Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre - February 3rd, 2025
Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre
Shelton Abbey Open Centre, Arklow, Ireland – January 29, 2025
In a heart warming demonstration of rehabilitation and community support, the Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled showcased their successful collaboration at an event held at Shelton Abbey Open Centre on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. This unique partnership not only equips prisoners with valuable life skills but also trains assistance dogs to support children and adults with physical disabilities.
At the heart of this initiative is a training program at Shelton Abbey, where prisoners gain knowledge and experience as dog handlers while training assistance dogs. This program instils responsibility, empathy and teamwork in participants, preparing them for reintegration into society with a newfound sense of purpose.
The event, attended by community members and media representatives, featured live demonstrations of the training process. Attendees witnessed first-hand the dedication of prisoners and the remarkable skills of the trained assistance dogs.
Joseph Donoghue, Governor of Shelton Abbey said, “At Shelton Abbey, we believe in second chances and the transformative power of rehabilitation. Our partnership with Dogs for the Disabled has not only provided prisoners with valuable skills and certifications as dog handlers but also fostered a sense of purpose and empathy. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the individuals who receive these incredible assistant dogs is truly inspiring, and we are proud to be a part of this life-changing initiative.”
Since its foundation in 2007, Dogs for the Disabled has been at the forefront of training specially bred dogs to assist disabled children and adults. The partnership with IPS has accelerated this mission, resulting in highly-trained assistance dogs that bring greater independence to those in need.
Jennifer Dowler, CEO of Dogs for the Disabled, praised the collaboration: “This partnership has been invaluable. It not only helps us train more assistance dogs but also provides prisoners with a meaningful way to give back to the community. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the recipients of our assistance dogs is profound.”
The event highlighted the success stories of both prisoners and dog recipients, underscoring the transformative power of this collaboration.
Duncan Hughes, a service user whose life has been transformed by Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog called Leon, shared his experience: “Leon has given me independence and confidence I never thought possible. This program truly changes lives.”
For more information about Dogs for the Disabled and their programs, please visit https://dogsfordisabled.ie/
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Shelton Abbey
Shelton Abbey is an open, low security prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
The original building was the former seat of the Earl of Wicklow and the Howard family
Ralph Howard left Shelton to the state in 1959. It was used as a forestry college in the sixties and commenced as an open prison in 1973.
Shelton Abbey is located on a 75-acre site comprising a working farm and grounds area acre site on the outskirts of Arklow County Wicklow. The facility consists of a number of buildings
- The Main house – which is part of the original construction and includes the accommodation for 61 inmates in dormitory style accommodation, general office, Key room, kitchen and surgery.
- Building 2 – which is a prefabricated building behind the main house which provides accommodation for 50 inmates in single /double rooms
- Education and Work Training building – which accommodates the prison school and work training workshops.
- Stores building, barber shop, buddy dogs shop and car valeting.
The farm holds cattle for our charity partner Bother. The farm also do tillage, barley and potatoes and have a chicken farm which provides eggs for use in our kitchen.
Shelton Abbey in association with Rotary Ireland provide a bicycle repair shop for our Bikes to Africa programme.
Dogs for the Disabled
Dogs for the Disabled ethically breed and train dogs to assist with practical, everyday tasks to help a person with a physical disability live life to the full, thus breaking down barriers to the outside world and helping to improve confidence and lower stress levels for their partners.
Each Assistance Dog is specifically trained to help his or her new partner but is also reliant on them to provide for their needs including exercise, feeding, love and care.
These new responsibilities encourage their partner to become more active and outgoing in the community by taking their assistance dog for walks and engaging with the public at large. Thus, increasing confidence and encouraging them to take up new activities e.g. sport, joining a club, returning to work or further education.
This programme pairs adults with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease or MS whose symptoms may include freezing gait or compromised balance. Our dogs are specially trained to help their partners regulate walking speed and maintain a more relaxed posture and walking pattern.
We also partner mobility dogs for children living with cerebral palsy and ataxia type conditions. For these children, maintaining balance and forward momentum poses significant challenges and the risk of falls is a constant concern. This is especially worrying as falls could potentially result in a child becoming dependent on a wheelchair due to their inability to use crutches. Regular walks with their assistance dog play a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of these children as they continue to grow. For both adults and children with mobility issues, daily walks develop core balance and strength which over time builds stamina.
Critically NO downward pressure is allowed on our dogs. They are fitted with a specially designed harness that has a “floating handle” which is the equivalent of holding a supportive hand.
We’ve seen dramatic improvements in our partner’s walking abilities with this programme and we are doing everything we can to expand the programme as much as possible, including training Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog.
Photos
(L-R) Jennifer Dowler CEO (Dogs for the Disabled), Duncan Hughes (Service User), Governor Joseph Donoghue (IPS), Karen Byrne (IPS), Cathy Matthews (Dogs for the Disabled)

Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre - February 3rd, 2025

Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre
Shelton Abbey Open Centre, Arklow, Ireland – January 29, 2025
In a heart warming demonstration of rehabilitation and community support, the Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled showcased their successful collaboration at an event held at Shelton Abbey Open Centre on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. This unique partnership not only equips prisoners with valuable life skills but also trains assistance dogs to support children and adults with physical disabilities.
At the heart of this initiative is a training program at Shelton Abbey, where prisoners gain knowledge and experience as dog handlers while training assistance dogs. This program instils responsibility, empathy and teamwork in participants, preparing them for reintegration into society with a newfound sense of purpose.
The event, attended by community members and media representatives, featured live demonstrations of the training process. Attendees witnessed first-hand the dedication of prisoners and the remarkable skills of the trained assistance dogs.
Joseph Donoghue, Governor of Shelton Abbey said, “At Shelton Abbey, we believe in second chances and the transformative power of rehabilitation. Our partnership with Dogs for the Disabled has not only provided prisoners with valuable skills and certifications as dog handlers but also fostered a sense of purpose and empathy. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the individuals who receive these incredible assistant dogs is truly inspiring, and we are proud to be a part of this life-changing initiative.”
Since its foundation in 2007, Dogs for the Disabled has been at the forefront of training specially bred dogs to assist disabled children and adults. The partnership with IPS has accelerated this mission, resulting in highly-trained assistance dogs that bring greater independence to those in need.
Jennifer Dowler, CEO of Dogs for the Disabled, praised the collaboration: “This partnership has been invaluable. It not only helps us train more assistance dogs but also provides prisoners with a meaningful way to give back to the community. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the recipients of our assistance dogs is profound.”
The event highlighted the success stories of both prisoners and dog recipients, underscoring the transformative power of this collaboration.
Duncan Hughes, a service user whose life has been transformed by Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog called Leon, shared his experience: “Leon has given me independence and confidence I never thought possible. This program truly changes lives.”
For more information about Dogs for the Disabled and their programs, please visit https://dogsfordisabled.ie/
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Shelton Abbey
Shelton Abbey is an open, low security prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
The original building was the former seat of the Earl of Wicklow and the Howard family
Ralph Howard left Shelton to the state in 1959. It was used as a forestry college in the sixties and commenced as an open prison in 1973.
Shelton Abbey is located on a 75-acre site comprising a working farm and grounds area acre site on the outskirts of Arklow County Wicklow. The facility consists of a number of buildings
- The Main house – which is part of the original construction and includes the accommodation for 61 inmates in dormitory style accommodation, general office, Key room, kitchen and surgery.
- Building 2 – which is a prefabricated building behind the main house which provides accommodation for 50 inmates in single /double rooms
- Education and Work Training building – which accommodates the prison school and work training workshops.
- Stores building, barber shop, buddy dogs shop and car valeting.
The farm holds cattle for our charity partner Bother. The farm also do tillage, barley and potatoes and have a chicken farm which provides eggs for use in our kitchen.
Shelton Abbey in association with Rotary Ireland provide a bicycle repair shop for our Bikes to Africa programme.
Dogs for the Disabled
Dogs for the Disabled ethically breed and train dogs to assist with practical, everyday tasks to help a person with a physical disability live life to the full, thus breaking down barriers to the outside world and helping to improve confidence and lower stress levels for their partners.
Each Assistance Dog is specifically trained to help his or her new partner but is also reliant on them to provide for their needs including exercise, feeding, love and care.
These new responsibilities encourage their partner to become more active and outgoing in the community by taking their assistance dog for walks and engaging with the public at large. Thus, increasing confidence and encouraging them to take up new activities e.g. sport, joining a club, returning to work or further education.
This programme pairs adults with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease or MS whose symptoms may include freezing gait or compromised balance. Our dogs are specially trained to help their partners regulate walking speed and maintain a more relaxed posture and walking pattern.
We also partner mobility dogs for children living with cerebral palsy and ataxia type conditions. For these children, maintaining balance and forward momentum poses significant challenges and the risk of falls is a constant concern. This is especially worrying as falls could potentially result in a child becoming dependent on a wheelchair due to their inability to use crutches. Regular walks with their assistance dog play a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of these children as they continue to grow. For both adults and children with mobility issues, daily walks develop core balance and strength which over time builds stamina.
Critically NO downward pressure is allowed on our dogs. They are fitted with a specially designed harness that has a “floating handle” which is the equivalent of holding a supportive hand.
We’ve seen dramatic improvements in our partner’s walking abilities with this programme and we are doing everything we can to expand the programme as much as possible, including training Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog.
Photos
(L-R) Jennifer Dowler CEO (Dogs for the Disabled), Duncan Hughes (Service User), Governor Joseph Donoghue (IPS), Karen Byrne (IPS), Cathy Matthews (Dogs for the Disabled)
Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre - February 3rd, 2025

Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled Showcase Impact at Shelton Abbey Open Centre
Shelton Abbey Open Centre, Arklow, Ireland – January 29, 2025
In a heart warming demonstration of rehabilitation and community support, the Irish Prison Service and Dogs for the Disabled showcased their successful collaboration at an event held at Shelton Abbey Open Centre on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. This unique partnership not only equips prisoners with valuable life skills but also trains assistance dogs to support children and adults with physical disabilities.
At the heart of this initiative is a training program at Shelton Abbey, where prisoners gain knowledge and experience as dog handlers while training assistance dogs. This program instils responsibility, empathy and teamwork in participants, preparing them for reintegration into society with a newfound sense of purpose.
The event, attended by community members and media representatives, featured live demonstrations of the training process. Attendees witnessed first-hand the dedication of prisoners and the remarkable skills of the trained assistance dogs.
Joseph Donoghue, Governor of Shelton Abbey said, “At Shelton Abbey, we believe in second chances and the transformative power of rehabilitation. Our partnership with Dogs for the Disabled has not only provided prisoners with valuable skills and certifications as dog handlers but also fostered a sense of purpose and empathy. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the individuals who receive these incredible assistant dogs is truly inspiring, and we are proud to be a part of this life-changing initiative.”
Since its foundation in 2007, Dogs for the Disabled has been at the forefront of training specially bred dogs to assist disabled children and adults. The partnership with IPS has accelerated this mission, resulting in highly-trained assistance dogs that bring greater independence to those in need.
Jennifer Dowler, CEO of Dogs for the Disabled, praised the collaboration: “This partnership has been invaluable. It not only helps us train more assistance dogs but also provides prisoners with a meaningful way to give back to the community. The positive impact on both the prisoners and the recipients of our assistance dogs is profound.”
The event highlighted the success stories of both prisoners and dog recipients, underscoring the transformative power of this collaboration.
Duncan Hughes, a service user whose life has been transformed by Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog called Leon, shared his experience: “Leon has given me independence and confidence I never thought possible. This program truly changes lives.”
For more information about Dogs for the Disabled and their programs, please visit https://dogsfordisabled.ie/
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Shelton Abbey
Shelton Abbey is an open, low security prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
The original building was the former seat of the Earl of Wicklow and the Howard family
Ralph Howard left Shelton to the state in 1959. It was used as a forestry college in the sixties and commenced as an open prison in 1973.
Shelton Abbey is located on a 75-acre site comprising a working farm and grounds area acre site on the outskirts of Arklow County Wicklow. The facility consists of a number of buildings
- The Main house – which is part of the original construction and includes the accommodation for 61 inmates in dormitory style accommodation, general office, Key room, kitchen and surgery.
- Building 2 – which is a prefabricated building behind the main house which provides accommodation for 50 inmates in single /double rooms
- Education and Work Training building – which accommodates the prison school and work training workshops.
- Stores building, barber shop, buddy dogs shop and car valeting.
The farm holds cattle for our charity partner Bother. The farm also do tillage, barley and potatoes and have a chicken farm which provides eggs for use in our kitchen.
Shelton Abbey in association with Rotary Ireland provide a bicycle repair shop for our Bikes to Africa programme.
Dogs for the Disabled
Dogs for the Disabled ethically breed and train dogs to assist with practical, everyday tasks to help a person with a physical disability live life to the full, thus breaking down barriers to the outside world and helping to improve confidence and lower stress levels for their partners.
Each Assistance Dog is specifically trained to help his or her new partner but is also reliant on them to provide for their needs including exercise, feeding, love and care.
These new responsibilities encourage their partner to become more active and outgoing in the community by taking their assistance dog for walks and engaging with the public at large. Thus, increasing confidence and encouraging them to take up new activities e.g. sport, joining a club, returning to work or further education.
This programme pairs adults with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease or MS whose symptoms may include freezing gait or compromised balance. Our dogs are specially trained to help their partners regulate walking speed and maintain a more relaxed posture and walking pattern.
We also partner mobility dogs for children living with cerebral palsy and ataxia type conditions. For these children, maintaining balance and forward momentum poses significant challenges and the risk of falls is a constant concern. This is especially worrying as falls could potentially result in a child becoming dependent on a wheelchair due to their inability to use crutches. Regular walks with their assistance dog play a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of these children as they continue to grow. For both adults and children with mobility issues, daily walks develop core balance and strength which over time builds stamina.
Critically NO downward pressure is allowed on our dogs. They are fitted with a specially designed harness that has a “floating handle” which is the equivalent of holding a supportive hand.
We’ve seen dramatic improvements in our partner’s walking abilities with this programme and we are doing everything we can to expand the programme as much as possible, including training Ireland’s first ever Parkinson’s Assistance Dog.
Photos
(L-R) Jennifer Dowler CEO (Dogs for the Disabled), Duncan Hughes (Service User), Governor Joseph Donoghue (IPS), Karen Byrne (IPS), Cathy Matthews (Dogs for the Disabled)