OSU veterinary alumnus connects dogs and inmates

Friday, June 26, 2015

Dr. John Otto (’90) of Norman, Oklahoma, was recently featured on Oklahoma Horizon television show talking about a program very near and dear to his heart.

Owner of University Animal Hospital, Otto (pictured above) volunteers his time to work with Friends for Folks, a dog training program inside Oklahoma’s Lexington Prison. Inmates train shelter dogs to become therapy dogs for the elderly, veterans and people with special needs.

The program has benefited both dogs and inmates. It has worked so well at Lexington that Otto took it to authorities at Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility. Bassett Tales will air on OETA on July 30, 2015, at 7 p.m. Otto hopes the concept will catch on and go nationwide.

Otto also wrote a book about one success story from Lexington — "Marvin’s Shining Star" — which is available now in book stores.