CHICAGO (WLS) -- Behind the chain-link fence and barbed wire, detainees at the Cook County Jail are busy training man's best friend.

"It's a process. It takes time. But little by little, they start getting the hang of it," inmate David Arratia said.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Arratia is in custody, facing drug charges. But, instead of wasting time waiting for the legal process to play out, he's being productive.

The dogs come from local shelters. Most are given standard obedience training, making them better candidates for adoption. But some become therapy dogs, including Arratia's partner, Buddy, a 1-and-a-half-year-old lab retriever mix.

"I grew up poor. So, we could barely feed ourselves, let alone have a dog. So, that was really out of the question. B

See Full Page