Kayla Watkins
Ms. McKoy
English 2- Block 2
11 September 2013
Prisoners
and their Pups
In August of 2009 in an article titled “Going to the
Dogs: Prison Based Training Programs are Win-Win” author Pamela Hogle states “Across
the country prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers and other correctional
facilities are discovering the benefits of in- house dog training programs”
(Hogle). In house dog training programs
are fairly new. What it is are programs used in the prison to give inmates a
chance to redeem themselves and show they are changing. The inmates go through a long test to make
sure they are ready for a new job. The
inmates get I first came to hear about programs such as
these when I was watching Pit bulls and Parolees. I love the show and support what they do, so
when Tia went to a prison and saw firsthand what the program did she was
hooked. I also got hooked! If prisons all over the country started the
dog training programs they would really see how beneficial they are. The question comes down to something as
simple as should prisons adopted in-house dog training programs?
Through my research I found out much more about the PBB(Puppies
Behind Bars) program. It was the first
program founded in Bedford Hills in 1997 by a woman named Gloria Stoga. The first program that inspired her to start
PBB was called Guiding Eyes. She claimed
“I already knew the impact these dogs make in the lives of blind people, and I
somehow intuitively grasp what they could do for prisoners, it just made
perfect sense” (Cheakalos 3). After this
initial statement she was able to start turning her dreams into reality. Jane Russenberger, the senior director of
breeding and placement for Guiding Eyes says that “The inmates are highly
motivated and raise very well behaved dogs, as good of those of our best raisers”
(Cheakalos). Her statement is just one
example of the praises that come from these programs.
If anyone were to weigh the bad to the good they would
find there is no bad that comes from this program. One major benefit is the fact that the prison
dog programs make the dogs more adoptable and that could save a lot of
lives. There is 500 to 600 service dogs
trained each year, and unfortunately for those who need a service dog they have
to wait two years. But if more prisons
started service dog training programs the waiting time for a service dog would
decrease even more. The program is said
to “give prisoners an increased sense of responsibility, teamwork, and more
compassion” (Cheakalos). Roslyn D. Smith
who has rehabilitated three puppies says “The puppies are so alive and trusting
and hopeful, you can’t help but become a better person for them, and for
yourself” (Cheaklos). This is one
example of how much of a difference these programs are making in the lives of
so many people and animals. One man
named Willi Richards who is blind got his dog Victoria from the PBB program and
he said “Thank all of you for what you do, believe me, you are making a big
difference in the world” (Cheakalos). These programs only help, and help in
many ways. Donald an inmate trainer said
“It gives us a chance to stop them from being euthanized and to show that we
can be responsible” (Hogle). It really
changes the inmates’ lives because they go from hopeless to heroes. That
is the most important part of the program, is the fact that inmates and their
dogs are changing lives.
I would like to do more research on this topic to see if
South Carolina prisons would adopt in-house dog training programs. There is no reason for prisons not to adopt
dog training programs. The organizations
pay for all the dogs’ expenses. Inmates
learn loyalty, love, and structure. The
dogs get to be social and have an owner who appreciates them. Also the people who get these dogs after
their trained are beyond thankful that they have them and are grateful to the
inmates for training them. Prisons
across the US adopting in-house dog training programs would be the first step
on the path to change.
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