Death row dogs.

[Wildcard Ky]

They have a program here in Ky called "Death row Dogs". It's a program where dogs in the pound are marked to be destroyed, but they're sent off to a prison to be trained by prisoners.

Here's a blurb from their description of the training:

She is doing very well with her obedience training. She's part of Class 17 of the Death Row Dogs. That is a program with the Muhlenberg Co. Humane Society and the Green River Correctional Complex in Central City Kentucky. This program began in 2004 and is based on the show Jail House Dogs that was shown on Animal Planet. Our program has 40 dedicated trainers for a total of 20 dogs. All of us must be heartworm negative and up to date on our shots in order to be in the program.I will live in with my 2 trainers in their cell for this intensive 8-10 wk.training. Upon graduation I will be crate trained, leash trained, and housebroken. I will be trained in basic obedience. ( sit, down, stay,etc.) I will be trained to ring a bell to let you know when I have to go potty.

I've been wanting to get a second dog. I think I'll apply for one these. This seems like a wonderful program to me. It truly benefits everyone.

If anyone would like to read more, here's a link to their website.

Death row dogs

 

[Guest]

This is good news for shelter animals.

Thanks for the link, Wildcard!

 

[BlackShanglan]

*nods* I wish that the shelter I used to work with would have really pushed for that sort of program. We discussed it, but the higher-ups were concerned about insurance issues, transport logistics, and the welfare of animals we could not monitor directly. Those are real concerns, but the benefits to everyone in this sort of training program are immense. Learning to deal with animal behavior in a calm and solution-oriented manner is a skill that transfers well to dealing with humans, and with just a bit of additional (human-behavior-oriented) counselling, these lessons could play a valuable role in rehabilitation of prisoners. It even puts the human part of the pair on the road to a marketable skill.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

I've been accepted for this dog. I'll be picking her up on Oct. 2. I'll definitely be giving her a new name though.

My new prison dog

 

[Guest]

I've been accepted for this dog. I'll be picking her up on Oct. 2. I'll definitely be giving her a new name though.

My new prison dog

Oh, she's lovely!

And yeah - she needs a new name.

 

[rgraham666]

Lovely dog, Wildcard.

And yes, she does need a different name.

 

[starrkers]

Nice looking dog, shame about the name!

 

[wordofvirtue]

My heart's all warm and I'm not even really a dog person. Wonderful program and a good looking dog. Congrats!

 

[Wildcard Ky]

J-Lo is now home with us, and her name is now Trixie.

It was a pretty unusual experience going to get her. In order to get the dog, you actually go into the prison and get the dog from the inmates that have been training them. You go through all of the security procedures, and go through three sets of double doors before you get to the area where they will bring the dogs. By double doors, I mean you go through a door, and there's another door about 20 feet in front of it. You can't go through the next door until the one behind you is locked. The prison is double fenced and has razor wire on both fences. You're well inside the fence when you meet the inmates.

There were 20 dogs in this class, and each dog has two trainers. The trainers are cell mates, and the dog lives in the cell with the trainers 24/7. You spend 30-45 minutes talking with the trainers, and they tell you everything they can about the dog. They keep a daily log of the training the dog has received, and go over it with you. They show you all of the things the dog can do, and what the commands are. Other than the fact that you're in a prison, it's a very nice and casual setting.

Security is impressive for the adopting families as well. The trainers aren't told anything except your first name. They're not allowed to ask your address or anything like that. You can volunteer that information if you wish, but they can't ask for it. They like progress reports and pictures of the dogs they've trained, so the prison has set up a system where you mail a letter and some pictures to a prison official, and they'll pass it all along to the inmates without them being able to see your name or return address on the envelope.

These guys really love the dogs. They get very close to them over the 10 week course. Of the 40 inmates that were there to present the dogs to their new owners, I'd say at least 15 of them were crying as the dogs left.

The 40 trainers will get their next 20 dogs on Monday to begin another 10 week program.

 

[slyc_willie]

Good for you, Ky.

And good choice on her new name