Heartwarming Video of Service Dog Reuniting With San Quentin Inmates Who Raised Her Is the Best
Two inmates serving time behind the walls of San Quentin were delighted when a very special guest arrived to see them: a service dog they trained for a year named Margaret. Margaret, a Lab mix, is now two years old and assists her mom, Keiki, who is wheelchair-bound.
Inmates Chase Benoit and Frank Siordia began raising Margaret as a puppy, as part of the Canine Companions program. Margaret went everywhere with the two men during training, and Keiki is beyond grateful for what the men taught her dog, though she was a bit intimidated by entering a prison since she'd never been inside one before. It went well, and we're not sure who enjoyed it more, Keiki, Margaret, Chase, or Frank!
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More About Margaret, the Service Dog Trained in San Quentin
On KTVU's site, they shared more about Margaret's work with the inmates. "The backstory: It's part of the Canine Companions program on the grounds of what used to be called San Quentin State Prison, now known as a rehabilitation center, where dogs go wherever the inmates go, from their cells, to the showers, to the chow hall."
The men joked that Chase and Frank "affectionately called Margaret "Grandma." That's because instead of playing with other puppies, she preferred to sunbathe and relax."
Along with Margaret coming to visit, it was a special day for other dogs who had recently completed training, as well as for some new puppies who might serve in the future.
"Overall, we graduate more dogs than people in the outside community," Chase said. "But these dogs are like Navy SEALs, like, not all of them are gonna cut it."
Canine Companion is a leader in training dogs to become service support animals. "Canine Companions is leading the service dog industry so our clients and their dogs can live with greater independence. We provide service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings."
Inmates who work in the program not only learn to care for animals, but they also learn something about themselves, and it's a great way for them to give back to their communities.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM.