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Summary Inmates at a U.S. prison taught sign language to a dog who couldn't hear for children at a school for the deaf.
Deaf dachshund named Sparky, was taught sign language by Inmates at a Missouri prison. They asked the Missouri School for the Deaf to take him in. Sparky was taken and now he is among the youngsters who have taught him additional sign language. Another dog, a Boston terrier named Petie, may be on his way to the school soon.Superintendent Barbara Garrison approved bringing Sparky to the school. She really thought it would be a great learning experience for the kids.Sparky responds to hand signals to sit, heel, lie down, and stop and is working on additional signs that mean food or outside. Sparky and Petie come from the Puppies for Parole program of the Missouri Department of Corrections in Licking, Missouri. The inmates train animals with behavioral or other issues that make them difficult to adopt.The program saves dogs that might otherwise be euthanized and it gives inmates a constructive activity, said Tina Holland, activities coordinator at the Licking prison. Their goal was just to get these dogs a home after special training but Tina Holland say that the training has been wonderful and it s gone far beyond from what we thought it would.
