Prison Dog Program
| "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" ~Mahatma Gandhi~ |
| Pathways to Hope and PAL Humane Society: Helping people, one animal at a time. |
PAL Humane Society and Pathways to Hope are teaming up to bring the Prison Dog Program to the prisons of the Victor
Valley. With training already in progress, PAL Humane Society staff members are learning everything they need to know to
make this program a success. PAL staff have been working with Pathways to Hope certified Dog Trainer, Donna Shawver, to
gain the skills and knowledge needed to train prisoners. PAL and Pathways to Hope plan on beginning work in the prisons in
April.
Valley. With training already in progress, PAL Humane Society staff members are learning everything they need to know to
make this program a success. PAL staff have been working with Pathways to Hope certified Dog Trainer, Donna Shawver, to
gain the skills and knowledge needed to train prisoners. PAL and Pathways to Hope plan on beginning work in the prisons in
April.
| You can help save lives by donating today!! |
| Prison Dog Project: Overview |
The Prison Dog Project is a program that pairs inmates in prison with dogs from the local shelter,
to train them to be well-mannered pets. It is a 6-week program, where dogs will live side-by-side
with the inmates in their cell as they are trained with basic commands. All inmates are carefully
evaluated before being selected to participate in the program and must meet specific
qualifications before being choosen. On the weekends, PAL volunteers and staff members will place
the dogs with foster families so the dogs can put their new skills to work in a home environment.
After the dogs have graduated from the program with their inmate trainer, they are adopted out
to families with loving homes.
The program begins with a "train the trainer" session, before the dogs even go into the prison.
Inmates are trained, by a professional dog trainer, the basics of what they will be learning and
how to handle the dogs. Once the dogs are in place, inmates work with the trainer on teaching their
dogs basic commands, such as sit, stay, and shake. At the end of the program each dog will go
through a test of skills with their inmate to be certified Canine Good Citizens.
to train them to be well-mannered pets. It is a 6-week program, where dogs will live side-by-side
with the inmates in their cell as they are trained with basic commands. All inmates are carefully
evaluated before being selected to participate in the program and must meet specific
qualifications before being choosen. On the weekends, PAL volunteers and staff members will place
the dogs with foster families so the dogs can put their new skills to work in a home environment.
After the dogs have graduated from the program with their inmate trainer, they are adopted out
to families with loving homes.
The program begins with a "train the trainer" session, before the dogs even go into the prison.
Inmates are trained, by a professional dog trainer, the basics of what they will be learning and
how to handle the dogs. Once the dogs are in place, inmates work with the trainer on teaching their
dogs basic commands, such as sit, stay, and shake. At the end of the program each dog will go
through a test of skills with their inmate to be certified Canine Good Citizens.
The Prison Dog Project was started back in 1981 in Washington State by Sister Pauline Quinn of
Pathways to Hope, a Dominicans of Charity Project. The program was such a huge success that it
is now world-wide, with programs in Italy and Australia.
The Prison Dog Projects main goal is to rehabilitate people, while saving the lives of animals. It
provides dogs with a second chance at life, while teaching life lessons and skills to those who have
been discarded by society.
The Prison Dog Project has two focuses of training, Canine Good Citizen training and Service
training.
The Canine Good Citizen training is to teach the dogs basic behavioral commands, such as sit, stay,
and shake. This is the shorter, less-intense program that allows more animals to be trained.
The Service training takes 1 1/2 - 2 years to complete and teaches the dogs how to be service dogs
for the disabled.
Pathways to Hope, a Dominicans of Charity Project. The program was such a huge success that it
is now world-wide, with programs in Italy and Australia.
The Prison Dog Projects main goal is to rehabilitate people, while saving the lives of animals. It
provides dogs with a second chance at life, while teaching life lessons and skills to those who have
been discarded by society.
The Prison Dog Project has two focuses of training, Canine Good Citizen training and Service
training.
The Canine Good Citizen training is to teach the dogs basic behavioral commands, such as sit, stay,
and shake. This is the shorter, less-intense program that allows more animals to be trained.
The Service training takes 1 1/2 - 2 years to complete and teaches the dogs how to be service dogs
for the disabled.
| Prison Dog Project: How it all began |
For more information or to learn how you can help visit http://www.pathwaystohope.org/prison.htm,
email PAL at info@palhumanesociety.org, or call us at 240-6848.
email PAL at info@palhumanesociety.org, or call us at 240-6848.
Maine Correctional Institute
Fidos for Freedom
Stark Youth Authority
| Sanger B. Powers Correctional Institute in Wisconsin |
| Downeast Correctional Facility |
| Helping Paws |
| Rebibbia Prison in Rome, Italy training service dogs |
This dog was rescued from a shelter
and trained in the Prison Dog Program.
He is now a successful service dog.
and trained in the Prison Dog Program.
He is now a successful service dog.
| Prison Dogs Pax and Nicky |