FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- It's an unusual partnership, pairing puppies with prisoners, but officials at MCI-Framingham hope the new program could be a new '"leash" on life for some inmates.

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Pam Cross Reports On Prison Pups Resources Prison PUP Partnership

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that the Prison PUP Partnership allows inmates to foster and train service dogs for the handicapped.

Ashley, a 16-week-old poodle, is now a resident of MCI-Framingham. Eventually, she and Blaze, a young boxer pup, may become service dogs that assist the handicapped. For the next year, the dogs, provided by the National Education Assistance Dogs Service, will be training with the inmates.

"When we get a dog back from a correctional facility, they have to spend three months at our training center. They go through the training in half the time," said Sheila O'Brien, of NEADS.

In six years, 53 dogs have been trained in low-security state prisons. MCI-Framingham is the first medium-security facility to participate in the program. Organizers of the partnership say training in prisons gets the dogs trained faster and helps the prison population.

"It's hard not to love a puppy; it's hard not to go up and let the puppy lick you. And I think that will have great impact on the institution," said prison Superintendent Lynn Bissonnette.

"I think this is a great opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. I love the experience and I love animals," said inmate Nancy McGeoghean, who will train Blaze.

Eventually Blaze and Ashley could grow up to become like Finn, a golden retriever who was recently placed as service dog for Rick Thompson.

"(Finn) opens and closes doors. I am still working on my front door, but eventually, he will get that. He opens and closes the refrigerator, gets things out," said Thompson.

"It lets me know what the future can bring, that I know where Ashley, what her future plans are. Ashley is going to do that someday for someone who can't," said inmate Julie Pike, who will train Ashley.

Cross said the Prison PUP Partnership seems to work for prisoners, dogs and especially those on the receiving end -- the handicapped who get a new kind of freedom.