Training Rescue Dogs as Service Dogs for Veterans

"A chance at redemption, to right some of the wrongs in their life"

Canines With a Cause has been training dogs in the local state prison for over four years, the dogs live and train with inmates. Prison based dog training programs not only benefit the organization and keep training cost effective, they also benefit the inmate handlers. 

There is never a moment a dog is left without a human companion. This 24-7 approach is what makes prisoners the ideal trainers, ordinarily, that kind of round-the-clock attention would cost thousands of dollars.

But really, the training goes both ways.

 "Having him here with us every day, it gives us a reason to wake up every morning. It lets us know we're not total failures. It lets us know we can heal."

Women who have committed crimes of passion learn patience and impulse control. Women who lied and stole and cheated learn to trust and be trusted. Women who took the lives of others learn compassion and care.

"I wanted to prove that I could take care of something other than myself," said Sawsan Whitelaw, who is training a small boxer-pit bull mix named Glory. Whitelaw, who is serving an indeterminate prison term of five years to life after pleading guilty to murder in 2002.

Corrections Capt. Maryann Reding said the change in the prison has been palpable: The cellblocks where the dogs live have been better behaved; there's a joy and lightness in the air wherever the animals go; hardened criminals get down on hands and knees to play with the dogs, while guards stop by the cells to help or say hello.

"It has done a lot of good for their self-esteem and sense of self-worth," she said. "It lets them care about something more than themselves for a while."

CWAC will be expanding the prison training programs to other states this year including Idaho and Nevada. Incarcerated veterans are training dogs for other veterans in Carson City and gaining important vocotional skills. A win for everyone.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Cathy

Links:

• interview with prison trainers