The Beginning

Founded in January 2002 by Woods, Second Chance is one of more than 100 programs modeled after the Prison Pet Partnership Program (PPPP), the first program in which inmates trained shelter dogs to be service (or assistance) animals for people with disabilities. Located at the Washington State Correctional Center for Women (WSCCW) in Gig Harbor, PPPP was formed in 1981 with the help of Sister Pauline Quinn, a Dominican nun who wanted to help inmates give back to the community.

PPPP’s mission is threefold: to rehabilitate offenders by offering vocational skills, to rescue unwanted shelter dogs and to train these dogs to help people with disabilities, said Susie McGehee, a PPPP training coordinator.

After discussions with Quinn and people at other prison pet programs, Woods started meeting with a small group of volunteers to discuss organizing Arizona’s first prison dog program at the Florence Correctional Center (FCC). (Woods has multiple sclerosis and relies on her self-trained service dog, Satchmo, when her MS flares up or she becomes fatigued.) Many meetings with prison staff members encouraged Warden Frank Luna to open the medium-security institution’s doors to Second Chance.

Special Dogs

These programs usually rescue shelter dogs between 1 and 3 years old, but younger or older dogs are sometimes selected, depending on their personalities. Dogs chosen for the programs must be easygoing, dependable and willing to work. Timid or aggressive dogs are avoided. Mixed breeds make excellent service dogs, especially those mixed with labrador or golden retriever.

	The author tries working with a border collie mix, Dash, during a class session. Photo by James S. Wood

Before adopting a dog, both Woods and McGehee perform a temperament test on the animal to give them a better idea of its suitability for service animal work. Initially sent to live with foster parents, these dogs are socialized, exposed to various environments and further evaluated.

Turned into the shelter in Tucson as a stray, Chance was bailed out by Woods in January 2004. A 5-month-old black labrador mix, he was the youngest dog chosen for Second Chance and had come into the program at least six months after the other dogs. But with his easygoing nature and ability to learn quickly, there was no question that he was made to be a service dog.

Last but not least, Chance joined Loki, Buddy, Sam and Dash to complete Second Chance’s first group of dogs-in-training.

It Takes a Village

Second Chance is run by a core group of 20 volunteers, including transporters, foster parents, puppy socializers, and even the veterinarian and trainer.

Second Chance’s first group of dogs stayed with their foster parents for one to three weeks. Now the dogs stay with families for a longer time because it can take at least three weeks before the dogs’ true personalities show through. While in their foster homes, the dogs are taken to the veterinarian where they’re examined, immunized, and spayed or neutered.

All prison pet programs select inmates according to strict guidelines. Offenders can’t have a history of child or animal abuse.

"They understand from the beginning that this is not a right to participate, but that their behavior has earned them the privilege to participate in this type of program," Woods said. "They know that if they do not comply with the rules and regulations they can be suspended, and they have been."

Most guidelines have to do with the safety of the dogs and the program’s volunteers. Of FCC’s 1,600 inmates, only 12 were chosen to participate in Second Chance’s first session in 2003.

Inmates work on socializing the newcomer, Harper. Photo by James S. Wood

These men care for and train dogs to retrieve dropped items, open and close doors, turn lights on and off, pull wheelchairs, provide stability or balance, and remove articles of clothing. Second Chance Trainer Jay Smith, who owns Community Dog Training in the Tucson area, volunteers his time to teach inmates to train the dogs using a positive reinforcement technique called clicker training.

Service dogs in training remain in the prison setting for anywhere from nine months to two years, depending on their level of improvement.

Sometimes after less than a month it’s obvious which dogs aren’t going to make it as service dogs because they’re too hyper or aggressive with other dogs. These "paroled pets" are adopted out as pets. Chance’s friend, Sam, would soon become a paroled pet.

A Winning Team

Matching dogs and clients (client is the term preferred by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners) is important for a successful service dog team. Finding a good match depends on the personalities of the dog and the client so that the team works efficiently. The client’s need is also a key factor.

"If we have a dog that is going to be really good at walking next to a wheelchair but isn’t strong or solid enough to walk next to someone who needs to lean on a dog to stand it probably wouldn't be a good match," McGehee said.

Doing My Time

Like other service dog organizations, prison pet programs usually have waiting lists three to five years long. Rather than a first-come first-served basis, clients are selected based on need.

I use a wheelchair because of Friedreich’s ataxia. When Chance came into my life I’d just been turned down by a California service dog organization for the second time; the dog they’d matched with me dropped out of the program for medical reasons. This was after three years on waiting lists of several organizations.

When I received a call in early May 2004 from Woods, who was looking for a match for Chance, I quickly agreed to a last-minute trip to FCC, where I’d meet my future service dog. Like Chance, I’d entered the program late.

	Chance opens the refrigerator with ease. Photo by Jamie Williams

Even though I was with a group of volunteers and three other clients, I must admit I was a little uneasy cruising down the prison hallways, passing big men in orange jumpsuits. I felt better once we entered the small library and met the guys and their charges.

The first half hour we played a positive reinforcement game where we (the clients) tried to get volunteering inmates (acting as stand-ins for dogs) to complete simple tasks (opening the door, turning on the light or picking up a book) by marking the desired behavior with an audible click from a handheld device. (Before this point I had no idea what a clicker was.) After taking turns at the clicker game, we met with our inmate trainers and prospective dogs.

Chance closes drawers with ease, too. Photo by Jamie Williams

Chance’s two main inmate trainers, Alan Newby and Shay Boziel, worked with me for the next hour and a half, teaching me the proper way to instruct Chance.

Over the next five weeks, our group traveled to the prison to work with the inmate trainers and dogs, went on outings with our dogs and even took them home for a weekend of bonding. With help from Second Chance volunteers, Chance and I were able to graduate with the rest of our class in June 2004.

Homecoming

Unfortunately, of Second Chance’s four client-dog teams, three broke up because of the client’s medical or personal issues. Dash was paroled, but Loki and Buddy found new clients right away.

Chance liked his new home — complete with lots of treats and a tiny West Highland white terrier to terrorize. (They soon became friends.)

His specialties are retrieving dropped items, opening and closing the refrigerator, and slamming my chair’s footrests into position. In late summer, he also began going to work with me at MDA every day. I was surprised that such a young (10 months) dog would lie down and let me work until I needed his help, mostly to pick up things I’ve dropped.

Second Chance’s dedicated volunteers continue to help me work through any problems or potential hazards with Chance. Smith showed me how to get Chance to pick up paper without shredding it and to stay out of the swimming pool unless invited. Barking at other dogs is still an ongoing struggle, but Second Chance is always available to offer advice or assistance.

Other problems I’m currently having at work stem from my reluctance to enforce the universal service dog rule — please don’t pet me. Everyone from Second Chance warned me about that, but it took Chance ignoring me to make me realize why there’s such a rule. Why should he listen to me giving him commands, when he can get attention from my animal-loving co-workers?

I spread the word in the building, and people respected the new guidelines.

If his progress isn’t going as fast as I’d like, it’s because I’m not working with him enough. When I get home from work in the evenings, I’m exhausted, and on weekends I’m recovering from the week.

This brings up an important point: Consider your schedule and energy level before getting a service dog. Dogs aren’t robots. Keeping them finely tuned involves work on your part.

Chance and I haven’t yet completed Assistance Dogs International’s Public Access Certification Test, which ensures that the team is appropriate to be in public. We still have things to work on, but I’m confident it won’t be long.

Second Chance is currently training its second set of dogs. Since the program is fairly new, volunteers are still working on getting more details in writing, improving the selection process, lengthening training time, choosing more inmate trainers and expanding to prisons closer to Tucson.

"[We’re] trying to take what we’ve learned and grow from that and make changes that are needed to make this a really good program," Woods said.

Other Prison Programs

Some prison pet programs take in shelter dogs, and inmates work on behavioral problems and basic obedience commands until they’re adopted out as pets.

"That’s still a win-win situation because they are saving the lives of the dogs and they’re helping, hopefully, to keep these dogs from being returned [to shelters] once they’re adopted," Woods said.

Second Chance and PPPP are among the few prison service dog programs that don’t partner with freestanding service dog organizations. They also provide service dogs free of charge, but there usually is a small application fee.

California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona partners with Canine Support Teams, which means inmates train the dogs and turn them over to the organization. From there, Canine Support Teams’ staff members and volunteers facilitate the placement of the service dogs. In this case, clients pay whatever the organization usually charges. CST charges a $50 application fee, but some organizations charge for training.

Founded in 1989 by Carol Roquemore, CST in Temecula, Calif., decided to partner with CIW in order to rehabilitate inmates while meeting the needs of more clients. CST offers prison-trained dogs as well as dogs trained by the organization. Dogs can be trained more quickly in prison because inmates have a lot of time on their hands, allowing the client to receive the dog in less time. But clients don’t get to choose whether or not they get a dog from the prison.

"The prison environment can be tough, although we have support from most of CIW staff," said Roquemore, who admits that some staff members don’t want dogs in their prison. "If the dog isn’t perfectly behaved, we’re asked to remove [him or her]. And all dogs have their moments!"

Most of the prison programs that partner with organizations use donated purebred puppies because they know the lineage of the puppy and that the breed makes for good service dogs.

There’s no denying that all prison pet programs share a similar goal of offering hope to both people and animals. To find out more about these programs or to see if there’s one in your area, visit www.pathwaystohope.org/prison.htm.

Everyone strives to remain independent throughout life but none perhaps as passionately as the teenager who tastes independence and makes empowering life choices for the first time. Adolescence is no different for Middle Tennessean Josh Hamby, 18, with one exception. Josh has a partner.

Fifteen years ago, when Josh, of Tullahoma, Tenn., was found to have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a friend told Josh’s mother, Laura, about the benefits of service dogs. Long waiting lists from service dog providers and her husband, Mike’s, allergies contributed to Laura’s decision to postpone acquiring a canine assistant for her son.

The Right Time

But about two years ago, Josh fell while walking and has been wheelchair-dependent ever since. This life change was a difficult transition for the free-spirited Josh.

"His spirit plummeted along with his physical strength," Laura says, "and he continued to lose strength rapidly. He can’t get his hand from his lap to his control [joystick] without a great deal of effort. He’s also having more trouble getting comfortable in bed so his sleep — and ours — is disturbed."

Josh wanted a service dog, and his parents agreed that the time had come. His mother said his desire came in part from "feelings of hopelessness when he drops something and can’t pick it up, or not being able to wake us at night because he can’t reach the intercom button."

Josh also dreamed of a partnership that would draw attention away from his chair and onto the dog.

One day in March, Josh and his parents were as excited as kids at Christmas before their five-hour drive to Alpharetta, Ga. There they’d attend a two-week training camp at the nonprofit Canine Assistants, where Josh would work with a dozen or more highly trained dogs and learn which one would become his partner and share the bond of unconditional love he’d been dreaming of.

"I’m telling everyone!" Josh said before he left for the training, about six months after completing his application. "I’ve been counting the days but I’m not nervous, just excited.

"The dog of my dreams will make me feel safe, for starters. The dog will be smart but silly and playful, curious but obedient and reliable. I’m really excited about bringing my dog to school and church. Everyone is anxious to meet my dog, not just me."

Most Canine Assistants service dogs are born, raised and trained at the facility and undergo a rigorous screening prior to their partnerships. They begin their formal education with a puppy trainer, then graduate to an adult trainer and finally are homeschooled for three to six months.

Doris Dressler, Canine Assistants’ homeschool director, says the dogs are placed in volunteers’ homes in order to "fine-tune" them before they go out and work.

"The dogs go everywhere with their volunteers — work, school, shopping, you name it — so they get exposure out in public and become acclimated to being on the go all day long," she explains. "The dog actually works — pays for things holding the wallet in his mouth and takes receipts from counter level, carries the Wal-Mart bag out to the car, pushes the handicapped button to open a door … those kinds of things.

"It’s like an internship for the dog and an opportunity for us to correct any issues there might be such as with car riding, housebreaking, chewing and so on."

The Right Dog

The first few days at the training camp were exhausting yet exhilarating for Josh. Several dogs that had completed their training and homeschooling were eligible to be matched with potential recipients. While his parents watched from the background, Josh seemed to hit it off immediately with a 22-month-old golden retriever named Hampton.

		Josh Hamby has experienced less pain and depression since he paired up with Hampton. Photo by Doris Dressler, Canine Assistants

"Hampton was so cool!" Josh says. "He approached me from the side and didn’t jump up and get in my face. He was quiet and paid attention. When he did ‘lap,’ he didn’t lick my face, he got off on my command, and then he licked my hand.

"I also like how he is big enough that his head is level with my armrest so he’s easy for me to pet."

It took no time at all for Hampton to realize that when Josh’s arm falls off his armrest, Hampton can nuzzle underneath Josh’s hand and, by raising his head, lift the arm back onto the armrest, putting Josh again in control of his joystick.

"He’s just really smart!" Josh says. "And he’s so instinctive. I wanted him from the start. I was sweating and so nervous until they all agreed that Hampton should be my partner."

"Usually you can tell a good match by watching the recipient work the dog," says Lauren Herndon, Hampton’s trainer. "It was obvious with Josh and Hampton. They were very in tune with each other from the beginning. Josh was in love with Hampton and Hampton couldn’t take his eyes off Josh. You could tell that Hampton would already do anything for him."

A Great Partnership

What began as a search for a partner to assist Josh physically soon turned into much more as Herndon describes Canine Assistants’ optimal partnership.

"I’m hoping that Hampton will boost Josh’s confidence level and take his mind off what is going on with his health," Herndon says.

Hampton opens doors for Josh, lifts Josh's hand to his wheelchair joystick and stays by his side whatever the weather. Photo by Doris Dressler, Canine Assistants

After returning home with Hampton, Josh’s parents reported that their son was smiling more than he had in years and not asking for pain medicine that he’d previously requested at least twice a day.

"Hampton has accompanied Josh to doctors’ appointments where he’s received difficult news," Herndon was told. The dog sensed Josh’s sadness and has been a great source of comfort.

Mike Hamby says, "That first night together Josh slept six hours straight. I can’t remember when he last slept that well and he has cut his pain meds by one-third. This is better than we ever hoped for.

"From the day they were paired up," Hamby adds, "Josh was learning to become more assertive and in charge. Hampton tests Josh like a teenager tests his parents, but at the same time, he’s very mindful of Josh’s energy level and emotions."

Laura remarks, "I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Hampton is a blessing to us all.

"For so many years we watched as Josh was losing his strength and abilities, becoming depressed and more dependent upon others to do even the simplest of tasks. Now Josh has someone who is dependent upon him. Although we assist Josh with Hampton’s care, Josh is in charge and we couldn’t be happier.

"Having Hampton in our family may not always make life easier but he certainly makes life better."

Hampton also gets Josh outdoors more to walk him, and Josh is talking about going to community college after he graduates from high school next year.

The Right Decision

Experts in the field aren’t surprised.

Francois Martin, associate director of the Center for the Study of Animal Well-Being at Washington State University in Pullman, says, "This young man is experiencing the benefits of the human-animal bond."

For more than 25 years, researchers from the People-Pet Partnership at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine have studied the effects of human-animal interactions. They’ve observed improvements in people’s social behaviors and attitudes about life.

Martin says researchers believe that "companion animals influence how people perceive themselves and how they perceive others.

	Photo by Doris Dressler, Canine Assistants

"In addition to helping people with disabilities in their activities of daily living, some argue that the greatest benefit of this partnership may be the integration of people with special needs into society. The presence of a service animal may provide a link for social interaction, keeping people with disabilities from growing socially isolated.

"Other studies show that animals can provide significant psychological support during periods of intense stress," he says, leading to fewer doctor visits, fewer medications and thus financial savings.

Laura has her own explanation:

"God gave Hampton to Josh just when he needed him most. We put our faith in God and our trust in Canine Assistants, and our prayers were answered beyond what we hoped for."

Laura says that while Hampton recognizes Josh as his "dad," he also feels connected to Josh’s parents.

"Hampton even tried to shove a Nylabone into Mike’s mouth during a group hug. He may belong to Josh," she says, "but Mike and I are still family!"

Simply put, Herndon says, "We hope for these changes in every recipient’s life. That is one of the main reasons we train these dogs — to make a difference in people’s lives."