unit look like?

In the prison program, Millie is paired with an inmate with whom she will live with for the next three to four months. Marissa said the Prison Unit is like a “training boot-camp” for Millie where she can concentrate on “polishing her cues”.

“Becoming a Patriot PAWS Service Dog requires a lot of work. When we pass these dogs to U.S. Veterans, it is crucial that they are reliable. The Prison Program is invaluable to helping these pups succeed. We are excited and eager to see how Millie transforms over the next few months,” said Marissa.

Inmates are paired with dogs like Millie and are tested quarterly on their ability to teach their dog the behaviors required for certification.

Millie and her inmate attend training classes weekly and are assisted by certified service dog trainers to ensure that they both are getting the most out of their time together. The trainers work alongside the inmates to teach the dogs the 55 basic behaviors.

“Team work really makes the dream work here at Patriot PAWS. As we ensure the inmate trainers are doing their job correctly, we are able to make an impact for both the dog-in-training, and the inmate – giving them a purpose and goal to reach,” Marissa added.

Even though Millie just started this phase of the program, she is already doing incredibly well!

Milestone Home Service Co. is so proud of all of Millie’s achievements so far and loves having the opportunity to work with Patriot PAWS in supporting her entire training with the goal of one day being placed with a Veteran for no cost to them. For more information about Patriot PAWS Service Dogs, please visit their website at patriotpaws.org. For more information about Milestone Home Service Co., or Millie, please contact britton.swanson@callmilestone.com.

Milestone Millie at the Carry The Load event in May

About Patriot PAWS | Patriot PAWS is a national nonprofit based in Rockwall, TX, that trains and provides service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American Veterans and others with mobile disabilities. Through first-class training, these dogs are able to help restore physical and emotional independence. With over 330 top-trained dogs already placed, this nonprofit is making a national impact and achieves its mission with excellence.

About Milestone Home Service Co. | Milestone is the #1 Home Service provider in the DFW Metroplex. We have more service trucks, more trained Electricians, Heating and Cooling Technicians, Plumbers, Drain Cleaners, and more satisfied customers than any other home service company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee to show our customers that we’ll stop at nothing to give each of them a superb customer care experience! We love being called the “favorite Dallas Technician” and “favorite Fort Worth Technician!”

Pup-date submitted by Emily Knight with Milestone, in partnership with Patriot PAWS and Blue Ribbon News. Stay tuned to Blue Ribbon News for more Milestone pup-dates as Millie progresses through training with Patriot PAWS.