Prison Planet

Trainers, with Dolly and Max
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A week ago Ranger and Lisa attended the graduation of the most recent class of our local Paws in Prison (PIP) program at the Wakulla Correctional Institution, and its one-year celebration. This program partners shelter animals -- most "last chance dogs" -- with inmates who obedience train the animals under the tutelage of trainer Jay King.

We've written about the program before because we think it is completely worthy ("What If"). This is a totally volunteer program (run on donations), and every 8 weeks a new pack cycles through. The inmates spoke with visitors after the celebration. One told me that they grow very attached, and would not emotionally be able to do it if they did not immediately move on to a new animal. But, he said, "We still talk about our dogs."

56 dogs have been graduated in five classes thus far, and have been placed in homes throughout the country. About 60 inmates have participated, and the program has an almost 100% successful placement rate.

A slide show featured many of the dogs in their new placements, aboard sailboats and generally having a good time. It was obvious watching the dogs with their trainers that they were well-adjusted and playful animals.

One of the speakers read from a letter received by an inmate participant (many of whom have been with the program for the entire year): "Most people figure we're bad if we're in here. We don't have much chance to prove we're any good, but this program and being able to put the dogs in good homes is a way to prove that."

I spoke briefly with Mr. King, who explained his belief that each good someone puts into the world helps counter a wrong. There's no reason not to not believe such a positive equation.

King's mission is "to enhance the relationship between the inmate and the dog through education, communication and companionship, thus promoting rehabilitation for both parties." He explained the central tenet of training is "trust and respect." Training will not occur until the handler has learned self-discipline, and can then elicit those responses from the dogs.

We are not naive, but we are tired of America's prison planet mentality which seeks only the incarceration and punitive model of deterrence. We must do something to address our huge incarceration rates lest prisons and prisoners become our new "produce nothing" product. According to the NYT, "The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population. But it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners" (U.S. Prison Population Dwarfs That of Other Nations).

One can almost imagine an America whose main industries are prisons, hospitals, Big Pharma and PepsiCo snack factories, to keep the whole shebang running like a well-oiled machine. The stuff of some horrific dystopian sci-fi novel.

Many institutions throughout the country feature similar programs ("Paws for Patriots"). If you have one in your area, you might consider participating in some capacity.

Most inmates will return to society at some point. Why not foster their humanity, as well?