Wow! It's been almost a month since my last post!
So much has happened (some good and some bad)that I just haven't had time to get in here. I'll try to make up for it over the next few days. In the meantime, here's the kind of story I like to read - full of doggy warmth, love, and hope.
Canines get second chance with some help from inmates at Fraser Valley Institution
Heather Travis
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Spud, a six-month-old mutt with serious "dominance issues," was facing death row at the Langley Animal Protection Society.
But he, and another 12 dogs, were thrown a bone Wednesday when they were given a prison sentence for behavioural problems at a human jail.
His new trainers are also behind bars. Six inmates at the Fraser Valley Institution for women are being given a chance to turn around the snarling and disobedient Spud -- and a handful of other anti-social dogs -- into adoptable pets.
On the dog-day afternoon, as the sun reflected off the Abbotsford federal prison's chain-link fence, Spud and a half-dozen troubled canines were marched past the prison gates.
They began barking, jumping and running in circles as they were met by three women, some long-time criminals, who replied with a chorus of cooing, shaking paws and patting the dogs.
"I find it very relaxing," said 23-year old Amanda Goldsworthy, an armed robber serving four years. "It helps us go through our problems before we go back into the community."
The prison has worked with the Langley Animal Protection Society to bring problem pooches to the prison's kennel to be taught new tricks. They're in for a serious attitude adjustment.
Bailey, a 14-month Pomeranian, looked subdued as she cradled in Goldsworthy's lap, hidden from the sun.
The prisoner, who is serving the last year of her sentence, has just started her second day of training.
"The dogs are like kids. It is just like daycare," she joked. "Hopefully I will finish [the training program] before I leave."
This program gives prisoners a chance to learn dog training and grooming skills that they can use upon release if they choose to work in the field.
"It is really rewarding work," said Alex Young, another prisoner who didn't want to speak about her conviction. "Hopefully, I will make a change in their lives."
But the real change can be seen in the faces of the women. In spite of their criminal past, the women soften as they talk about their special dogs.
"They give you unconditional love," Young said.
Jayne Nelson, a so-called dog whisperer from the Langley Animal Protection Society, is the trainer for the women and the dogs.
"A lot of the women can identify with the dogs," said Nelson. "A lot of them have grown up neglected and abused and they are taking care of neglected and abused pooches."
Although the dog-training program has only been running for a week, the effect of the program is noticeable, she added.
"Dogs don't care what you did last week or last year. As long as you take care of them today, they love you," she said.
The difficult dogs are being "reformed" so that they, too, can return to society and find a loving home. Families interested in adopting the dogs go to the prison to learn training strategies from the inmates.
"For the first time in their lives, they are the expert," said David Dick, programs team leader at the institution.
In a corner of the prison yard, far way from the prison cells, the women work and play with the dogs for eight hours each day. They also provide a "doggy daycare" for canines belonging to prison employees.
"They show up before their shift and stay after. We are kicking them out the door," said Nelson.
"Most of the best employees I ever had have been from inside an institution."
htravis@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
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