Inmates, Stray Dogs, and Rehabilitationby Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger 09 Dec 2008 11:41 AM Last night one of the local news stations reported what started out to be a sad story about bad dog owners leaving dogs out in the cold to fend for themselves. The reporter was following around animal control officers who were on "cold dog patrol." They round up dogs left in yards with no food or water and very little or no shelter. In some cases the dogs have been completely abandoned as their owners have since moved on. Concerned neighbors called in to make sure the dogs got help. I was happy to hear there are laws against this. I believe it's even an arrestable offense, not just one you get fined for. But it made me mad to see the dogs being left like that. One officer even commented about how it's not just physically harmful to the dog but emotionally damaging too. As he put it, "They have feelings too. They don't know what's going on and get scared and miss their people when they disappear on them." But then the story took a happy turn. They showed convicts making dog houses for dogs that are left out in the cold. Trouble is, it didn't say how the dog houses are used once they're made. (I know dogs use them, but do they go to families who leave their dogs outside like is done with PETA's "Angels for Animals" doghouse program?) All it said is it helps rehabilitate inmates by teaching them skills and how to go to work everyday. I even went to News 5's website to try and find out more about it, but turns out that wasn't the channel I saw the story on. (I later discovered I'd seen it on News 4.) But my mistake led me to discover News 5 had also reported about an inmate rehabilitation program dealing with stray puppies. Inmates have to be referred by their case manager to participate in a program where they take on the responsibility of training an abandoned puppy for 12 weeks. The puppy lives with them in their cell and everything. At the end of the 12 weeks both the puppies and their trainers participate in a graduation program. People overseeing the program say it's not just the puppies they see the change in. The inmate trainers also learn a thing or two from the puppies, such as self confidence, gentleness, and discipline. I think they also learn about heartbreak, because the pups are then taken to shelters and put up for adoption. Who knew jails were using dogs to rehabilitate inmates like this? I'm so glad I stumbled across both stories. I like these uplifting ones. Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here. Related Articles Strays: Wings Beneath Their Fur Can't Judge an Animal Lover By Their Cover Teach Your Dog to Leave It: Other Animals Learn more about Courtney Mroch  Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k. Relevantpets tags User Comments boglekim (6) 13 Sep 2009 01:45 PMYes I've heard about inmates take in puppies to train them to become eye dogs for blind people and hearing dogs for deaf people, etc. I was glad they are letting inmates take care of the puppies. And I do like it that they build dog houses for dogs/puppies. One thing I do agree is that it very sad when people left their dogs behind. It not hard to think and write down pro/cons of they should, if they can take care, if they afford to take care of them dogs. If they can't they shouldn't get them in first place. If for some reason they have to move and can't take their dog with them they should at least find home for them or take them to shelter. That not hard to do. I mean come on! Have some common sense to do the right thing. Yes there is a law on people who left their animals behind or treat them awful but it still not enough. They will always get other dog and do same thing over and over again. Community Tags inmates, jail, rehabilitation, stray dogs Discuss this article
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