Animal training programs have been popular in prisons across the country since their inception in the 1980s, and one special program in Indianapolis pairs death row dog inmates with young offenders.
Local animal welfare organization Paws and Think has been facilitating the “Pawsitive Corrections Program” at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center since October 2013, putting hundreds of dogs and young inmates through a training regimen that benefits both trainer and trainee.
The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper recently talked with Paws and Think President Brett Nelson about the program and how it’s helping two of the city’s most vulnerable populations.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: How does the program work?
Nelson: For four days during one week, we have kids who work with dogs and a trainer to train the dogs. We try to do one program per month, although that doesn’t always work out, because of scheduling.
How many kids have been through the program?
Since October 2013, we have put more than 120 dogs through the program. Usually we have two kids per dog, so something in the order of 240 different kids. These are kids who are doing well behavior-wise at the juvenile detention center, so this is a privilege not offered to everybody.
What do kids in this program learn?
Big picture, I think what kids learn is that you can accomplish things through patience and effort, and treating people and animals well. They get exposure to empathy that they don’t ordinarily have. Many of these kids have only seen dogs in the context of police dogs or protection dogs, or sometimes dog fighting. So the idea of having dogs as companions, for example, is something that may not necessarily have occurred to them. Specific nuts and bolts, they learn the power of positive reinforcement in terms of training dogs, and they come away with a feeling that they can make a difference. That difference sometimes is the difference between a dog being euthanized or finding a home in adoption, by them taking the time to invest a little bit of their own time and efforts.
What skills are the dogs learning?
They learn basic sit, stay, watch, down. We start working on heel. A little bit depends on the dog, but almost all of them get those basic commands through the program. At the end, they end up with a kennel card that says, my name is Bowser, and these are the tricks and skills I already know. That really helps the dog stand out at the shelter in terms of becoming adoptable.
Your website mentions your organization tries to capitalize on the “power of the human/animal bond.” What is that bond, and what makes it so unique?
I’m biased as a dog owner and lover for all my life, but there’s nothing quite like the unequaled love that you get from a devoted dog. It’s a feeling that’s easy to earn, just by treating dogs well. That power, that bond helps all of us through hard times. Therapy dogs help kids learn how to read, service dogs help identify diabetic seizures before they happen. There’s just a whole lot that can be done, from relieving basic anxiety to serving as medical assistance. It’s really strong stuff.
All of the dogs you work with come from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. What kind of screening do they go through to get into the program?
They do temperament testing. We have a volunteer who also works at Animal Care and Control involved in the behavior testing. You have to have the adoptability requirements of good temper with people and dogs in order to be in the program.
Logistically, how does this work? Does it take a lot of volunteer help to put on a program like this?
We have a trainer who is involved with Paws and Think, and she gets paid at a reduced rate to help the kids teach the dogs skills. We have a whole series of volunteers who organize and participate in the program. Logistically, Animal Care and Control has a group called Friends of Animal Care and Control that transports the dogs. As of July of this year, we’ve got shelters in the juvenile detention center for the dogs to stay in. So instead of being transported back and forth every day, they’re transported once at the front end and once at the back end.
Who takes care of the dogs while they’re staying overnight at the juvenile detention center?
We’re trying to get the kids involved more and more. Logistically, that’s still a challenge we’re working with. They can bathe the dogs while they’re there. And there’s a staff person at the juvenile detention center who helps oversee the process, and our volunteers come in to toilet the dogs in the mornings and evenings.
What feedback have you gotten about the impact this program has had?
We’ve gotten a lot of feedback that’s mostly positive from the kids who are involved in the program. Things are not going well in your life if you find yourself a resident of the juvenile detention center, and the kids are always really excited to be involved in the process. Some of the kids have talked about it and asked about it and indicated an interest in furthering a career as a dog washer, vet tech, veterinarian, that kind of thing. (The former juvenile detention center superintendent) used to talk enthusiastically about studies that have shown, for example, that animal programs in prisons can reduce recidivism rates, decrease loneliness, increase marketable skills and other things of that nature.
What is the best way for Recorder readers to get involved?
The biggest need, probably, is additional funding. Right now we’re funded by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and we managed to get a second grant from the Indianapolis Foundation to get the dog kennels. But this funding is limited, so donations to support the program would be very much appreciated. If folks are interested in getting involved in this program to work with kids and the dogs, first step would be to fill out a volunteer application, which is available online, then attend a volunteer orientation.
For more information about Paws and Think or to fill out a volunteer application, visit pawsandthink.org.
