Dogs in prison? They’re not inmates—they’re trainees! I interviewed the two dog trainers who run a prison dog-training program in my community (Spokane, Washington) to find out how it works.
Val Hughes: The Pawsitive Dog training program—what is it and where does it take place?
Carol Byrnes: The Pawsitive Dog prison training program is a cooperative effort between the Airway Heights Corrections Center (which houses over 2,000 medium- and long-term minimum-custody male inmates), SpokAnimal (a local animal shelter), and Diamonds in the Ruff (a local dog training business). AHCC provides the place and the handlers, SpokAnimal provides the dogs and all veterinary care, and Diamonds in the Ruff trainers Kim Imel and Carol Byrnes provide the curriculum and weekly class training. Food, treats, and other supplies are provided through donations from the community.
Photo by Carol Byrnes
Val Hughes: How did the two of you get involved?
Carol Byrnes: When I heard about it, I really couldn’t see myself teaching inmates in a prison. I offered to work behind the scenes in an advisory capacity and help with curriculum, etc. And then Kim and I took a tour. We met staff and saw where we would be teaching and I was hooked. I never imagined that I would look forward to going to prison every week!
Kim Imel: It was a Thursday morning and I was at our weekly staff meeting at SpokAnimal. I was sitting at one end of a U-shaped group of co-workers and watching Gail [Mackie, SpokAnimal’s head at the time] in profile, taking notes. It was all the typical stuff about policy and upcoming events for the shelter. Then Gail said, “So, I just got off the phone with Airway Heights Correction Center and we are going to start a dog training program out there.”
Gail continued to talk about it to the group. I sank farther and farther into my chair, trying to become invisible, wondering if I could slip out the door, which was only a few feet away, unnoticed. You see, in that room of 20+ people, I was the only professional dog trainer. As I was plotting my escape, Gail turned and looked directly at me and said, “We will talk later.”
I spent the better part of the next week avoiding Gail. Then one day, heading back to the shelter from lunch, I received a text from her as I was in line at Starbucks—something to the effect of “So, what do you think? You can do whatever you want. It would be your program to create.” And I knew I needed to get back with her.
I quickly contacted Carol to see if she would be willing to help me by reviewing my plan and curriculum, since I had never created a class or written curriculum up to that point. Carol agreed to be an advisor, so with that, I texted Gail back and relented. “Okay, fine, I will do it.” . . . the whole time thinking, ‘What are you doing, you idiot! You already work full-time for the shelter as a licensed vet tech in the clinic. You already teach part-time for Diamonds in the Ruff. Now you are taking on this huge project, and in a prison of all places!’ I was certain I needed my head examined.
But it’s the best thing that I have ever been cornered into!
That was all in July 2011. From July through November, we created the outline for the class, wrote curriculum, got things approved. It took till spring for the Department Of Corrections to get everything on their end approved. Dogs entered the prison for the first time in April 2012.
Val Hughes: How do the participants at the prison qualify to be part of the program?
Carol Byrnes: They apply for the position and are interviewed by AHCC staff. There are stringent requirements—no past offenses of animal cruelty, anger management issues, etc. They must be free of major infractions for a minimum amount of time and remain free of major infractions while in the program. Many have noted that they stay out of trouble because the program is so important to them.
Val Hughes: Where do the dogs come from and how are they chosen to be trained?
Carol Byrnes: The prison has a contract with SpokAnimal to provide the dogs for the program. Kim and I run the dogs through a temperament/behavior screening for suitability. We are looking for dogs who can handle the large population and the noise and activity level of the prison setting. The dogs live in the cells with their handlers and are under their supervision 24/7. They have a large, open, fenced lawn where they work and exercise daily.
Val Hughes: What’s included in the basic training done with the dogs in the program?
Carol Byrnes: The dogs are taught basic manners to help them become better pets for their future families, with the goal that they stay in their forever homes and never see the inside of a shelter again. Basic skills: loose-leash walking, come, sit, down, stand, stay, wait, off, leave-it, and go to your place. Crate training is also part of their curriculum. In addition, the guys teach them a variety of tricks.
All training is done through positive reinforcement. No force-training methods or correction-based training is used on the dogs—or on the handlers.
The handlers’ training includes clicker training, behavior modification, ethology, and body language. Each session includes various written assignments, book reports, and special learning units. Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog is required reading for all new-hires and the book is theirs to keep. We also have a special unit using Risë VanFleet’s Human Half of Dog Training, which focuses on interpersonal relations and people skills, and helps the dog-handler combos work as a team.
Val Hughes: What happens to the dogs who graduate from the program?
Carol Byrnes: Most of the dogs have families waiting and adoptions completed before they graduate and are united with their new families in the lobby on graduation day. If they don’t, they are transported back to SpokAnimal to be adopted there.
Val Hughes: You each adopted a dog who graduated from the program?
Carol Byrnes: Yes, Kim adopted Wrigley from the very first session. I adopted Ellie, a Rat Terrier/Jack Russell cross, from session three. What a great little dog she is!
Val Hughes: What’s your opinion of the effect that being involved in the dog-training program has on the participants from the prison?
Carol Byrnes: It may be a dog-training program, but it has a profound effect on the outlook of the men in the program. We have seen them grow in their personal interactions and ability to work together and with staff. Staff have commented on the changes: “He’s not the same guy!” after being in the program. Positive reinforcement helps both ends of the leash think differently about life. Positive reinforcement in a corrections center. Who knew what a change it could make?
In the words of one of our handlers after reading Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor and experiencing the power and change in perspective, “If my parents had read this book, taught me this way, I probably wouldn’t be in prison today.”
To read more about the Pawsitive Dog Training Program, visit SpokAnimal’s website at http://www.spokanimal.org/prisonpups.php or the program’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PawsitiveDogPrisonProgram/.
Donations are always needed. No taxpayer funds provide supplies or support for this program. Donations can be made to SpokAnimal, 710 N. Napa, Spokane, WA 99202, or through PayPal. Pawsitive Dogs’ prison page on SpokAnimal’s website (www.spokanimal.org) features a special PayPal link on the program page. Be sure to note PRISON DOGS in the comments section if you send in a check.
For information on the program or to become a Half Way Hounds prison dog foster home, contact MJ at halfwayhounds@spokanimal.org.
To Adopt a Prison Pup
For more information on adopting a prison pup and to download the application, go to http://www.spokanimal.org/adoptprisonpup.php. Email your application to halfwayhounds@spokanimal.org.
Send a Care Package to a Prison Pup!
Check out their Amazon Wish List at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2WTKHYWSDYY01/ref=topnav_lists_1
