Pathways To Hope ~ Prison Dog Project

TRAINING TIPS

2011-09-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

When Prisoners Can TrainThese Dogs ~ Many More People Can Be Helped in a Shorter Amount of Time

2011-09-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

PRISON DOG PROGRAM IN POLAND

2011-06-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Sr Pauline with the inmates in Poland

LOOK AT SOME OF THE POLISH SITES....

CLICK HERE

PRISON DOGS GOING FOR A SUNDAY DRIVE

2011-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Colorado Springs Prison Dog Program

2011-06-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

A TRIBUTE TO SERVICE DOGS

2011-05-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

TEMPTED?

2011-05-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

PRISON DOG PROGAM VIDEOS

2011-05-26T05:54:00.001-07:00

’’’

CANINE SUPPORT TEAMS ~ PLEASE HELP

2011-01-24T19:53:00.000-08:00

MANY OF THESE DOGS WERE TRAINED AT THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN. PLEASE SUPPORT CANINE SUPPORT TEAMS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO CLOSE. MANY DISABILED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THEM AS WELL AS THE INMATES WHO TRAIN THESE WONDERFUL DOGS.

Photos ~ Prison Dog Program

2010-11-30T05:43:00.000-08:00

Click here to view this photo book.

DWIGHT CORRECTIONAL PRISON DOGS ~ HELPING PAWS PROGRAM

2010-11-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

How Dogs Can Help

2010-11-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Miami Prison Dog Program operated by New Horizons Service Dogs

2010-11-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

TO VIEW A VIDEO OF THE PROGRAM ~ CLICK HERE

PATHWAYS TO HOPE "P.A.W." PROGRAM ~YOUTH CORRECTIONAL DOG PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA

2010-06-18T04:02:00.000-07:00

PATHWAYS TO HOPE California "P.A.W." program at SYCRCC, Norwalk was visited on 6/16/10 by Animal Planet's "Pit Boss" Shorty Rossi. The crew filmed an episode of Pit Boss to be aired sometime in September; we'll get the date out as soon as it has been confirmed! What a great and exciting day for the wards to have an opportunity to show off what they and their dogs have learned!!!!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Second Chance Prison Dog Program Greyhound Program

2010-06-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

COURTHOUSE DOGS ~ DOGS WHO HELP OTHERS

2010-03-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

Service dog to SURFice dog

2009-12-10T14:36:00.001-08:00

Dog training program at Walla Walla penitentiary, Washington State, offers second chances

2009-12-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Prison Dog Training with Greyhounds

2009-11-29T04:48:00.000-08:00

The Least Among Us ~ Prison Dog Program trailer

2009-11-29T03:43:00.001-08:00

GREYHOUNDS HELPING INMATES LIVES AND INMATES HELPING GREYHOUNDS LIVES

2009-11-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

NEW HORIZONS SERVICE DOGS ~ Florida prisoners are helping to train these dogs

2009-11-12T03:53:00.000-08:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

PROJECT POOCH CORRECTIONAL DOG PROGRAM FOR JUVIENILES

2009-11-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

Colorado Prison Dog Program

2009-11-09T05:46:00.001-08:00

prison dog program ~ Australia

2009-11-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

PRISONERS AND PUPPIES GET SECOND CHANCE

2009-11-07T03:32:00.000-08:00

Fri 6 Nov 2009
Prisoners and Puppies Get a Second Chance
Posted by Linda Chavez under News

Compassion for humans and dogs leads to the creation of programs to help both man and his best friend rehabilitate for better futures.

Prison bars are a common denominator for both inmates and shelter dogs. Both have led rough lives, and in most cases both have made quite a few mistakes before ending up in a cell. But the mistakes they’ve made may not determine the true character of the individual or the dog that resides within the concrete walls of these “prisons.”

Within the country’s heartland in Lansing, Kansas, a small team of animal lovers launched the Safe Harbor Prison Dogs Program in August of 2004. The program helps both shelter dogs and prisoners get a second chance at life, and gives them the opportunity to prove they’re worth the effort. Today, five years later, Safe Harbor is now in the process of rehabilitating 75 dogs with over 100 handlers from the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF).

“We’ve been involved in this pretty much seven days a week for the last five years, and we’re still having a really good time,” said Brett Petersen, Safe Harbor Campus Registered Agent and program volunteer. Their dedication brings dogs from overcrowded shelters in the Lansing area into a program that prepares them with basic obedience for sucessful adoption into happy homes.

When brought into the program, the pups are assigned to a handler (inmate) and go in to live with their trainer in dormitories within the minimum and medium security facilities at LCF. There are no specific prerequisites for the match-up, described Petersen, who then chuckled and light-heartedly went on to say, “I always get a kick out of taking the biggest dogs for the smallest dog handlers in stature.”

Size in stature really doesn’t seem to matter in the Safe Harbor program, neither does it matter one’s level of “toughness;” it’s all about the size of the heart. Via the program, the men learn to fawn over their new best friends, especially the new puppy arrivals.

“We’ve had puppies born in the prison. I have a pregnant dog at the dormitory right now and I have 12 extremely worried inmates making sure she’s taken care of,” says Petersen.
Almost an oxymoron, these “scary” prisoners held for criminal offenses are finding themselves caring for another living being, possibly for the first time. The animal’s health and development is completely in the hands of the inmate, allowing the men to slowly regain their ability to love unconditionally.

One of Safe Harbor’s veteran handlers, 37-year-old Jeff, is serving over 58 years in prison, but in the last five years he’s made a huge contribution to society, all from his jail cell. Through the program, Jeff has trained 75 shelter dogs who’ve all gone on to happy forever homes.

Jeff, who did not want to disclose his last name or criminal charges, began his prison dogs journey with two small puppies named Gypsy and Cinnamon. “The training process for them was a little hard, especially the potty training. I was in a maximum security unit and had to wait to get out of my cell to take them out at times. The staff was extremely patient though,” said Jeff about his first handler experience.

Jeff is now a pro at this, though inevitably with every new dog there are new challenges. “Right now I have an 11-month-old deaf, white Boxer. She is afraid of hand gestures (probably from being smacked around by someone who thought she could hear and was just ignoring them), so teaching her basic commands is pretty challenging.” But Jeff perseveres and loves the animals he’s worked with, which have brought him a very long way from the man he was just five short years ago.

“There’s a lot of building them up, because most of the inmates are lacking in self-esteem. Many of them are closed to love and are learning about doggie kisses for the first time. And many of them have not touched a dog in ten years,” explained Donna Shawver, Training Director for PAL Humane Society’s Prison PALs program, which includes the Building Attachments Rehabilitating Kids (B.A.R.K.) program held at the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center in Victorville, California.

Fledgling programs, both B.A.R.K. and the Federal Correctional Institute’s Prison PALs were initiated by Sister Pauline Quinn of Pathways To Hope in partnership with Katherine Schlintz, President and CEO of the PAL Humane Society. Dedicated to the power of prison dog programs, Sr. Quinn enlisted Shawver to help start this particular program in Victorville. Shawver happily and selflessly volunteered her time and expertise as a certified service dog trainer to the programs.

B.A.R.K. tries to reach youth in two ways – by teaching humane education about various animals, including dogs, and by allowing those minors who’ve earned the privilege the opportunity to participate in dog training classes.

Shawver likened the minors in this institution to the shelter dogs that come through its program. “They’re shy or they’re overaggressive, or they’re trying to be tough or they’re scared of the world.” But, despite their rough beginnings, the youth learn about responsibility and unconditional love from the dogs that Shawver and Schlintz bring into the program, and in turn the dogs learn about patience, obedience, positive reinforcement, and that humans are truly a dog’s best friend.

The minors have shown great promise and many have refused to lose their privileges when baited to fight with other youth in the facility, and Shawver says that’s a good sign.
“These kids have all committed felonies. We don’t know what the kids’ offenses are, but I can tell you right now that a nine-year-old felon has some serious stuff going on and if I can bring a dog in and affect that child in a positive way then I’ve done something good,” said Shawver.
She’s also done something good for the dogs that have graduated out of this program. Because of their basic obedience, these dogs have a stronger likelihood of staying in their forever homes. “The chances of that dog coming back to the shelter are very slim,” Shawver said. Usually, lack of obedience training is one of the main reasons a dog returns to a shelter, and this program helps shelter dogs find a home and keep it.

The prison dogs programs are prompting positive changes across the board. In the Safe Harbor program, the health of prisoners was tremendously affected by the energy of the dogs. “We have dog handlers that have medical concerns,” said Petersen. “They may be diabetic, or have chronic care issues, or may be medically unable to work. But they can take care of a dog. Then they’re outside and they’re getting more exercise. We’ve seen some decrease in medications for people who are dog handlers.” Petersen explained that some may not believe the results – even he seemed astonished by them, but that the proof was apparent.

In addition, the socialization of the dogs among people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds has actually led to increased positive socialization among inmates and even between prisoners and staff. Safe Harbor stocks treats in the prison store, and prisoners who are not in the program will purchase them to interact with the dogs, which then leads to positive interaction with the handlers, their fellow inmates.

“If you are walking a vivacious, 4-month-old boxer puppy on a leash, even the grumpiest of folks will stop and want to pet the puppy,” said Petersen with a kind laugh.

Safe harbor provides staff with free treats and it’s not uncommon to find prison personnel digging around in their pockets to treat a pooch walking by in the prison yard. “In prison, if you’re a staff person it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to have a conversation with an inmate about anything personal, but you can certainly have a conversation about a dog,” explains Petersen. The prison staff have truly embraced the program, and in fact are among the many that have adopted the dogs that have come through the prison dogs program.

The majority of the Safe Harbor dogs were on shelter death row at the top of the euthanasia list. Here, with the inmates, there’s no need to fear being put down. Truth be told, both inmates and staff are always on the dog’s side. If circumstances arise where a dog bites a handler (which is extremely rare), everyone’s quick to blame the humans.

“It’s never the dog’s fault,” says Petersen. “That’s what they tell me because they don’t want the dog to get euthanized. But we’re not about killing dogs, we’re about saving dogs.”
Sympathetic to the dogs’ plight, prisoners seem to believe whole-heartedly in giving the dogs a new “leash” on life. Inmate Jeff agreed and it’s obvious that the dogs have touched his life.
“My dogs are my best friends while they are here. They love you unconditionally and don’t ask for anything in return but love.” He went on to say that nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment felt when you’ve trained an obedient, loving pup.

To adopt the dogs in the Safe Harbor Prison Dogs program, visit them online here or call them at (913) 634-5955. Safe Harbor holds private showings of the dogs at the Lansing Correctional Facility prison yard Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Please call before attending.
To adopt the dogs in the B.A.R.K. and Prison PALs program visit them online here or call them at (760) 240-6848.

Images courtesy of Safe Harbor Prison Dogs program and Katherine Schlintz of PAL Humane Society.

What do you think about putting puppies behind bars? Tell us about it here.

Military Prisoners Training Dogs to help the Wounded Soldiers

2009-10-31T09:50:00.001-07:00

The Courage to try...

2009-08-25T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hi Sister Pauline,

I wanted to let you know about one of my pups who was slated to be a service dog/breeder. She had to be released due to prey drive, but this is what she's doing instead! She surfed with a 15 year old quadraplegic surfer, and completed the first ever tandem surfing ride between an adaptive surfer and a dog last Thursday!

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD

2009-08-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

SERVICE DOG LANCE AND HIS PARTNER ROBERT TRAINED BY PRISONERS THROUGH CANINE SUPPORT TEAMS

2009-08-21T08:23:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE

PRISON DOG PROGRAM SAGO PALM WORK CAMP ~ PAHOKEE, FLORIDA

2009-07-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Major Lori Kibler on left ~Warden Robert Shannon on right ~ trainers and pups

This is a NEW HORIZONS SERVICE DOG program in partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections where the inmates are doing a public service by helping to train future service dogs to help the disabled.

There are many disabled who waiting for a service dog to assist them and with the inmates help, more dogs are able to be ready to partner with someone who needs a dog to assist them.

Patty Armfield, an experienced dog trainer, comes twice a week to the prison to help the inmates learn dog training skills. She is teaching all aspects of dog care, which could lead further to employment once released. Her work is very much appreciated.

We need many items for this program: dog grooming supplies, crates, towels, dog toys, gift cards to buy dog food, plastic dog gates, leashes. A list of items can be obtained by contacting Janet Severt at New Horizons ~ 386 456-0408

JANET, PATTY AND THE TRAINERS

PATTY TEACHING THE MEN HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR DOG.

THEY ARE INTERESTED AND LEARN QUICKLY

LEARNING HOW TO GROOM THEIR PUPS

Reni ~ Pathways To Hope Prison Dog~Service Dog

2009-07-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility ~ PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2009-07-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 10, 2009

Prison program gives second chance for man and beast

'Another Chance for Love' pairs dogs with men incarcerated in Chino.
By SAMANTHA GOWEN

The Orange County Register
Comments 0| Recommend 0

CHINO – In the visitors' center at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility a young man sits with a small dog in his lap. He says hello in a high-pitched, sing-song voice most pet owners know well.

Squirt, a Yorkshire terrier mutt, wriggles happily and licks his face.

"If you stick around, you'll hear a lot of funny noises coming out of us," says Brandon Gilmore, laughing as he ducks another wet kiss from Squirt.

This is the beginning of a relationship that will rehabilitate both man and canine. For 10 weeks, Gilmore and Squirt will live together and learn from each other inside the walls of a facility that imprisons young men who ran afoul of the law.

Eight ill-fated dogs from the O.C. Animal Shelter in Orange arrived Friday at the correctional facility. The men, ages 19 to 23, waited anxiously for their new charges. It's been three weeks since a previous class of canines graduated from the popular program called Another Chance for Love.

Janette Thomas is the executive director of the program that pairs troubled and homeless dogs with men incarcerated with problems of their own.

"For many of these guys, it's the first time they have ever felt true love," Thomas says. The men echo her sentiments.

"I've never had this close a bond with anyone," says Josue Tellez as he strokes his assigned dog's head. Tellez of Santa Ana has been paired with Heidi, a skittish but friendly German shepherd who sticks close to his side.

It's hard to tell on arrival day who is having a better time, the men or the dogs. Smiles and happy chatter fill the yard outside the visitors' center. While beast and man get to know each other, Thomas gives these trainers – most of them veterans of program – some tips for the weekend.

"No training yet!" Thomas emphasizes. "Just get to know the dogs, and let them get to know you."

The dogs will live alongside the men 24-7 as they master behavior and training. After graduation, the dogs will be adopted to new families – minus the issues that likely sent them to the shelter in the first place.

Kevin Felan has trained six dogs with Another Chance for Love. The program veteran was given perhaps the toughest challenge: Spanky, a Cairn terrier, who struggles with control and basic dog manners.

"Love is a big part of a dog's life," Felan says. "Without the love, the dog isn't going to give love, and he's probably going to end up at a shelter."

The word love is used a lot here. Each of the eight men expresses a deep appreciation for a program that has taught them about affection, patience and parenting skills, all from four-legged fur balls.

Thomas avoids so-called bully breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers to offset any past experiences of the men. She intentionally pairs these reformed tough guys with 3-pound terriers and petite poodles, which often require a more gentle approach.

Los Angeles native Eric Alvarado has renamed his dog "Dodger." The flat-coated black retriever doesn't seem to mind. While the dog barks and strains his leash, Alvarado calmly explains how the dogs have helped reform him.

"I had no patience before this program," says Alvarado, who is training his third dog. "As much as we teach them, they teach us twice as much."

Andre Griffin sums up the experience for most of the men: "We give them another chance," he says. "I like the rehabilitation work we do here to get these dogs to new families.

"And you get a lot of love from the dogs," he says with a shy smile.

Stay tuned. The Register plans to follow the eight dogs and their trainers as they progress through the training program. You can read more online at ocregister.com/pettales.

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR LOVE ~ CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2009-06-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

Whittier Daily News, The (CA)

May 26, 2009
Dogs, youths get another chance at love Author: Bethania Palma Markus, Staff Writer

NORWALK - Dominique Perry bent down and tenderly scratched the scared, skinny dog that had just been entrusted to him.

The 18-year-old is like any other dog-loving teenager, except he's serving time for a crime at the California Youth Authority.

But because he and five other boys have demonstrated good behavior, they were selected to participate in "Another Chance for Love," a program run by dog trainer Janette Thomas in cooperation with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Downey.

Perry's main job was to teach Bella, a 1-year-old border collie mix, basic obedience and behavior to help her find a good adoptive home.

"Being out on the streets a lot of people like pit bulls," he said. "This introduces us to a lot of different kinds of dogs."

Perry said when his time at the detention center is over, he is considering adopting a shepherd breed.

Another Chance at Love takes dogs from SEAACA's shelter and places them with selected youngsters at the California Youth Authority, who then train them in basic domestic obedience. Thomas and SEAACA staff on Friday took six dogs from the shelter to the correctional facility for training.

"It's the small victories that we cherish," said SEAACA Capt. Aaron Reyes. "It's a win-win situation."

The dogs get to spend months away from the kennel, learn skills that will make them more adoptable and get socialized, he said, while the youngsters learn important lessons in being responsible.

"They basically learn life skills," Thomas said. "They learn patience, empathy, team building. They've got to do everything."

The dogs are trained by two boys, a leader and a supporter, she said. They learn through positive reinforcement methods, like toys, treats and games.

Thomas spends a couple of weeks prior to the dogs' arrival teaching the teens training, grooming and care.

The program is supported by SEAACA, which provides necessities like food, veterinary care and medicine, she said. The Youth Authority provides oversight and support as well, she added.

"It's a three-part system," she said. Thomas remains on call 24/7 in case dog-related emergencies arise.

The most difficult part of the program, Reyes said, is when the dogs have to be taken from their trainers to be placed into adoptive homes.

But there are other needy dogs waiting in the wings.

"The kids have prior exposure mostly to fighting dogs, dominated by pit bulls," Thomas said. "They haven't really had the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of a family pet."

NORWALK - Dominique Perry bent down and tenderly scratched the scared, skinny dog that had just been entrusted to him.

The 18-year-old is like any other dog-loving teenager, except he's serving time for a crime at the California Youth Authority.

But because he and five other boys have demonstrated good behavior, they were selected to participate in "Another Chance for Love," a program run by dog trainer Janette Thomas in cooperation with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Downey.

Perry's main job was to teach Bella, a 1-year-old border collie mix, basic obedience and behavior to help her find a good adoptive home.

"Being out on the streets a lot of people like pit bulls," he said. "This introduces us to a lot of different kinds of dogs."

Perry said when his time at the detention center is over, he is considering adopting a shepherd breed.

Another Chance at Love takes dogs from SEAACA's shelter and places them with selected youngsters at the California Youth Authority, who then train them in basic domestic obedience. Thomas and SEAACA staff on Friday took six dogs from the shelter to the correctional facility for training.

"It's the small victories that we cherish," said SEAACA Capt. Aaron Reyes. "It's a win-win situation."

The dogs get to spend months away from the kennel, learn skills that will make them more adoptable and get socialized, he said, while the youngsters learn important lessons in being responsible.

"They basically learn life skills," Thomas said. "They learn patience, empathy, team building. They've got to do everything."

The dogs are trained by two boys, a leader and a supporter, she said. They learn through positive reinforcement methods, like toys, treats and games.

Thomas spends a couple of weeks prior to the dogs' arrival teaching the teens training, grooming and care.

The program is supported by SEAACA, which provides necessities like food, veterinary care and medicine, she said. The Youth Authority provides oversight and support as well, she added.

"It's a three-part system," she said. Thomas remains on call 24/7 in case dog-related emergencies arise.

The most difficult part of the program, Reyes said, is when the dogs have to be taken from their trainers to be placed into adoptive homes.

But there are other needy dogs waiting in the wings.

"The kids have prior exposure mostly to fighting dogs, dominated by pit bulls," Thomas said. "They haven't really had the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of a family pet."

PRISON DOG RENI ~ HELPS MANY PEOPLE

2009-05-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

A wonderful dog named Reni was given to the Pathways To Hope prison dog project by a breeder of Dobermans named Doris Molin at Mikadobe Kennels in Georgia. Reni grew up to be a beautiful dog, taking after her father a famous Doberman from Argentina named Inaqui. Pictures of Inaqui and the Black Shadow Kennels in Argentina CLICK HERE.. AND the Mikadobe Kennels CHICK HERE

RENI

Reni playing with the prison dogs at Cumberland

Federal Prison in Maryland

Reni at a Florida prison walking with the Warden

Reni at the California Youth Authority prison

Reni at the California Institution for Men

Reni with her boy friend Nicky

Reni at the California Institution for Women

Reni visiting a school for special needs children

Reni and her friend Nicky.. and guess who is the boss?
Reni and her friend Nicky

2009-05-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

Prison Dog Programs
Rebecca L. Rhoades

Sentence for Salvation

Behind the walls of correctional institutions, inmates find a renewed sense of purpose through working with injured and rescued animals.

In our nation’s correctional system, more than one million men, women and young adults are living their lives in confinement. They’re there for a variety of reasons—anger, drug abuse, robbery, murder—but in time, most will get a chance at a better future. Meanwhile, 15 million prisoners of a different sort are facing a possible death sentence. They’re animals with whom we share our world—dogs, cats, horses and even wildlife. They’ve committed no crime, but they will be punished unless someone steps forward and gives them a second chance at life.

Both groups face isolation and rejection, but when their paths merge, they often give each other hope, as one prisoner becomes the salvation of the other.

Death Row Dogs

At the Ashland County (OH) Humane Society, Taffy is just days away from euthanasia. The young blue heeler/beagle mix needs obedience training and socialization, and his luck is running out.

A few days later, Taffy is relaxing in the cell of Eric Roberson, an inmate at the Mansfield Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Ohio. Taffy and Roberson are one of almost 30 inmate/shelter dog pairs participating in the Tender Loving Dog Care program at Mansfield. The program provides the inmates with the opportunity to train and socialize otherwise doomed dogs, who are then adopted into good homes.

Roberson, who is serving 24 years for a 1992 murder conviction, has been in the program since Jesse Williams, deputy warden, special services, introduced it in 1998. He’s given a new life to 22 dogs; an additional 200 have also been saved.

“These dogs didn’t fit into society or they failed to meet the standards of somebody out there,” says Roberson. “They’re just like us. By working with the dogs, we’re giving them a chance to get back to a life that some of us might never see.”

Once matched with a dog, the inmates are fully responsible for the dog’s care: feeding, grooming, housebreaking, obedience training. After a few months of round-the-clock care, the dogs are ready for adoption. And according to Williams, there’s a waiting list “a mile long” of families waiting to adopt one of these special dogs.

Soon Taffy, like the other Mansfield dogs once sentenced to die, will find a new home. That time often comes too soon for the men who train and bond with them. “It’s like saying goodbye to your best friend,” says Roberson.

Where the Wild Things Are

In Marysville, OH, Sharon Young is serving time for aggravated murder. Once an angry woman, she had little compassion for other beings. “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have wanted me near your pets,” she says. Now she is responsible for almost 400 animals each year.
On any given day at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, the basement of the housing unit is filled with injured or orphaned wild birds, squirrels, opossums, ducks and rabbits. Citizens rescue the animals and give them to the Ohio Wildlife Center (OWC), a private rescue organization that, in turn, sends them to the ORW to recover.

In 1994, Sue Anderson, a longtime volunteer at the OWC, was overwhelmed by the work of caring for the 4,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals who came through the center each year. When a friend who worked in the Ohio prison system suggested a partnership, Anderson jumped at the opportunity.

Inmates in the program are trained by Anderson to care for the various animals, and with the help of detailed guidebooks, they provide 24-hour nursing care. The women have to learn about the proper diet for each animal, which can include hand-feeding mealworms to birds, and such difficult techniques as tube-feeding baby opossums. As program aide, Young oversees all of the program’s activities, from documenting the intake and release of each animal to monitoring feeding schedules and keeping health records.

Once recovered, the animals are returned to the wild. “Our goal is to get as many animals healthy and back into their natural habitats as we can,” says Young. “It’s difficult to see them go, but it makes you feel proud to know that you’ve done something good and really miraculous.”

Recently, OWC expanded its program into the Marion (OH) Correctional Institution, a men’s facility.

On the Right Track

It’s tempting to wonder if the lives of the men and women who participate in animal welfare programs behind bars would have been different if they’d had such opportunities during their youth. Monique Koehler, founder of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), believes the answer is yes.

In 1994, Koehler helped launch a program at the Charles H. Hickey School in Baltimore, MD, a residential institution for young men ages 12 to 20 that pairs troubled students with retired thoroughbreds. The Hickey program is modeled on one that TRF started at Wallkill (NY) State Correctional Institution in 1983. “We need to seize the opportunity to let the animals help these kids find something good in the world,” says Koehler.

“When I came here, I had an anger problem,” says Samuel H., age 16. “Working with the horses has really helped me out. It’s given me a good perspective on animals, on how to treat them properly.” For Allen R., also 16, the program offers something to look forward to each day. “You really want to get out there and work. I’d never been around an adult horse before. I like working with them.”

As part of the Hickey School’s only “living” classroom, the students are responsible for all aspects of care for the farm’s 29 horses. They feed them, groom them, exercise them, tend to their injuries and study their physiology. “A lot of the horses come from the racetracks,” says farm manager Andre Wheeler. “Some are in great shape, some are in poor condition, some are maybe a week or two away from dying when we get them. It’s the care of these young men that helps turn these horses around.”

Similar programs are in place at the Blackburn Correctional Complex in Lexington, KY, and at Marion County Correctional Institution in Ocala, FL.

Big-House Hounds

Each year, more than 24,000 greyhounds are retired from the racing circuit, according to the National Greyhound Association. Some are adopted as pets through rescue groups, but many more are euthanized. In Kansas, a lucky few go to prison.
About one year ago, Rich Booher, a corrections counselor at Ellsworth Correctional Facility, saw a local news report about racing greyhounds who were going to be euthanized. Since the inmates at Ellsworth were already training assistance dogs for Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services, Booher suggested fostering greyhounds and training them for adoption.

“There was a need,” says Booher. “We’re always looking for ways for our inmates to give back to society, and thousands of greyhounds are put down every year.” So Booher contacted Deborah Sanford of TLC Greyhound Adoption, and soon greyhounds were frolicking with inmates in the recreation yard and sleeping in cells. Each hound has a primary and a secondary handler, who teach the dog house manners and basic obedience. Most hounds leave the program after six to eight weeks knowing how to walk nicely on a lead and respond to commands such as sit, stay, down and come.

Almost immediately, other facilities within the Kansas Department of Corrections were inquiring about fostering greyhounds, and the program quickly spread to the Hutchinson and El Dorado facilities. Currently, some 30 greyhounds are being cared for in the Kansas system.

“We’re able to accomplish a great deal with the dogs because we’re with them 24 hours a day,” says Booher. “If you have that much time to devote to an animal, there’s a lot of reinforcement, and they learn very rapidly.”

Recently the Hutchinson facility expanded its animal welfare programs to include gentling and socializing wild horses in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Wild Horse and Burro Program. “BLM has quite an effort going on to adopt out these horses,” says Sam Cline, deputy warden. “But they’re usually difficult to adopt because they haven’t had much training. We’re working with the horses to make it easier and safer to place them with somebody in the public.”

Since summer 2000, participating inmates have worked diligently at building barns and stables, fencing in paddocks, laying rock to create roadways and hauling supplies and equipment. In March 2001, Hutchinson received its first shipment of 100 horses.
“We’re saving horses and changing men,” says Cline. “That capsulizes what we’re trying to do.”

New Leash on Life

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in Phoenix, AZ, offers a variety of often-controversial programs designed to rehabilitate its inmates—tent communities, chain gangs, pink underwear—but in May 2000, Sheriff Joe Arpaio decided to open one of his jails to help rehabilitate some of the silent victims.

With space at local shelters at a premium, the sheriff’s office needed to find additional housing for the animals seized by its Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit. The 30-year-old First Avenue Jail, no longer used to house inmates due to plumbing problems, provided a solution.

Known as the MCSO Animal Safe Hospice (MASH), the facility houses dogs, cats, ducks and other animals until their cases have been adjudicated and they’re able to be adopted out to the public. Each dog has a private cell, while the cats live communally in one of the day rooms. So far, about 90 animals have been through the MASH program.

Caring for the animals are women who are serving their time in the tent cities. For 12-hour shifts, the inmates work with the animals, tending wounds and illnesses, cleaning cages, teaching basic obedience commands and helping them overcome fear and aggression.

“It gives the women a sense of accomplishment when they can help an animal overcome his problems,” says section commander Sgt. Dave Williams. “At the same time, the animal is helping them overcome their problems.” One inmate was asked how she felt about living in a tent while the animals live in air-conditioned quarters. “They didn’t do anything wrong,” she replied. “I did.”

After the case is adjudicated and the animals have recovered from their injuries, they are spayed or neutered and put up for adoption. MASH is a no-kill shelter, and all of the animals remain in the care of the inmates until they can be placed in suitable homes.

As animal welfare programs continue to grow within the U.S. system of corrections, there are those who believe that such programs place the animals in danger and shouldn’t exist. But the benefits far outweigh any potential, and to date unfounded, negative effects. “Correctional institutions provide an ideal environment to change [animal] behavior,” says Stephanie LaFarge, Ph.D., director of ASPCA counseling services. “The animal doesn’t feel like he’s in jail…just the opposite. What we think of as a negative environment, the animal thinks is wonderful.

“Animal advocates need to support these programs,” LaFarge continues. “They’re helping animals who are otherwise relatively undesirable, and giving them a good chance at a new and better life.”

As testament to the rehabilitative properties of such programs, more and more correctional institutions are realizing what Jesse Williams of Mansfield has known all along—that these programs not only provide training and socialization for the animals, but also for the prisoners.

“Anything that’s good is hard to keep to yourself,” says Williams. “But these programs do a lot of good things, not only for the animals and for the inmates, but for the communities as a whole.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tender Loving Dog Care Adoptions~ Mansfield Correctional Institution P.O. Box 788, Mansfield, OH 44901(419) 525-4455, ext. 2010

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

PMB 351450 Shrewsbury PlazaShrewsbury, NJ 07702-4332www.trfinc.org

TLC Greyhound Adoption 323 2400 Avenue, Solomon, KS 67480(785) 655-2208www.tlcgreyhoundadoption.com

Maricopa County Sheriff's OfficeAnimal Safe Hospice(602) 256-1923www.mcso.org

Ohio Wildlife Center 2661 Billingsley Rd.Columbus, OH 43235www.ohiowildlifecenter.org

Female prisoners in Gatesville train dogs to work with disabled vets

2009-05-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

STATE OF OHIO PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2009-05-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Community Service - Dog Program

Address
770 West Broad StreetColumbus, Ohio 43222
Phone
614-752-1091

Many institutions participate in Inmate Community Service Dog Programs, including training and caring for puppies and dogs for programs that assist persons who are physically and/or visually impaired.

Allen Correctional Institution

Program
Pets Educated to Survive (PETS)
Description
Trains and socializes abandoned or surrendered animals through Angels for Animals Rescue League. Dogs receive basic obedience training which will hopefully make them more adoptable when returned to the rescue.
Adoption Through
Angels for Animals
Cost
$125 and includes spay/neuter, vaccines, microchipping, 45 days free pet insurance.
Partner Contact
Sandee Laing (419) 339-9408 or angelsforanimals@gmail.com
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH211&sort=&preview=1
Prison Contact
Vern Bill Pugsley (419) 224-8000 or vern.pugsley@odrc.state.oh.us
Adoption Through

Belmont Correctional Institution

Program
Golden Endings
Description
Rescues neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs and provides obedience training.
Adoption Through
Golden Endings Rescue League
Cost
$75 to $200 includes spay and all shots.
Partner Contact
Marsha Sines (740) 859-2255
Web Address
http://www.goldenendings.org/
Prison Contact
Sandra Presley at 740-695-5169, Ext. 3903 or Sandra.Presley@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Save a Puppy
Description
Rescues neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs and provides obedience training.
Adoption Through
Belmont County Animal Rescue League
Cost
$85 application approval.
Partner Contact
Belmont County Animal Rescue League (740) 695-4798
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?action=1&pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=&pet.Size=&pet.Sex=&location=43950&preview=1&scope=2&x=21&y=9
Prison Contact
Shane at 740-695-5169, Ext. 3400 or mailto:Sandra.Presley@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Love at First Sight Rescue League
Description
Provides obedience training for greyhounds.
Adoption Through
Love at First Sight Rescue League
Cost
$250
Partner Contact
Barbara Dorsey: (330) 637-5228 or lafs@yahoo.com
Prison Contact
Sandra Presley at 740-695-5169, Ext. 3903 or Sandra.Presley@odrc.state.oh.us [Back to top]

Chillicothe Correctional Institution

Program (1)
Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption (ATRA) Inc.
Description
Trains rescued animal shelter dogs in basic obedience.
Adoption
Through ATRA
Cost
$300 to $400 purebred rescue online adoption only.
Web Address
http://www.aire-rescue.com/
Prison Contact
Jaime (740) 774-7080, Ext. 2136 or Jaime.glandon@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Purebred Rescue Organization
Description
Trains rescued animal shelter dogs in basic obedience.
Adoption
Through Purebred Rescue Organization
Cost
Application available online. Adoption Cost $200
Partner Contact
Purebred Rescue Organization (866) 841-9137, Ext. 1233
Web Address
www.purebredrescueorganization.com/
Prison Contact
Jaime (740) 774-7080, Ext. 2136 or Jaime.glandon@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Zanesville Animal Shelter Society
Description
Trains rescued animal shelter dogs in basic obedience.
Adoption Through
Zanesville Animal Shelter Society
Cost
$150
Partner Contact
Becky Kelson (740) 452-1077
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=Dog&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH181&sort=pet.Identifier&preview=1
Prison Contact
Jaime (740) 774-7080, Ext. 2136 or Jaime.glandon@odrc.state.oh.uss

Correctional Medical Center

Program
Eskies Behind Bars
Description
Houses Eskimos, full and mixed breed for Tender Loving Canine Rescue to assist in successful adoptions.
Adoption Through
Tender Loving Canine Rescue
Cost
$100 to $300 includes spay and current shots and vaccinations.
Partner Contact
Don and Tracie Cobb (614) 519-5705
Web Address
http://www.tlcrescue.com/
Prison Contact
Denise Larson (614) 445-5960, Ext. 2701 ormailto:denise.larson@ODRC.state.oh.us

Corrections Reception Center

Program
Golden Endings Golden Retriever Rescue
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions
Adoption Through
Golden Endings
Cost
$200
Partner Contact
Kay Hirsch (614) 488-4966
Web Address
http://www.goldenendings.org/
Prison Contact
Dianna Prater or Michelle McCollister (614) 877-2441, Ext. 7323 or mailto:dianna.prater@odrc.state.oh.us michelle.mccollister@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Buckeye Border Collie Rescue
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions.
Adoption Through
Buckeye Border Collie Rescue - $200
Cost
$200
Partner Contact
Wanda Heyman (419) 447-8095
Web Address
www.buckeyebcrescue.org/index.html
Prison Contact
Dianna Prater or Michelle McCollister (614) 877-2441, Ext. 7323 or mailto:dianna.prater@odrc.state.oh.us michelle.mccollister@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Citizens for Humane Action
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions.
Adoption Through
Citizens for Humane Action
Cost
$90
Partner Contact
Shuralee Laidley (614) 891-5280
Web Address
http://www.chaanimalshelter.org/
Prison Contact
Dianna Prater or Michelle McCollister (614) 877-2441, Ext. 7323 or mailto:dianna.prater@odrc.state.oh.us michelle.mccollister@odrc.state.oh.us
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Fairfield Area Humane Society
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions
Adoption Through
Fairfield Area Humane Society
Cost
$90
Partner Contact
Bree Lambert (740) 687-0627
Web Address
http://www.fairhumane.org/
Prison Contact
Dianna Prater or Michelle McCollister (614) 877-2441, Ext. 7323 or mailto:dianna.prater@odrc.state.oh.us michelle.mccollister@odrc.state.oh.us

Dayton Correctional Institution

Program
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Description
Trains retired greyhounds for family adoption.
Adoption Through
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Cost
Adoption fee $200; $100 non-refundable
Partner Contact
Pam Voss(877) 842 6446 or nettienvanilla@yahoo.com
Web Address
http://www.teamgreyhound.com/
Prison Contact
Virgil 263-0058, Ext. 3217 or mailto:Virgil.Oattes@odrc.state.oh.us

Franklin Pre-Release Center

Program
Pilot Dogs, Inc.
Description
Puppies are trained to assist the hearing and/or visually impaired. They learn socialization and basic commands.
Adoption Through
Please contact Pilot Dogs, Inc., 625 West Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Cost
$75
Partner Contact
Toni Gray (614) 449-2136
Prison Contact
Ann Hawke (614) 445-8600, ext. 2256 or mailto:Ann.Hawke@odrc.state.oh.us?subject=Pilot

Grafton Correctional Institution

Program
Love-A-Pup
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions.
Adoption Through
Lorain County Animal Protection League (APL)
Cost
$70 includes spay, first set of shots, worming, and veterinarian exam.
Partner Contact
Denise Willis (440) 322-4321
Web Address
http://www.friendshipapl.org/ or http://www.petfinder.com/
Prison Contact
Venessa Shepherd (440)748-1161, Ext. 392 or mailto:Venessa.Shepherd@odrc.state.oh.us

Hocking Correctional Facility

Program
Avalon Animal Rescue
Description
Trains dogs in obedience for family adoptions.
Adoption Through
Avalon Animal Rescue
Cost
$130; all adoptions require a home visit and a vet reference.
Partner Contact
Carol Lambert (740) 448-7339 or acramer@frognet.net
Web Address
www.petfinder.org/shelters/OH261.html
Prison Contact
Anne Richardson, (740) 753-1917 Ext. 251
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Canine Companions for Independence
Description
Trains dogs in obedience training for family adoptions.
Adoption Through
Canine Companions for Independence. To apply for a Canine Companion, call 1-800-572-2275.
Cost
Assistance dogs $100. Release dogs (those that did not meet program criteria) no cost. However, donations accepted.
Partner Contact
Suzanne Sliclen (800) 572-2275, 740- 548-4447(Voice/TTY), or mailto:ssliclen@cci.org
Web Address
http://www.caninecompanions.org/
Prison Contact
William ) 753-1917, Ext. 225 or mailto:William.Hanna@odrc.state.oh.us [

Lake Erie Correctional Institution

Program
Pound Puppy
Description
Trains dogs in obedience training for family adoptions
Adoption Through
Animal Protection League (APL).
Cost
Adoption fee $100
Prison Contact
Shannon Otto at (440) 599-5000, Ext. 5551, or mailto:Shannon.otto@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Ashtabula County Animal Protective League, Peggy Taylor at (440)224-1222
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/ [

Lebanon Correctional Institution

Program
Description
Train dogs for service work (i.e. handicap, nursing homes, etc) and basic obedience for adoption to private homes.
Adoption
Through Circle Tail, Inc.
Cost
$95.00 and up, depending on the level of training of the dog.
Prison Contact
Sharon James at (513) 932-1211, or Sharon.James@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Circle Tail, Inc. Marlys Staley, 513-877-3325, e-mail mailto:Marlys@circletail.org
Web Address
http://www.circletail.org/

London Correctional Institution

Program
Circle Tail, Inc.
Description
Train dogs for service work (i.e. handicap, nursing homes, etc) and basic obedience for adoption to private homes.
Adoption Through
Circle Tail, Inc.
Cost
$95.00 and up, depending on the level of training of the dog.
Prison Contact
Sonja Holcomb, Birch Unit, at (740) 852-245, Ext. 4210
Partner Contact
Circle Tail, Inc. Marlys Staley, 513-877-3325, e-mail Marlys@circletail.org
Web Address
http://www.circletail.org/
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Pure Bred Rescue (P.R.O.)
Description
Trains dogs in obedience training for family adoptions
Adoption Through
Pure Bred Rescue (P.R.O.), Lori Blackburn, P.O. Box 88, Bellbrook, Ohio 45305
Cost
$200 - $250
Prison Contact
Sonja Holcomb, Birch Unit, at (740) 852-2454 Ext. 4210
Partner Contact
Lori Blackburn at (866) 841-9137
Web Address
http://www.purebredrescueorganization.com/

Lorain Correctional Institution

Program
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Description
Trains retired greyhounds for family adoption
Adoption Through
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Cost
Adoption fee $200, $100 non-refundable
Prison Contact
Roberta Winkle, at (440) 748-1040
Partner Contact
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Pam Voss at (877) 842 6446 or nettienvanilla@yahoo.com
Web Address
http://www.teamgreyhound.com/

Madison Correctional Institution

Program
Fresh Start Program
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Madison County Humane Society
Cost
$90 adoption fee, $12 license fee, includes spay or neuter, one-year rabies, and current shots and vaccinations
Prison Contact(s)
Mike Reger at (740) 8852-9777, Ext. 2479, or Michael.reger@odrc.state.oh.us or Christa Hackworth at 740) 885-9777, Ext. 2672, or mailto:christa.Hackworth@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Fresh Start, Madison County Humane Society
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH36&sort=pet.Identifier&preview=1

Mansfield Correctional Institution

Program (1)
Tender Loving Dog Care (TLDC)
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Ashland County Humane Society
Cost
$125
Prison Contact
Roma Paulsen at (419) 526-2000, Ext. 2023, or mailto:Roma.Paulsen@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Ashland County Humane Society, Brenda Kaufman at (419) 289-0122
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Team Greyhound
Description
Foster and train retired greyhounds for family adoption
Adoption Through
Cost
$200 application fee, $100 non-refundable. Older dogs, $125.
Prison Contact
Roma Paulsen at (419) 526-2000, Ext. 2023, or mailto:Roma.Paulsen@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Team Greyhound Adoptions of Ohio
Web Address
http://www.teamgreyhound.com/

Marion Correctional Institution

Program
Pound Puppies
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Marion Correctional Institution
Cost
$100
Prison Contact
Chris Needham at (740) 382-5781, or Christine.Needham@odrc.state.oh.us
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/
Partner Contact
Zanesville Animal Shelter
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Animal Shelter Society
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Humane Society and Zanesville Animal Shelter via Marion Correctional Institution
Cost
$100
Prison Contact
Chris Needham at (740) 382-5781, or Christine.Needham@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Through institution
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/

Montgomery Education and Pre-Release Center

Program
Pilot Dog
Description
Trains dog for the visually and hearing impaired
Adoption Through
Pilot Dogs, Inc., 550 Stimmel Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43223
Cost
Donation fee of $75.00
Prison Contact
Cedric Tolbert, MEPRC Recreation Director, P.O. Box 17399, Dayton, Ohio 45417, (937) 262-9853, Ext. 2254. or mailto:Cedric.Tolbert@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Pilot Dogs, Inc.,Laura Schott, (614) 449-2136
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/

Noble Correctional Institution
Program
Cell Dogs
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
County partners Muskingum, Guernsey, Monroe, Tuscarawas and Perry
Cost
$35 adoption fee, includes shots, food and other essentials
Prison Contact
Margaret Mace at (740) 732-5188, Ext. 3822; or Michelle Richards at (740) 732-5188, Ext.3912
Partner Contact
Muskingum county, The Animal Shelter Society Inc, Betty at (740) 452-1077; Guernsey County, Pound Partners, Barb McDonald at (740) 439-5505 or Birgit Jackson at (740) 260-2536, or birgit@core.com; Monroe County, Alicia at (740) 934-2740; Tuscarawas county (n/a), and Perry County Tom Altier at (740) 342-2642.
Web Address
http://www.petfinders.com/

North Central Correctional Institution

Program
Pilot Dog
Description
Trains dog for the visually and hearing impaired
Adoption Through
Pilot Dogs, Inc., 550 Stimmel Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43223
Cost
Donation fee of $75.00
Prison Contact
Marth Jerew at (740)387-7040, Ext. 2170, or Marth.Jerew@odrc.state.oh.us; or Theresa Jolliff at (740) 387-7040, or mailto:Theresa.Jolliff@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Pilot Dogs, Inc.,Laura Schott, (614) 449-2136
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/

North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility

Program
Pound Puppy Programs
Description
Adoption Through
Lorain County SPCA
Cost
Varies
Prison Contact
Erin (440) 748-5000, Ext. 2025; or Ehoak@mtctrains.com
Partner Contact
Lorain County SPCA, Sherre Manfull, (440) 748-3818
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/[Back to top]
Northeast Pre-Release Center
Program (1)
Lake County Humane Society
Description
Foster, domesticate, and nurse back to health, abandoned and or abused cats, kittens, dogs, or puppies for family adoption.
Adoption Through
Lake County Humane Society
Cost
Kittens under 6 months, $95; puppies, $125; over 6 months to 6 years, kittens $65, dogs $85.75; more than 6 years, kittens, $50, puppies, $65.75.
Prison Contact
Susan za at (216) 771-6460, Ext. 2603, or mailto:Susan.Sapienza@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Contact the institution
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=MN185&sort=&preview=1
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Safety for Animals and Families in Emergencies (SAFE)
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
SAFE
Cost
Will accept donations
Prison Contact
Susan Sapienza at (216) 771-6460, Ext. 2603, or mailto:Susan.Sapienza@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Contact prison
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Working Animals Giving Service (WAGS)
Description
Foster and train dogs for disabled children
Adoption Through
No adoptions
Cost
N/A
Prison Contact
Susan Sapienza at (216) 771-6460, Ext. 2603, or mailto:Susan.Sapienza@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Contact prison
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/

Oakwood Correctional Facility

Program
Oakwood Dog Harbor Program
Description
Trains rescued dogs from area shelters in obedience training
Adoption
Through Area Humane Societies
Cost
Adoption fee ranges from $55-$100
Prison Contact
Dirk D. Esmonde at (419) 225-8052, Ext. 3005, or Karen.esmonde@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Allen County Dog Warden, Angels For Animals, Shelby County Humane Society, Hand Me Down Dobes, Lots of Love Rescue, Auglaize County Humane Society
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/

Ohio Reformatory for Women

Program (1)
Circle Tails
Description
Trains dogs for family adoptions and service dogs
Adoption Through
Circle Tail, Inc.
Cost
Adoption fee $95.00 and up, depending on the level of training.
Prison Contact
Jill Schweitzer at 937-642-1065, ext 2072 (must go through prison operator) or Jill.Schweitzer@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Circle Tail, Inc. Marlys Staley, 513-877-3325, e-mail Marlys@circletail.org
Web Address
http://www.circletail.org/
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Second Chance Dogs
Description
Trains retired greyhounds for family adoption
Adoption Through
Team Greyhound Adoptions of Ohio, Inc.
Cost
$100 non-refundable deposit included in $200 adoption fee
Prison Contact
Sgt. McGraw at 937-642-1065, ext. 3085 (must go through prison operator) or Cathy.McGraw@odrc.state.oh.us
Web Address
http://www.teamgreyhound.com/
Partner Contact
Pam Voss at 877-842-6446 (Team Greyhound Adoptions of Ohio) or nettienvanilla@yahoo.com

Ohio State Penitentiary

Program
Angels For Animals
Description
Trains dogs in obedience training for family adoptions
Adoption Through
Angels For Animals
Cost
$100 adoption fee
Prison Contact
Twila Swarthout at (330) 743-0700, Ext. 6000, or mailto:Twila.Swarthout@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Angels For Animals at 4750 State Rt. 165, Canfield, Ohio 44406, or (330)-549-1111
Web Address
http://www.angelsforanimals.org/

Pickaway Correctional Institution

Program
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Description
Trains retired greyhounds for family adoption
Adoption Through
Team Greyhound of Ohio Inc.
Cost
Prison Contact
Sherri Tillett at (614) 877-4362, Ext. 515, or Sherri.Tillett@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Pam Voss at (877) 842 6446 or nettienvanilla@yahoo.com
Web Address
http://www.teamgreyhound.com/

Richland Correctional Institution

Program (1)
Pound Puppy Program
Description
Trains dogs for family placement
Adoption Through
Mid Ohio Animal Welfare League (contact: 419-566-3898)
Cost
Prison Contact
Debra Wipert at (419) 526-2100, or Debra.Wipert@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Mid Ohio Animal Welfare League, Carla DeWitt at (419) 566-3898, or cdewitt@neo.rr.com
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH518&sort=&preview=1
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Pound Puppy Program
Description
Trains dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Logan County Shelter at (937) 593-4277
Cost
$75
Prison Contact
Debra Wipert at (419) 526-2100, or Debra.Wipert@odrc.state.oh.us
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH205&sort=&preview=1
Partner Contact
Becki Kelson (740) 452-1077 or Lori Merritt, at (740) 297-1080, or Becki@globalco.net
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Pound Puppy Program
Description
Trains dogs for family adoption (740) 297-1080
Adoption Through
Kind Hands 4 PAWS
Cost
$75
Prison Contact
Debra Wipert at (419) 526-2100, or Debra.Wipert@odrc.state.oh.us
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH518&sort=&preview=1

Ross Correctional Institution

Southeastern Correctional Institution

Program
Athens County Dog Shelter
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Hocking County Dog Shelter
Cost
$50 application fee
Prison Contact
Darrell Cunningham at (740) 653-4324, Ext. 2200
Partner Contact
Don Crager at (740) 385-2319
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH188&sort=&preview=1
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Perry County Humane Society
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Perry County Humane Society
Cost
$50 application fee
Prison Contact
Darrell Cunningham at (740) 653-4324, Ext. 2200
Partner Contact
Don Crager at (740) 385-2319
Web Address
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=OH260&sort=&preview=1

Toledo Correctional Institution

Program
Assistance Living Dogs
Description
Foster and train dogs for the disabled
Adoption Through
N/A
Cost
N/A
Prison Contact
Linda Meeks at (419) 426-7977, Ext 7234, or Linda.Meeks@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. (ADAI), Chris Diefenthaler, Executive Director at (419) 825-3622
Web Address
http://www.adai.org/

Trumbull Correctional Institution

Program
Rose's Rescue
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
Rose's Rescue
Cost
$95.00
Prison Contact
Sharon Chilson (330) 898-0820 Ext. 2041
Partner Contact
Rose's Rescue
Web Address
http://www.rosesrescue.org/
* * * * * * * * * *

Program
Trumbull County Animal Welfare League
Description
Foster and train abandoned dogs for family adoption
Adoption Through
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH282.html
Cost
Prison Contact
Sharon Chilson (330) 898-0820 Ext. 2041
Partner Contact
330-399-2086
Web Address
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH282.html

Warren Correctional Institution

Program
4 PAWS For Ability
Description
Provides obedience training and placement of service dogs for family placement or for people with disabilities. A large majority of the 4PAWS dogs go to children with autism. The goals of 4 PAWS is to provide everyone defined with as disabled with a service dog, reduce the number of unwanted animals and increase public awareness of the laws regarding service animals and those defined as disabled.
Adoption Through
4 PAWS For Ability.
Cost
Adoption fees vary, usually around $125-175.00-includes spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. License fee NOT included.
Prison Contact
Doris Baker, (614) 513-932-3388, Ext. 2242, Doris.Baker@odrc.state.oh.us
Partner Contact
4 PAWS For Ability, Karen Shirk, 937-374-0385, http://www.4pawsforability.org/ or Karen4paws@aol.com
Web Address
http://www.4pawsforability.org/ [Back to top]

DOGS TRAINED TO AID WOUNDED

2009-05-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Search for Military News:

Dogs Trained to Aid Wounded

Sgt. Shaft June 25, 2007
Dear Sgt. Shaft:

If you or your readers know of any wounded soldier who could benefit by having a dog — trained by prisoners at the California Institution for Women in Southern California as well as other "prison-dog programs" across the country — to assist them, please let me know.

There are prison-dog programs in all parts of the country. After the start of the first school and others after, the idea caught on. The dogs are given to the wounded veteran free of charge. They will be taught how to handle the dog, care for him or her and find new independence partnered with their canine friends, who can go in all public places.

One of the programs is known as Dog Bless America. This program is expanding the vision to include America's current veteran heroes. By combining their efforts with Pathways to Hope, the prison-dog program and many of the Veterans Affairs organizations across the country have created a win/win/win situation.

In 1981, Sister Pauline Quinn started the prison-dog program in Washington state, rescuing shelter dogs and bringing them into the prison, where inmates trained them to assist the handicapped. The inmates learned responsibility through the care and training of these special dogs.

Sister Pauline has started Pathways to Hope, a nonprofit organization that helps other prisons and service-dog groups start prison-dog programs.

Pathways to Hope identifies the programs and dogs to be matched with the veterans. Pathways receives funds from Dog Bless America, money that is then given to a particular prison program that can match and place a service dog to help a wounded soldier.

I am asking you and your readers to help us communicate this program to the people in need of these services. We will attempt to match them with a special service dog. Sister Pauline and Pathways will handle the initial contact, and each prison program has its own screening process.

The points of contact are: srpauline@pathwaystohope.org

http://prisondogs.shutterfly.com pathwaystohope.blogspot.com and Chris Gaba

Chris Gaba

Dear Chris:
I am happy to help get the word out on this wonderful program. Sgt. Shaft

WHAT ARE PRISON DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS?

2009-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

DWIGHT CORRECTIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN

Dwight, Illinois

What Are Prison Dog Training Programs?

CONTACT srpauline@pathwaystohope.org

Prison dog training programs are programs which bring dogs into prisons so that prisoners can train them. These programs have a number of important functions, from training dogs so that they are suitable for adoption to providing prisoners with therapeutic experiences, and they have become quite popular in some regions of the world. A typical prison dog training program involves at least one animal welfare organization or a service dog school and a prison, and sometimes multiple dog rescues and training organizations will cooperate to ensure that the program is a success.

From the point of view of animal welfare organizations, prison dog training programs give dogs a better chance at finding homes, or helping the handicapped to receive their specially trained dog by giving the dogs extra time in training. While in the program, the dogs will learn basic canine manners, becoming skilled at interacting with other dogs and obeying commands from their handlers, and the dogs often become calmer and more friendly as a result of focused handling.

Service dog schools have many clients waiting to receive their special dog and the prison dog programs help these organizations train these special dogs to cut down the waiting time.

The inmates also have the time to work with the dog all day because the dog lives with the inmates. Also, for the dog dog rescues program in prisons, the lack the time to dedicate extensive resources to every single dog in their care, prison dog training programs allow these organizations to farm out some of the work, making dogs more adoptable and meeting the primary goals of these organizations.

Prisons also benefit from prison dog training programs. Behavioral problems tend to decrease dramatically when prisoners are involved in such programs, and the prison also experiences improved public relations as a result of the program. Participating in a rehabilitative program can also give a prison access to grant money and other assistance which might not be available under normal conditions.

Prisoners in prison dog training programs learn skills, in the form of dog training, but they also benefit emotionally from their participation. Interacting with animals has been shown to have therapeutic value in a wide variety of settings, and prison is no different. Some prisoners feel isolated in prison, and connecting with a dog can help dispel that isolation, promoting a more healthy mental state on the part of prisoners and encouraging prisoners to work hard and take their experiences with them when they leave prison. Prison dog training programs also help prisoners with boredom and restlessness, two common problems in prison but they also give the inmates an oppertunity to 'give back' to our communities.

Competition among prisoners for the honor of participating in prison dog training programs can get fierce. Most prisons only allow model prisoners to participate in such programs, taking away the privilege if a prison violates prison rules. Prisoners have an incentive to behave well to stay in the program, and other prisoners often follow their example in the hopes of being allowed to work with the dogs as well, making the prison calmer and easier to live and work in.

PRISON DOG PROGRAM ~ AUSTRALIA ~ TRAINING DOGS TO HELP THE BLIND

2009-05-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

VIDEO ~ PAWS IN PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2009-05-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

PAWS IN PRISON is in Lockhart, Texas that allows female inmates to train and adopt out dogs to the community.

PRISON DOG PROGRAM ~ FORMOSA

2009-05-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Sentient World of Animals

Prison Dog Program Benefits Inmates and Stray Dogs
By Hsinchu News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

Warden Huang and the stray dogs he cares for
Mr. Huang Rong-rui, the warden of Hsinchu Prison, loves dogs. After his pet dog died, he turned his attention to stray dogs, befriending the four-legged friends that wander around the prison premises. In time, the dogs began to show up regularly at a chosen site, waiting to be fed. Warden Huang once saw a TV program on how a US prison allowed inmates to raise and train stray dogs. This inspired him to create a first-of-its-kind prison in Formosa that offers shelter to stray animals and places inmates in charge of feeding, managing and training them. He hoped that through interaction with animals, inmates could learn self-control, emotion management and respect for life. The trained dogs could be made available for adoption and this would help take care of the problem of stray dogs as well.

The plan received immediate, overwhelming support from the Formosan Animal-Assisted Activity and Therapy Association (FAAATA), which helps choose suitable dogs from animal shelters and provides professional instruction to interested inmates on how to take care of them.

The inmates first built a kennel by welding scrap metals together. The prison then organized a training program for seven selected inmates who loved dogs or were experienced in raising dogs, and assigned a dog to each of them. Professional FAAATA instructors currently hold weekly classes for the inmates on dog-caring and training.

Over the past month, the dogs and their trainers have developed a loving relationship. The trainers work at the kennel from 9 to 4 each day, feeding, training, bathing and keeping the dogs free of bugs. Each of the dogs can now recognize his or her partner and perform according to instruction. The inmates have learned much from the program. One of the participants, Mr. Luo, said that although considerable effort was required to establish an affectionate and trusting relationship with a prison dog, he had mastered the special skills of taking care of, beautifying and training a dog. He plans to hone and make use of these skills after he is released from prison. The success of the Prison Dog plan has encouraged the prison to draw up plans for training drug dogs to prevent the smuggling of drugs into prison.

Though launched not long ago, the Prison Dog plan in Hsinchu has proved to be remarkably successful. Prisoners have regained self-confidence, assimilated the concept of loving animals, and learned to love themselves and respect life. Furthermore, the once abandoned but now professionally trained dogs are able to accompany aged inmates or those serving long prison terms to give them comfort and psychological support. They can also assist the prison staff in patrolling and ensuring prison security. In addition, they are available for adoption by other people. Hopefully the Prison Dog plan can be introduced to every prison in Formosa and benefit both inmates and stray dogs.

2009-05-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

PRISON PUP PROGRAM

Canine Support Teams, Inc.

951-301-3625
cstmain@caninesupportteams.org

The "Prison Pup Program" was conceived out of a dream from a tenacious woman named Sister Pauline Quinn. Already being the trailblazer for many other Prison Training programs in which inmates are trained, mentored and finally trusted with the privilege and responsibility of training dogs for service to the disabled community, Sr. Pauline Quinn made a call to John Dovey, Warden of CIW in 2002. She also contacted Carol Roquemore, CST's founder and CEO. Due to her tenacity and her belief in the rehabilitative benefits for the inmates and the obvious assistance they could provide to the community, in addition to the expectation of being able to shorten a nearly three year waiting list for service dogs, both John Dovey and Carol Roquemore could not say no. They embraced the opportunity to see the good that could come out of such a match!

In September of 2002, the California Institution for Women became the first prison within the state of California to have a Service Dog Training Program. Four puppies between the ages of five months and seven months walked into the prison to become California's first "Prison Pups in Training." For the first time in over twenty years for some of the inmate volunteers, they were able to hold a puppy, feel the love a puppy could give, and provide for this puppy some much needed socialization and training.

Since it's inception, the "Prison Pup Program" has grown in leaps and bounds. The inmate trainers are now playing a vital role in the training of service dogs for the disabled community. Canine Support Teams soon realized that because of the dedication and attention to detail that the inmates demonstrated, that these women would be crucial in the task of advanced training for service dogs. What a perfect marriage! Dedicated women that had the time to devote to training a dog and wanted to give back to society~and individuals in the community that needed assistance.

We have grown significantly since September of 2002. What began with four puppies and approximately twenty participants, has grown into the current program of twenty dogs and over sixty inmate participants. Over eighty-five percent of the dogs that we place yearly with clients, are trained through the Prison Pup Program.

Canine Support Teams would like to thank each and every individual that contributes to the success of the "Prison Pup Program." Without your encouragement, your enthusiasm and your care and concern for the dogs and the mission of this program, we could not accomplish all that we have in such a short time!

CENTRAL BARK HELPS WOUNDED VETERANS WITH SERVICE DOGS

2009-05-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

Heman G. Stark Youth Offender Shelter Dog Training Program

2009-05-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

VIDEO ~ 9 COLORADO PRISONS HAVE PRISON DOG PROGRAMS

2009-05-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN PRISON DOG GRADUATION

2009-05-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

VIDEO ~ PROJECT POOCH ~ YOUTH CORRECTIONAL DOG PROGRAM

2009-05-02T07:06:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE

PRISON DOG VIDEO

2009-05-02T06:56:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

VIDEO ~ CNN COURTHOUSE DOGS

2009-05-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

PRISON DOG PROGRAM TOUCHES MANY LIVES

2009-04-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Prison Dog Project transforms the lives of many people

February 14, 10:09 PM ·
The Prison Dog Project touches many lives

The Prison Dog Project is a program that brings dogs with unsocial characteristics that render them inadaptable into correctional facilities to be trained by inmates. Started in 1981 by Dominican nun Sister Pauline Quinn, the program has been adopted throughout and outside the U.S.

One of the reasons the program has been successful is it transforms the lives of many people and animals at once.

It touches the lives of prison inmates and guards, people with disabilities, society as a whole and the dogs. Animals form a natural bridge between people that has affected the relationships between prison guards and inmates, inmates and the public and people with disabilities and society. Animals, especially dogs, break the ice and foster communication and connection.

In the project, prisoners are responsible for the care and training of dogs to be good citizens or for service for training schools, people with disabilities or law enforcement. Prisoners learn skills such as dog training and grooming and earn money providing services to private dog owners. This income is used to train service dogs that go to people with disabilities free of charge. Some inmates become so expert that potential employers want to hire them upon release.

The presence of dogs in prison has had therapeutic effects relieving tensions and reducing violence. The relationship between prison guards and prisoners is improved. The unconditional love from dogs has helped prisoners access long buried feelings and armored hearts. Prisoners speak of the reward of knowing they’re preparing the dog so it can pass its restorative effect on to a future owner. Prisoners get in touch with a sense of meaning and purpose doing something that regenerates them while also helping others.

The Prison Dog Project decreases the waiting list for assistance dogs and helps people with disabilities get dogs faster, opening up accessibility and social contact. The dogs also help society connect with the disability community.

The project helps society by redeeming and rehabilitating prisoners enabling them to become happier, healthier members of society. The prisoners learn or reclaim responsibility, tolerance, patience and other qualities beneficial to society.

The project saves the lives of dogs that would otherwise be euthanized. They are given a second chance by being trained to be good citizens or for service and returned to society.

The Prison Dog Project relies primarily on donations and supplies from the public in order to continue and expand.

Prison Dog Programs ~ Finding Hope

2009-04-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Visting the State Prison in Florida to see if we can start a prison dog program
~ This Doberman loves people and other dogs ~

The warden from a prison in Central Florida and the warden of a prison in Miami on right

The wardens of a Federal prison in Jessup, GA

Our visit to the prison in Jessup GA

Pathways To Hope Prison Dog Project ~ http://prisondogs.shutterfly.com

NEADS ~ PRISON DOG VIDEO

2009-03-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

NEADS Dog Program NCCI was the first Massachusetts Department of Correction facility to incorporate National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS) back on December 23, 1998.

The program is a result of corroboration with Sister Pauline Quinn of , who has aided numerous correctional facilities across the country implement similar programs.

NEADS is a non-profit organization established to provide Hearing and Service Dogs for people who are deaf or who use wheelchairs. These Assistance Dogs become extensions of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their partners. NEADS is one of the oldest and largest programs of its kind.

COURTHOUSE DOGS ~ HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

2009-02-15T03:53:00.000-08:00

Promoting justice through the use of well-trained dogs to provide emotional support for everyone in our criminal justice system

To Find Out More About The Wonderful Benefits of Courthouse Dogs go to ~

http://www.courthousedogs.com/index.html

Ellen O'Neill-Stephens
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ellen O'Neill-Stephens , Founder, has worked for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office located in Seattle, Washington since 1985. The courthouse dog program began in 2003 when Ellen's son, Sean Stephens, shared his service dog Jeeter with those in need at Juvenile Drug Court one day a week.

What are Courthouse Dogs?
We use the term “courthouse dogs” for two reasons.

The courthouse is the epicenter of the criminal justice system. Although the dogs may assist people outside the courthouse, their work is done with the expectation that the case will be concluded in that setting.
Canines are not just “man’s best friend,” but have served mankind in institutional settings for centuries. The courthouse dogs of the 21st Century find a ready analog in the 19th Century firehouse dogs—the Dalmatians who were trained to run in front of a horse-drawn fire apparatus to clear a path and quickly guide the horses and firefighters to the scene. The Dalmatians also served as rescue dogs to locate victims in burning buildings.

We are confident that in this century the public will associate courthouse dogs with an equally vital role of improving the criminal justice system. Not only are they already helping prosecutors get to the truth more quickly, but they also assist crime victims by providing emotional support during the numerous points in the criminal justice process where they must relate, and relive, traumatic experiences.

PHOTO BELOW ~

The presence of a facility dog during a forensic interview can be a source of comfort to the child during the interview process and may allow them to more easily describe any abuse that that they may have experienced. A good forensic interview can greatly increase the strength of a case and may lead to a defendant accepting a plea.

AUSTRALIA ~ PRISON TRAINED SERVICE DOGS GRADUATE

2009-01-30T13:27:00.001-08:00

Media Statements
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence MP
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

First 'Pups in Prison' graduates to help disabled:

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence with assistance dog Taylor, along with Darling Downs Correctional Centre General Manager Andrew Pike, centre, and Assistance Dogs Australia Chief Executive Officer Richard Lord

Spence Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence with assistance dog Taylor, along with Darling Downs Correctional Centre General Manager Andrew Pike, centre, and Assistance Dogs Australia Chief Executive Officer Richard LordThe first assistance dogs to participate in Queensland's innovative Pups in Prison program have today graduated from their 14 month training course at Darling Downs Correctional Centre.

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence presented black Labradors siblings Toomba and Truman and Golden Retrievers siblings Topaz and Taylor, to Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) Chief Executive Officer Richard Lord, during a ceremony on the Speaker's Green at Parliament House.

Ms Spence said: "This program is a Queensland-first that brings puppies and prisoners together as part of a rehabilitation partnership between Assistance Dogs Australia and Queensland Corrective Services.

"These dogs have undergone 14 months basic training and socialising with prisoners at the Darling Downs Correctional Centre (DDCC) near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.

"They will now be returned to ADA for a six month intensive training program before being matched to people with physical disabilities to enhance the person's quality of life and improve their level of independence.

"The dogs will eventually be able to turn light switches off and on, press pedestrian crossing buttons and pick up and retrieve items - tasks which people in wheelchairs find extremely difficult.

"This government is pleased to be part of an initiative that is making a real difference to lives of Queenslanders in need."

Ms Spence said the partnership with Assistance Dogs Australia is a prime example of how Queensland Corrective Services works with community organisations to provide prisoners with new opportunities for rehabilitation while giving something worthwhile back to the community.

Assistance dog showing obedience at the graduation day"Pups in Prison has provided prisoners with a positive experience, establishing new levels of responsibility, self-esteem and communication skills, while also developing patience, compassion and cooperation," Ms Spence said.

"Assistance Dogs Australia does a fantastic job in their work training companion dogs for people with disabilities and it is a pleasure to be involved in the important role they play in our community."

Assistance Dogs Australia CEO Richard Lord said the Pups in Prison program has been a huge success.

"We are very excited to see the inaugural graduation from the Darling Downs Correctional Centre," Mr Lord said.

"The pups look fantastic and are very well trained. The program has united the officers, prisoners and community volunteers whose combined efforts to train and socialise the pups has been outstanding.

"These remarkable dogs will change for the better the lives of young people who have suffered from developmental disabilities or quadriplegia as a result of traumatic accidents.

"We look forward to continuing the program with Queensland Corrective Services," Mr Lord said.

Ms Spence said the program has also provided significant learning opportunities for staff.

"Staff at Darling Downs and the volunteer obedience trainers have done a great job in developing the program," Ms Spence said.
Assistance dogs demonstrate their training "I know they are now looking forward to the arrival of the second group of puppies, due to start training at the centre in July."

Assistance dog showing obedience at the graduation day

Assistance dogs demonstrate their training

Media Contact: 3239 6172

Prison Dog Reni and the Doberman War Memorial

2008-10-13T17:20:00.001-07:00

Prison Dog Program Pictures

2008-10-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

Click Here to view Prison Dog Program pictures

ELLIE AND JENI OFF TO PRISON

2008-07-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

ELLIE

Thanks to Bridgette Cole of Deerfield, Michigan ~ Bella Biche Chinese Cresteds for donating Ellie and Jeni who left for prison to be loved and trained by the inmates to be either a hearing dog for the deaf or a small service dog that rides on a wheelchair. If they don't make it, there are other wonderful plans for them. In the mean time, they are helping to bring bright smiles into Dwight Correctional women's prison in Illinois.

JENI

MATHEW, ANDY AND KEVIN SAYING GOODBYE TO JENI AND ELLIE

ONE TENDER MOMENT FOR MATHEW WITH ELLIE

NEW FRIENDS FOR ELLIE AND JENNY AT DWIGHT CORRECTIONAL

More about the Dwight Correctional HELPING PAWS prison dog program

click here

SERVICE AND HEARING DOGS

2008-07-19T05:41:00.001-07:00

DOGS TRAINED TO HELP WOUNDED VETS FROM ALL WARS

2008-07-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

We have a new match!

Greetings Team! Congratulations! We have raised our first $12,000 for Pathways to Hope and the Prison Dog Program through Sr. Pauline. As you know this money went to the program that trained Jackson, who was matched with Sgt Arthur Lyles.

Today we are pleased to announce that Sr. has made a second match with a very special dog named Lance. Lance was one of the dogs that Jackie, Anne and Patty helped transfer to the Southern California Women's Penitentiary with Sr. Pauline. The man who has been matched with Lance is Robert Davis, a Marine, wounded in the Vietnam war. Robert lost both legs and a hand when he stepped on a land mine. Sadly he also lost his best buddy who tried to save him by throwing himself on top of Robert. Then during the evacuation with Robert, the helicopter rotor blades touched off a tree top mine which caused the helicopter to explode. He came to in another helicopter as they were rushing him to the hospital when he found out that his buddy had died. He was in several hospitals, including one in the Philippines and the naval hospital in San Francisco.

Robert has been alone since the 1980s. He has had no attendant and he was very lonely until he was matched Lance. He said that he talks all the time to his dog and Lance never stops listening. Robert said that one time he nodded off in his chair and dropped the television remote control. He woke up to see Lance holding the changer in his mouth by his knee, looking up to him. They are learning together; it takes awhile until they can become a working team.

Robert wants to make the public aware of service dogs, especially for the wounded Vets. He is quite a talker and you can tell, a military man.

He has two sons. One son lives near him and he has a 17 year old granddaughter who wants to be a veterinarian or a veterinarian technician.

We'd like to take this time to acknowledge each and every one of you. You are all making this possible and changing lives. You cannot imagine the difference that you have made in the lives of these 2 dogs and these 2 very brave men that have sacrificed so much for us. We want to thank you on behalf of Barkley Ventures, Inc for supporting Dog Bless America and our commitment to giving back to the community. It is only possible with you and your efforts. As Sr. Pauline said, "if we only help one, we've made a difference." As we write this our hearts are so full of gratitude for you and this opportunity.

We invite you to revitalize your own Dog Bless America programs today and together, lets support Robert and Lance. Thank you all so much for your efforts.

Sincerely,

Barkley Ventures, Inc.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

lisa@centralbarkusa.com

Barkley Ventures, Inc. 836 S. 60th. St. Milwaukee WI 53214

Prisoners Train Dogs for Wounded Marines

2008-06-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Camp Lejeune Prisoners Train Dogs for Wounded Marines Peter Biello

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-06-27) Prisoners at the Camp Lejeune Marine Base Brig are doing something no military prisoners in the US have done before: they're training dogs to help Marines wounded in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The dogs will perform more than seventy different tasks for their disabled owners, and for their able-bodied trainers, the dogs perform another service.

Twenty-three year old Mark wakes up at oh-five-hundred in the long, hollow bedroom he shares with nearly a dozen other prisoners in the brig at Camp Lejeune. Brig rules won't allow us to use Mark's last name. Along side his narrow cot is a cage, and inside that cage is Mark's constant companion, a black Lab mutt named Roxy.

Mark and another prisoner take care of Roxy. Mark is one of a select few prisoners enrolled in a special program guided by Carolina Canines, a dog-training company based in Wilmington.

"Being an inmate here, you constantly think about what you did. And it creates a nagging thought in the back of your head that's always there," Mark says. "But having someone like Roxy be a companion for you and reciprocate the love back to you, it takes your mind off those thoughts."

Someday Roxy will serve Marines injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And don't call what Roxy does tricks. Mark says he and his partner have been teaching her skills.

"She can retrieve items really good. She's just learning to retrieve clothing items and put them in the laundry basket and put them in the washing machine. She's just now learning to mess with the light switch, turn it on and off."

Trainers from Carolina Canines visit the brig a few times a week to guide lessons and dole out homework assignments. Outside in the brig's fenced-in courtyard, trainer Vicky Wilcox shouts instructions to Marines dressed head-to-toe in their orange brig-issued jumpsuits.

"You wanna just tuck your leash in your pouch and use yourself and your little cookies to motivate your dog to stay with you."

Rick Hairston, president of Carolina Canines, says the program is a way for these Marines to atone for what they've done. And because they're able to make good use of their time behind bars, Hairston says he's noticed that these Marines are the only ones in the whole brig who smile.

"They've got a chance to do some things that nobody else is doing, and so they have a new leash on life, so to speak."

Eventually the dogs will be able to open refrigerators and complete bank transactions for their wounded owners. Those skills are hard to learn, so the dogs practice an easier exercise, a slow, careful walk through an obstacle course made of white plastic pipes.

And before they go back inside the brig for more training, the Marines lead all the dogs to the chain link fence surrounding the courtyard. Then, on command, it's business time.

"They're all in sync?" I ask.

"They're taught to go potty on command," Hairston explains.

"Not together at the same time."

"But that's what they were doing, right?"

"They were just given the command at the same time," Hairston says. "Thing is, you get ready to go on an airplane, you go to the bathroom, right? These dogs can't. So they have to totally eliminate before they get on an aircraft."

Once inside the brig, Roxy's trainer Mark puts her in a harness. Then a Marine in a wheelchair grabs the harness, and with a little encouragement, Roxy pulls him across the smooth brig floor. For her next lesson, Roxy learns how to pull a laundry basket.

Mark's face beams with pride as he watches Roxy practice. He says in a place where life can be drab and depressing, Roxy makes him feel alive.

"We messed up. But at least we can do something productive with our time while we're in here. And it's going to benefit a life of someone who really needs it."

Mark says Roxy might be the first to complete the program this summer. When he gets out of the brig in a few months, he says he wants to train service dogs for a living. Mark says he'll miss Roxy, but it's comforting to know she'll be helping a wounded Marine who needs her.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please e-mail us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.

CIW PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2008-05-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

GREYHOUNDS, INMATES HELP EACH OTHER

2008-05-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

UNWANTED INMATES HELP UNWANTED DOGS

2008-05-28T10:24:00.001-07:00

CANADIAN PRISON DOG PROGRAM

2008-05-28T10:18:00.001-07:00

THERAPY DOG HELPING INMATES IN UTAH

2008-05-28T10:11:00.001-07:00

PRISONERS TRAINING AND SAVING UNWANTED DOGS

2008-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

PRISONERS HELPING OTHERS ~ TRAINING DOGS TO HELP THE HANDICAPPED

2008-05-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Unwanted Dogs and Unwanted People

2007-12-10T16:00:00.000-08:00

Rosie the Golden Retriever mix was abused, hit with sticks and abandoned. A Golden Retriever rescue in South Carolina rescued her. Sr Pauline took her out of the Shelter and had a friend bring her to Washington DC. Sr Pauline drove to Washington and picked her up, then drove her to Maine.

Rosie stayed in Maine a few months, then left for New Hampshire where she went into a foster home, then went to the New Hampshire State Prison for men where an inmate trained Rosie to do many things. Still she had a hard time because of all the difficulties in her life but the inmates saw she had potential.

When Rosie was finished her training, there wasn't the possibility to place Rosie in a home for the disabled because no program was in place, so three women flew from Wisconsin to New Hampshire to pick up Rosie and a dog named Joey and flew Rosie and Joey to Wisconsin where they stayed several weeks until a place was ready for them to go to the State Prison for Women in Southern California where they were entered a women's prison for more training.Rosie didn't stay there long and she then came out of the prison and was placed with a disabled girl who really needed Rosie in her life. Rosie now has a home forever.

This is a picture of Rosie and her partner Whitney at their graduation.If we could only do the same for people who are unwanted ... that we can reach out to them no matter how long it takes and try and help them recover from their own difficult lives... then perhaps we can really make a difference and they will not suffer for all their life that they were unwanted.

HELPING PRISONERS

2007-12-01T02:43:00.000-08:00

DEATH ROW ANGOLA ~ LOUSIANA STATE PRISON

Dwight Illinois Correctional Center for Women

Cumberland Federal Prison for men ~ Maryland

California Institution for Women

Our society seems to want to throw the key away to those who have committed crimes. They want them either dead or to spend the rest of their life in prison for the pain and suffering they have caused.

When can we forgive those who harm us? Even if they never get out of prison, they still can do things inside to make this a better world?
Who knows what they went through in their life to become as they are.

It doesn’t take away the evilness of their crime to forgive. They have to become responsible for what they have done. Is this possible?

In these pictures, the inmates don’t have “pets” in prison. They have working dogs that they are training to give to a disabled person or given to a police agency as a potential police dog. They are learning how to groom so once they are out of prison, it is a job skill they can use. They are also learning life skills.. how to take care of something that depends on them.

If we can teach others the importance of giving back something to our society, then it helps to make this a better world, one person at a time. To forgive isn’t easy to do but it is not impossible.

If St Paul could go out and persecute the Christians and God forgave him.. then we can do the same. Our life is a gift from God and no one has the right to take it away, either through crime or punishment.

AN INMATE SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS DOG

2007-11-24T16:03:00.000-08:00

CLICK ON WORDS TO ENLARGE TEXT TO READ

TWO WOMEN'S PRISON DOG PROGRAMS NEED HELP WITH SUPPLIES

2007-11-01T18:49:00.001-07:00

Dwight Correctional Institution ~ Illinois

California Institution for Women

These women are taking responsibility for their crime and are now giving back to our society. They are helping others by training dogs to assist the handicapped. Since these programs need supplies to keep going, I am trying to find people willing to help them find the resources and the supplies needed to keep the program going.

PLEASE WILL YOU HELP THESE PROGRAMS

WISH LIST

DWIGHT CORRECTIONAL for WOMEN

Brushes, combs, Leather Leashes 1/2 and 1/4 inches wide and 4 and 6 feet long, kennels and crates, dog water/food bowls, sheepskin dog beds, towels, collars such as martingales, black dog collar, gentle leaders, haltis/booties for dogs in winter, Dog toys such as new kongs, tugs, nylabones, new hoses for giving dogs a bath,short and long dog catching equipment, fully supplied first aide box with ear thermometer and tips. Dog graduation certificates. Good work shoes, insulated boots for working out in the winter with the dogs, rain coats with hoods, winter gloves, Quickie wheelchair for training the dogs, xerox machine for getting copies of training items, VCR-DVD player to look at training tapes, agility equipment, grooming table, weight scales,shop vac, heavy duty dog blow dryer, water filtering unit, trimmer for dogs pads, ears/grooming clippers and blades, VCR and DVD dog training tapes.

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN

Brushes, combs, leather leashes, 1/2 and 1/4 inches wide and 4 and 6 feet long, kennels and dog crates, two wide trailer for a training area, dog water bowls, towels, dog collars such as martingales, Gentle leaders, Halties, Black Dog training collar, fully supplied first aid kit, dog toys such as kongs, tugs, nylabones, dog training VCR and DVD tapes, training equipment such as dumb~bells, clickers, clicker training videos.

For more information contact Sr Pauline

PATHWAYS TO HOPE ~ 2316 Carney Ave ~ Marinette, Wisconsin 54143 srpauline@pathwaystohope.org

DOGS HELPING WOUNDED VETS

2007-10-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

Broward ~ Palm Beach MAY 23, 2007
NEW TIMES
Edmund Newton

When Sister Pauline Quinn heard that Central Bark Doggy Day Care, the upscale doggy “daycare” and grooming outfit, was offering a summer program for dogs and their owners at its Wisconsin location, she asked to come check it out. Sitting around a campfire, she explained how she had been abused as a child; now she ran away only to get caught and bounced among various juvenile institutions; how she stopped talking to people entirely and lived as a mute. It wasn’t until she adopted a German Shepherd named Joni that she felt safe; the dog helped her heal and, eventually, conversed with people again.
“I learned unconditional love from her,” Quinn said. “She became the bridge to meet other people and start to talk. People would come up and say, “Oh, what a beautiful dog!” Not to mention an intimidating dog. “She gave me more power,” Quinn says. “People are a little afraid of German Shepherds. Everyone would treat me with respect. It was really interesting how that worked and how the dog could help build self-esteem.”
Many years and a few dogs later, Quinn became a nun. In 1981, she developed the prison Pet Partnership Program. She rescues animals from shelters, brings them to prisons, helps prisoners train them, and then matches each dog with handicapped person who needs assistance.
“I want to give inmates an opportunity to give back to society,” Quinn says. (For more about Quinn, get the movie Within These Walls, in which Laura Dern plays the now-64-year old sister. So “people know me as a tall, blond, thin lady,” Quinn quips. “I was happy about that!”)
Now, Chris Gaba, co-founder of Central Bark and proprietor of its Fort Lauderdale location, is implementing Quinn’s program – with a twist. Influenced by Central Bark volunteer Lt. Col Connie Christensen, a retired Army nurse who told him how dogs have helped serve in every major military conflict since the Civil War, Gaba launched Dog Bless America – a campaign to buy bulletproof vets and cooling blankets for 300 military dogs working with American forces in the Middle East.
As an extension of that, Gaba’s now helping the Prison Pet program match dogs with veterans coming back from Iraq. Monetary donations for the dog food and equipment are the biggest need – it takes 15 months and $12,000 to house and train each animal. Other than that, Gaba says, they’re just trying to find Iraq vets who would best benefit from the program. “we have two dogs ready to go.” For more about Dog Bless America, see www.centralbarkusa.com

CELL MATES

2007-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Cell Mates

A Ray of Hope in a World of Regret
the win-win nature of prison-pet partnerships

November 2007 issue

By Katie Marsico

For inmates in America’s prison system, it’s easy to regard time served as a punishment instead of a porthole for positive and productive change. Hardened criminals can become even harsher and more hopeless as they struggle to adapt to an environment that is often devoid of empathy and healthy interactions. Men and women who prove exceptions to this rule typically undergo a life-changing experience while behind bars, and for some, such an episode may involve a four-legged catalyst. Prison-pet partnerships are gaining recognition as opportunities for incarcerated people to practice constructive, compassionate behavior while aiding creatures who are similarly in need of a second chance.

An Inspiration for Inmates

“Like it or not,” says Sarah Stevens, “many prisoners will one day re-enter the general populace. What they learn about themselves and the skills they develop in a program like ours can ultimately translate into more caring and productive people.” Stevens is the president of Mixed Up Mutts, Inc., a nonprofit animal-welfare organization based out of LaPorte, Indiana. She is also one of the founders of Prison Tails, which operates in conjunction with a correctional facility in nearby Westville. This program partners dogs that would otherwise face euthanasia in shelters with inmates who instruct them in basic obedience through repetition and positive reinforcement. Two prescreened prisoners are matched with a single animal 24 hours a day for eight weeks, at which point the dogs are, ideally, considered improved candidates for adoption.Similar programs exist throughout the country, though several involve inmates preparing dogs for careers as service animals to the disabled or even working on agility training. While the majority of prison-pet partnerships feature canines, a handful deal with cats and horses, and nearly all include animals that were previously homeless, unwanted, or part of the shelter system. According to Stevens, the powerful influence such creatures have on prisoners is remarkable.“The program works because offenders can identify with the plight of the shelter dog that has been discarded and warehoused for his mistakes. Feeling love for and from the animals is also often a surprising and emotional experience for the [inmates], who shed tears when their ‘bunky’ for the last eight weeks leaves for his new home. By caring for the dog’s every need, prisoners discover their capacity for responsible, patient, and affectionate behavior.” Gayle Woods, executive director of the Second Chance Prison Canine Program (SCPCP), concurs. Based out of Tucson, the SCPCP connects inmates at two correctional facilities in Florence, Arizona, with shelter dogs. These teams then tackle curriculums ranging from puppy training to basic obedience to cultivating specialized skills related to serving the disabled. As Woods explains, the fact that prisoners are effectively aiding both the animals and society is inevitably linked to their personal transformation. “We worked with one inmate who essentially said to us, ‘I am at a point…where I feel like I need to give back to society because I took someone’s life. I can’t undo what I have done, but maybe if I can give back, something good can come out of it.’”

Improving the Lives of People and Animals

Sister Pauline Quinn’s extensive experience with prison-pet programs dates back to 1981 and has given her reason to attest to the enormous good that does indeed result from their existence. She operates the Pathways to Hope Prison Dog Project, which has started prison-pet partnerships that stretch from Maine to California and in between. Program regimens vary, depending in part on what the dogs are being specifically instructed to do. On the whole, however, inmates are encouraged to interact with animals as much as possible, from feeding to potty walks to belly rubs. Quinn emphasizes that the canines in question receive exceptional care.“All the dogs are socialized and loved. They have regular checkups, are fed well, and are given the opportunity to play. They sense that they’re regarded as special, and I believe that adds to their lives.” In many prison-pet partnerships, dogs spend the duration of training—which typically lasts anywhere from six weeks to a year—residing within the prison system, frequently sharing living space with inmates in their cells. Other correctional facilities feature a special dormitory area set aside for participants, while some prisons house animals in kennels or cooperate with animal-welfare groups to routinely transport dogs from off-site locations. Volunteers generally take future service dogs for trips outside prison grounds regularly to familiarize them with everyday settings where they’ll eventually be expected to assist disabled people. Apart from saving the lives of unwanted animals, the majority of prison-pet partnerships aim to provide training that primes dogs for a fulfilling existence once they complete instruction. “A dog leaves the program more mature and better able to understand the expectations of his human housemates,” Stevens says. “This in turn allows a pet to more easily adapt to a new adoptive family.” But as win-win as the aforesaid scenario sounds, prison-pet partnerships aren’t for just anyone. Most programs include careful selection and subsequent supervision by both prison staff and animal-welfare volunteers. Dogs that are overly aggressive often don’t qualify for involvement, as is also sometimes the case for offenders convicted of animal abuse or inmates who demonstrate unsatisfactory behavior behind bars. Those prisoners deemed eligible are usually expected to undergo a rigorous screening and interview process, followed by subsequent training sessions that prepare them for their roles as temporary guardians. Such measures are necessary to ensure that prison-pet partnerships provide the greatest possible benefit to both participants and the larger communities that incarcerated men and women will eventually rejoin.

Contributing to the Community

“It’s critical to keep in mind that society also reaps several rewards from these programs,” Woods says. “In some cases, the disabled receive highly trained service dogs at no cost, allowing them greater independence at home and within the workplace. In other scenarios, the general public has the opportunity to adopt well-mannered pets. And the overall community is positively influenced by a pre-release program that helps prepare prisoners to function as productive citizens.” Some inmates who serve their time are so motivated by their experiences with pet-prison partnerships that they sign on as volunteers even after they re-enter mainstream society. Yet for those men and women who remain behind bars after their canine companions venture forth to new guardians, it goes without saying that their efforts nonetheless leave indelible marks on people’s lives. Woods cites the sentiments expressed by the disabled recipient of an SCPCP dog named Chance: “Chance provides unconditional love, laughter, and a sense of security. He gives me so much more than assistance—having him by my side at work is like getting paid to hang out with my best friend. I’m extremely grateful for…the volunteers and the devoted inmates who have worked and continue to work so hard with these special dogs.” More Information:

Pathways to Hope Prison Dog Project PathwaysToHope.org

TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN PRISON

2007-10-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

OVER TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN THE US PRISONS IN 2005 WITH THE NUMBERS GOING UP. HOW CAN WE STOP THIS? WILL YOUR CHILD END UP IN PRISON? IF YOU DON'T TRY AND DO SOMETHING, THEY COULD. TEACH BY EXAMPLE. THE WELL-BEING OF A CHILD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE THINGS IN THE WORLD YOU COULD HAVE. CLICK HERE

On December 31, 2005 --
-- 2,193,798 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails -- an increase of 2.7% from yearend 2004, less than the average annual growth of 3.3% since yearend 1995.
-- there were an estimated 491 prison inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents -- up from 411 at yearend 1995.
-- the number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities increased 2.6% from yearend 2004, reaching 107,518 and the number of men rose 1.9%, totaling 1,418,406.

At yearend 2005 there were 3,145 black male sentenced prison inmates per 100,000 black males in the United States, compared to 1,244 Hispanic male inmates per 100,000 Hispanic males and 471 white male inmates per 100,000 white males.In 2003 there were an estimated 650,400 State prisoners serving time for a violent offense. State prisons also held an estimated 262,000 property offenders and 250,900 drug offenders.

OUR THROW AWAY SOCIETY ~ START A PRISON DOG PROGRAM AND SAVE UNWANTED DOGS

2007-10-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

WHEN WE DON'T HAVE USE FOR SOMETHING ANY MORE, WE JUST THROW IT AWAY ~
http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/the_bigger_picture/throw_away_the.html
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/archives/id/14496/

http://alexandriadailyphoto.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/throw-away-society/

The sad facts are, each and every year people just throw their dogs away like last seasons fashions. We see hundreds of thousands of dogs arrive at animal rescue shelters, because their owners are no longer able or prepared to take the necessary steps to take care of them.
Statistics say that approximately 25 percent are unwanted presents, another 25 percent have behavioral problems and the rest are given up for domestic or other reasons.
Here's the top 10 reasons why pooches end up in the dog house.
1. The breed was that year's MUST HAVE accessory, a little bit of Paris Hilton syndrome or the 101 Dalmatians fad.
2. I just couldn't resist him in the shop window, so little, cute and fluffy - but he didn't stay that way for long.
3. Due to lack of training, the dog became aggressive, destructive and totally uncontrollable.
4. Dog was purchased on impulse. Buy first think later, usually being pressured by children then realising the level of COMMITMENT required.
5. The dog was left alone for long periods consequently barking and upsetting the neighbours and becoming aggressive, destructive and uncontrollable.
6. Old age and no longer being able to physically cope with the demands of dog ownership.
7. Let's face it owning a dog is not cheap nowadays - feeding, veterinary treatments, worming, boarding cost when your on holidays can really stretch the purse strings.
8. Seperations of couples and no one wants the dog.
9. When young families have a new arrival and the responsibility and expense become too much. 10. Owners move to a new apartment with a no pet rule.
In all fairness there are valid reasons that people have when having to part with their dogs but the trend that seems to be shining through is that people have to realise when purchasing a dog is a responibility thats on going. Its not like buying lip gloss, if you don't like it you can change it or throw it away.
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DOG RECOVERING AFTER BEING DOUND IN GARBAGE BAG ALONGSIDE HIGHWAY

The Associated Press

CAMPBELLSPORT — A poodle mix named Benji is recovering after being found tied in a garbage bag and dumped in a roadside ditch.

Capt. Dean Will of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that a bicyclist riding in the Lake Bernice area Monday night noticed the bag and saw it was moving, so he stopped, opened it up and found the little white dog.Jean North, a receptionist at Wright Veterinary Service, said Benji was malnourished when he was brought in, and he couldn’t see.“His eyes were matted shut,” she said.But he was given food and a haircut and has been doing well, except that he still has trouble walking, she said.If the dog isn’t adopted out, it could become an office dog, North said.The sheriff’s department so far has no leads on who dumped the dog, Will said Friday.“We’re just glad it’s alive,” he said. “How an individual could do that to an animal is really hard to accept.”

PRISON DOGS ~ THE ODD COUPLE

2007-10-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

Reni, the Doberman who was donated by the Mikadobe Kennels to be a service dog, is a beautiful female whose father is an international champion in Argentina. Reni's mother is also a champion.

Nicky, the black and white Papillon was also donated to Pathways To Hope by a kennel in New York and also comes from show dogs.

Nicky spent six months at the Indiana State Prison for Woman and Reni has visited a number of prisons. Being a champion is not about how they look, or gait around the ring... but they are champions because of their friendly, fun spirit, giving something to help others.

FINDING HOPE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

2007-10-27T05:20:00.001-07:00

Finding hope in unexpected places
My cellmate and I are helping others

By Charles Huckelbury For the Monitor
June 17. 2007 10:00AM

Living in a prison cell is always a battle with clutter, but my cell is a bit more crowded than usual these days since Joey moved in. No, Joey isn't your typical slug who doesn't know how to do time. He's a Labrador retriever, just shy of two years old, smarter than most of the guys I hang around with, and still full of puppy mischief in ways I would love to describe if I could be sure his trainers weren't reading this.
But there's much more to Joey than cute, something I discovered when I was fortunate enough to be among the men selected to participate in Pathways to Hope, a national program conceived by Sister Pauline Quinn and implemented here at the state prison to train service dogs for people with specific disabilities.
After careful vetting by the administration, those of us who made the cut as handlers underwent an introduction to Dog Training 101, courtesy of Gail Fisher and her staff at All Dogs Gym and Inn in Manchester. Dogs had been my constant companions before I came to prison, but the type of training Gail introduced opened my eyes to possibilities I had never considered.

Our primary job was to teach the dogs basic commands (e.g. sit, stay, down, come) and socialize them in order to prepare them for the more intensive and precise training they would need to undergo prior to being assigned to particular clients. Along the way, we also taught them other things that were
fun for us and the dogs, things like retrieving specific objects from a collection, turning lights on and off, and removing items of clothing.

Joey was ahead of the curve when it came to removing clothing. Unfortunately, before he perfected his technique, removing my jacket, for example, also resulted in numerous surprises: First he removed my jacket's cuffs, then the collar. Imagine a 75-pound animal working like crazy because he knows he'll get a treat at the end of the exercise, and you'll have some idea of how that must have looked.

Gail and her staff regularly check our progress. They assign us additional tasks to teach the dogs, since it quickly became obvious that they were smart enough to accomplish their original goals in spite of our own limitations in training techniques. Their progress has been amazing, because they are incredibly smart.

A year and a half into the program the dogs are getting ready to graduate and leave for their specific training, which will naturally create a huge hole until we have three more to continue the process. But the consolation, of course, is the knowledge that they will be going to someone who needs them far more than we do. For example, for every soldier killed in Iraq, at least eight more are wounded, many critically. What greater service could these dogs provide than helping those men and women who have given so much for the rest of us?
It is impossible to convey what being a part of this program has meant for us in here. In an environment that ridicules affection, where claims of loyalty are only lip service to expediency, and where the only beauty is found in a three-hour visit with my wife twice weekly, Joey has added a dimension to my life that I never would have expected.

I came to prison when I was 27. I am now 61. By traditional standards, I would hardly be described as lucky, and yet I am. Never have I smiled or laughed more than since Joey has come to live with me. Never have I felt such satisfaction in being able to do something worthwhile. And never have I felt such a sense of accomplishment than when looking into those soulful eyes - even when I know he's hustling me for an extra treat.

Pathways to Hope is thus the most appropriate name of this program. While I probably don't share a common religious faith with the people Joey will eventually help, we do share a common hope for a brighter future. And it will be brighter in no small measure because this program makes it possible for us to give what we can to make another person's life more rewarding.

If Joey can help one wounded soldier walk again, If he can help one blind person navigate the streets and shops in Concord safely, all of us will be better for the experience.

By allowing us to be a part of something much bigger than prison, Pathways to Hope therefore defines us in terms of our potential as human beings and not as mere statistics or, worse, the last bad thing we did. I can't make yesterday better, but because of this astonishing program, with Joey's help, I can improve someone else's tomorrow.

(Charles Huckelbury is serving a murder sentence at the state prison.)

------ End of article
By CHARLES HUCKELBURY
For the Monitor

California Institution for Women ~ PRISON PUP PROGRAM

2007-10-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

PLEASE HELP THIS PROGRAM. THEY ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB IN HELPING PRISONERS CHANGE THEIR LIVES AS WELL AS HELPING UNWANTED DOGS AND DOGS THAT ARE DONATED TO THE PROGRAM. PLEASE DONATE

New Hampshire Prison Dog Program

2007-10-26T13:54:00.001-07:00

New Hampshire Prison Dog Program is where inmates are training dogs to assist the handicapped under the leadership of Gail Fisher at All Dogs Gym. I helped to start this program and it is important to me. It is a program where the inmates are learning how to become 'other' centered, giving back to society and to help the handicapped. PLEASE DONATE TO THEM DIRECTLY.. All Dogs Gym 505 Sheffield Road. Manchester, NH 03103. It will help them very much as they are doing a good job helping the inmates learn how to train dogs for the handicapped and doing other projects to help them turn their lives around.

NEWSLETTER CHICK HERE