Speakers
Workshop Session
In this presentation, the speaker will provide an overview of the introduction of animal-assisted intervention and the establishment of the Rehabilitation Dog Services in the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department. The focus of the presentation is on the process of service development, which includes conducting a literature review, consulting with experts, and conducting trial runs of animal-assisted treatment groups. The successful trial run of the animal-assisted treatment groups demonstrated prominent efficacy in improving the mental well-being of female inmates, specifically in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress levels. This success ultimately led to the official establishment of the Rehabilitation Dog Services in January 2024. These services involve specially trained therapy dogs and skilled handlers who regularly provide animal-assisted interventions within correctional institutions. Moreover, clinical psychologists are involved in conducting animal-assisted treatment to address specific mental health concerns of inmates, such as trauma, anxiety, and other emotional issues. Going forward, the Rehabilitation Dog Services aim to expand their reach to benefit more persons in custody, while also conducting research to ensure the program is evidence-based and adheres to best practices in programming.