Probably one of the best news items I’ve seen in a long time (CBS Evening News). They profiled a prison…perhaps more than one…which takes shelter dogs to prisons for training and rehabiliation by the inmates. From what was shown, seems like the pups do as much rehabilitating as they, themselves, get. Training over they then are ready to be adopted by the general public. Many are trained to assist prospective owners who are disabled. It’s an excellent and worthwhile programme but, for as much as it serves multi-purpose, the core of this project certainly appears to be that those dogs are loved even before they arrive at their new ‘forever’ homes…as are their temporary custodians. Regardless of the reason for being locked up, the men and women who choose the responsibility for their dogs sure seem to appreciate and enjoy the opportunity and most…if not all…say it changes them for the better. I can believe it…most of us can agree that caring for a companion animal…especially those who are on a ’last chance’ or have nowhere else to go…find joy, fulfillment and a return from them that cannot be bought anywhere.
Check this out: http://www.pathwaystohope.org/prison.htm When was the last time you watched a prison documentary showing genuine happiness and affection among the inmates like these? Or trust like this shown to a hardened criminal by anyone or anything other than a dog? I’ve always believed there is a little bad in the best of us, a little good in the worst…and trust a dog to find it, bring it out. We spend billions of dollars each year incarcerating men and women for misdeeds, felonies, and the recividism rate causes most law-abiding people to want to scream and pull their hair out. What…as seems to have occurred in more than a few of the cases…a project like this would be a catalyst for a turnaround? I don’t know what such figures would be at this juncture but it’s certainly worth a try particularly when both dogs and inmates benefit from the programme already. Not everyone gets the opportunity…rightly so the inmates who want to participate must be free of having caused problems etc. for at least six months prior but that alone, the fact that those who succeed in participating had a real interest in doing so. What do they get out of it? As far as I can tell nothing but the love, trust and loyalty of four-legged friend. But doesn’t that go a long way to restore faith in oneself?
I’d really like to see more such instituitions initiate such a programme. I’d love to see it here on our peninsula and, as much for the inmates also for the dogs who might just be expecting one last meal and the sad last walk to their execution for no other reason than being unwanted. It’s a good thing when both giver and receiver each get second chances at a productive life…and in these instances, giving and receiving isn’t a single role to “one or the other”.
Take a look and listen: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/30/eveningnews/main4559511.shtml
Major kudos to the people who brought this to being…the prison staff, prisoners, shelters and everyone who donates to make it work.
