Changed For Good: Inmates Reunite With Dogs They Helped Train

Changed For Good: Inmates Reunite With Dogs They Helped Train
The Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG) in Sequim, Washington recently reunited several dogs once deemed "un-adoptable" with the Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC) inmates who helped train and rehabilitate them; it had been five years since they last saw each other. It was a happy event for everyone involved, including the dogs, whose exuberance over seeing their former trusted companions was undeniable. The dog-training program sponsored by WAG has seen over 200 dogs go from lost to loved since it first began.The canines in question have been placed in the program based on their displays of troublesome behavior, which includes aggression, biting, anxiety and other issues as the result of trauma sustained in their prior living situations. Allowing inmates to serve as their trainers seemed the perfect match, as the responsibility of caring for a dog, particularly one that is troubled, requires constant attention, patience, kindness and selflessness; something neither the animals or inmates had previously understood the importance of. According to Guild president Barbara Brabant, the round-the-clock care necessary for the dogs fit perfectly with those who spend 24-hours a day in prison.However, not just any inmate is accepted into the program. The dozen or so chosen to participate receive the job based on good behavior out of the roughly 900 inmates at CBCC. The dogs stay at the facility for weeks or months at a time; however long it takes for them to let go of their fear and anger, meaning the inmates must be willing to commit themselves to caring for their assigned animal for an indeterminate amount of time. In doing so, they not only learn responsibility and accountability, they also learn a new skill they can use when they get out of prison.Though the AKC will not certify any inmate as an official dog trainer, WAG is currently putting together a program that would allow them to be certified under WAG's sponsorship, which would provide them with potential employment opportunities with the organization once they are released. According to Michelle Klepps, a correctional unit supervisor, "This not only changes the dog, it changes the offenders in a positive way."The dogs sleep in the inmates' cells, and are taken for daily walks in a designated part of the prison yard, where each inmate is responsible for picking up after their animals and providing affection and attention on a constant basis. Throughout their training, each canine wears a color-coded leash: a red leash indicates the animal should not be touched, a yellow leash indicates permission from the trainer is required before touching or petting it, and a green leash lets others know they may "give the dog all the love" they’ve got. Around 50 people attended the reunion, including journalists, radio personalities, 35 WAG board members and several dog-owning members of the community.
Inmate William Friedrichs with Boxer-mix Connor; image courtesy of Brian Harmon via pensinsuladailynews.com
Sources:
Prison Inmates Are Teaching Testy Dogs CivilityClallam Bay inmates reunite with reformed dogsCAN I GET AN AMEN: Special Reunion For Some Old Prison Dogs - Literally!!
About Susanna Leighton
Susanna Leighton is a freelance writer and editor based in Southeast Michigan. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Susanna holds degrees in speech pathology and human services. She is a former special education teacher, an avid lover of all things science, and a steadfast supporter of justice and equality for all. She is currently working on her first book of personal essays entitled, 'A Day Leighton, A Dollar Short.'