Harlequin the cat lives in prison – and is not an isolated case. In America, the effect of cats on people is not only well known, they are also actively used in prisons.
In some prisons, inmates are now allowed to look after animals instead of sitting in a cell. The inmates' job is to feed the animals, clean the stable and sweep away the dirt. It is not uncommon for a relationship to develop with the animals that gives the inmates strength and self-confidence.