A therapy dog raised and trained by inmates is on duty at Johnson County Department of Corrections facilities across the county.

Mater, a one-year-old certified therapy dog, joined the department after nearly two years of planning, according to Johnson County Government. He is based at the Youth and Family Services Center but visits all JCDOC locations as a department-wide resource.

The dog came to the department through Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education & Services, known as CARES Incorporated, a Concordia, Kansas, organization that partners with six correctional facilities. Inmates at those facilities raise and train therapy dogs through a structured vocational program.

Jodi Taylor, the department's juvenile services deputy director, serves as Mater's handler. Taylor and Mater completed the Public Access Test and skills certification under Assistance Dogs International standards in June 2026.

"Mater has added something to our work that is difficult to measure and invaluable: the ability to bring comfort, connection and joy to both clients and staff," Taylor said in the department's announcement.

An unrestricted grant from the University of Notre Dame funded Mater's placement and will cover his future care. No county tax dollars were used.

Mater has already spent time with youth at the Juvenile Detention Center and attended the Community Connections event on Saturday, July 25, where he met with young people and their families. The department said his role supports emotional regulation, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps with client engagement and staff wellness.

CARES has close to 100 handlers across its correctional facility programs, according to the organization's website.

Johnson County Government shared a video introducing Mater on its Instagram page on Aug. 31.