PRISON DOG PROGRAMS ~ HELPING PRISONERS TO HELP OTHERS

SR PAULINE QUINN OP srpauline@bpofcourage.org BRIDGES AND PATHWAYS OF COURAGE.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

ARGENTINA PRISON DOG PROGRAMS


Argentina is a leader in helping inmates change their lives by providing programs that bring about change. One of these programs is  Huellas De Esperanza, a wonderful program in the Argentina prison.

They are working to start several programs in their prisons, giving the inmates a chance to give something back to the community by training a service dog for the handicapped or saving unwanted dogs.

The program is operated by the Argentina Penitentiary Service and inspired by Dr Romero, a famous Argentina Veterinarian and humanitarian who also has a television and radio shows. 

What is unique about this prison program is the desire that the Argentina Government wants Huellas De Esperanza  to be a success, hoping many inmates return to the community to find a new and useful pathways for their lives because they learned something positive in this program that will help their lives forever. 


PROGRAMAS DE PERROS EN PRISION EN ARGENTINA

Argentina es líder en ayudar a internos/as a cambiar sus vidas desarrollando programas que traen aparejados cambios. Uno de estos programas es Huellas de Esperanza, un maravilloso programa en penales argentinos.


Están trabajando para implementar varios programas en sus penales, ofreciendo a los internos/as la oportunidad de devolver algo a la comunidad adiestrando perros de servicio para ser entregados a personas con capacidades diferentes o rescatando perros sin hogar.

El programa es llevado a cabo por el Servicio Penitenciario Federal Argentino e inspirado por el Dr. Romero, un famoso y humanitario Médico Veterinario Argentino quién también tiene programas de televisión y radio.

Lo que hace único a este programa en prisión es que el Gobierno Argentino desea que Huellas de Esperanza sea un éxito, esperando lograr que muchos internos/as regresen a la sociedad para encontrar caminos nuevos y útiles para sus vidas, porque aprendieron algo positivo en este programa que les ayudará en sus vidas por siempre.


I was presented with this honorary Title of "officer" of the Argentina Federal Penitentiary Service and I feel thankful for their kindness to me.





 
A NEW VIDEO WAS MADE ABOUT MY TRIP TO ARGENTINA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs40iRBKxAY&feature=youtube_gdata_player



 
 
 
 

 

 


 

 

 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 

 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

PRISON DOG FANS... SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Sometimes our little space becomes the center of our world, thinking that the organization we are working with, the prison dog program we wish to start or have started or we become frustrated if someone shows up late, or makes us angry, or hurts us in any way then we forget the larger picture of life and how little we are compared to the whole world. Try hard to repair damaged relationships, train dogs to help others, give people a hand up, find avenues of hope you can spread because our life is very short compared to the rest of the world.

Monday, September 2, 2013

PAX, WENT TO THE WASHINGTON STATE CORRECTIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN TO PREPARE HIM FOR HIS NEW JOB AS A PEACEMAKER AND A SERVICE DOG

The Washington State Correctional Center for Women is the first prison dog program in the United States where inmates are training dogs to help the handicapped. It was started in 1981. The Prison Pet Partnership Program finds their dogs in the Humane Societies and Animal Shelters of the Seattle area. They have a 28 run dog kennel as well as a grooming room where the inmates are boarding and grooming outside dogs. There is also a cat room. When we can start programs where it benefits the community, help the inmates learn skills that they can use when they get out of prison, and helps all those who volunteer their time to help the program, then it becomes a program that is making a difference. I brought Pax to the prison for more training since these inmates have more training skills. Here are a few pictures. The program needs supplies and I am trying to help them find what they need. If you want to help them, contact me: srpauline@bpofcourage.org Prison Pet Partnership Web Page.. http://www.prisonpetpartnership.org/




Bishop David Ricken saying good bye to Pax before he left for prison, asking Pax to remember to be good while there since he wants to become a Peacemaker.  The Name Pax means Peace in Latin.  Fitting name for such a good looking young dog.  I hope he can become a goodwill ambassador for many people.. 



Pax Going To The Fair Before He Went To Prison
 


On the airplane going to Prison, Pax met a young girl who had a doll.  Since Pax was under the seat, she put her doll next to pax.  He reached over and gave the doll a kiss then went back to sleep.

The Prison Pet Partnership Program has been in existance since 1981.  They welcome you to know more about them.



Pax arrived in prison and had several people meet and greet him and his friend Joey who also flew to Washington State.


Pax had fun playing with the wood dog that was holding the welcome sign



Pax is 14 months old when this picture was taken.  He is growing up





Wednesday, July 3, 2013

OSHKOSH CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION PawsForward PRISON DOG PROGRAM IN WISCONSIN

OSCI prison in Wisconsin has over two thousand inmates.  I am impressed by the dedication and hard work that Warden Judy Smith and her staff has made to help make the PawsForward prison dog program a success.  The inmates are training dogs to help the blind as well as people who have physical disabilities for Occupaws Guide Dog school based in Madison, Wisconsin.

A select group of inmates are allowed to take their dogs to visit the mental health unit at the prison which helps bring healing by the visiting dogs as well as it gives the inmate handler the opportunity to help someone else.  Healing comes about by taking responsibility for their crime and by doing community projects that help focus on helping others. The PawsForward program at OSCI is helping to do this.

The prison dog programs help to create a focus on helping others which is needed in order to change prospectives and follow a different pathway.   It gives the inmates an opportunity to give back to our community.  I salute Oshkosh Correctional, Occupaws and all the hard working volunteers, staff and inmates at the prison who are making the program a success.

Sr Pauline's service Dog Reni came to visit.  It shows that dogs that are 'image' dogs can be very sweet and loving as Reni is





Sr Pauline's dog Joey who is in training as a service dog.  Small dogs can retrieve or being a hearing dog.