Kayla Watkins
Ms. McKoy
English 2- Block 2
November 20, 2013
Positive
Prisons
Puppies Behind
Bars is an in-house dog-training program where the inmates train many types of
service dogs. This is a fairly new
program to prison in the US. PBB was
started in 1997 by Gloria Stoga; she is the founder of the Puppies Behind Bars
program. This program is fairly new and
not many prisons have taken advantage of it; therefore, it is a great
opportunity for prisons to adopt it and try something different for a change. For those prisons that have they are glad
because they noticed right away the difference it has made. The program helps keep the dogs out of the
pound, helps the disabled who need a service dog, and helps the inmates.
The program is undeniably a great thing for the dogs and
inmates. In the article “Going to the Dogs: Prison-Based
Training Programs Are Win-Win” author
Pamela Hogle highlights what different programs do and what other organizations
they work with. One of the programs that
PBB worked with is called NEADS. NEADS is
a stands for “Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans” they created a program
called “Pups on Parole” (Hogle 4). This gives
the dogs time outside of the prison to get them used to the other worldly surroundings. It has been a beneficial portion in their
training because they get different experiences which are only good for them. With including the “Pups on Parole” training into
the dogs’ routine it helps them to be more social and increases their chances
of being adopted.
Those who benefit directly from the PBB program are those
who adopt a service dog. In the article “NEW
LEASH ON LIFE” author Christina Cheakalos talks specifically about one man
named Willi Richards and his dog Victoria.
He said “No, thank you, Mercedes, for Victoria and thank all of you for
what you do believe me, you are making a big difference in the world” (Cheakalos
2). That is just one example of how the
program impacts others life so greatly.
There are many others that have experienced the joy of receiving a dog
that is trained just for their needs.
The dogs being trained and given to their new owners causes them to have
a good life along with their owner doing the same.
The inmates benefit from the program because it gives
them lifelong skills that they can use and also helps them get a job. In the article “Going to the Dogs:
Prison-Based Dog Training Programs Are Win-Win” the author explains more about what they do to help benefit the
inmates. The author states “For example,
the program creates jobs and provides vocational training for the participants”
(Hogle 4). One main job that can come
from this program is an actual dog trainer and that’s a big deal. Inmates benefit the most from the program in
different ways, and the program is what causes the inmates to transform their
lives overall.
The PBB program is beneficial and all around life
changing to everyone and every animal that becomes a part of it. The positivity the dogs bring to the prison,
along with the hope of the program, brings enlightenment to the entire
prison. If more prisons would take in
the training program then the improvement could be seen by other prisons and
they might do the same, like a dominoes effect.
The directors of the programs say that the determination and new found
strength can be seen in the inmates’ eyes once they’ve trained a dog
successfully. The most rewarding part of
the job the inmates say is being able to see the wide smile on the recipients
face once they have handed over their new companion. The effects the PBB program made are only
positive and it’s the cause of many happy people, and great service dogs. These
programs will be the change, these programs will make a difference, and these
programs will bring back the hope for a more accepting future for
prisoners.
