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7:23pm

I'm going to prison!!

Yes, that is right. I am going to prison and serving 90. That would be 90 minutes and then out.

George always has a fit when I say things like "heading to prison and doing time". And folks will just look at me "what".

By "going to prison", I am talking about our humane society's prison program. It is called the Fresh Start Canine Program. It is where inmates foster some of our dogs, teach them basic commands and work on housebreaking.

I am now going on every tuesday for a while. The prison staff person who is in charge of the prison side of the program is out for a while. So I have to go in and make sure the handlers are doing their job of fostering/training correctly. No, I am not a professional trainer. I know how to train my personal dogs to do what I want.

With that said, I am now worried about my second class which is tuesday. My first one, I made one "error" and the guys questioned me on it. You see, they use head halters/gentle leaders for training. I got the prison to switch to them. I did that because I know how to train using a choker chain. I learned how. Yet when the handlers at the prison were using choker chains, they were not using them properly and I had a fit. So I got them to use head halters/gentle leaders.

My "error" was when I went to correct a dog and I started to "pop" the dog which when you use a choker chain, it makes a noise if done proper. That noise gets the dog to stop and listen. The "pop" should never ever cause a choke on the dog. (Remember, I know how to use a choker). Well, you can not "pop" using a halti. And let me tell you, they all asked what I had tried to do. I was caught.

I then explained that I have never really trained using a head halter. I had one with Loki, my first dog, who I had taught so many things to, but could never get the dog to heel. The head halter came out and I purchased it. It was the first time I had ever walked Loki and Freya and did not have my arm pulled out of the socket. So that was all I had ever really used the head halter for was for walking Loki.

Now, I have to go back in on tuesday and train some more and look like I know what I am doing using a head halter/gentle leader. I am lucky that a DVD comes with the purchase of a gentle leader. So I will be learning all I can by tuesday on how to proper training using a gentle leader/halti.

On a separate note, I was asked this weekend if I get upset or nervous about going into the prison. I said yes and no. Yes because there are inmates in the prison that I don't deal with as they are not part of the program. I don't know anything about them and I don't want to.

And no I don't get nervous around the dog handlers. I don't ask why my dog handlers are in prison. I don't want to know. I already know that the prison has screened them to make sure they can be handlers. I just want to treat them like all the other foster folks. I want them to treat that animal with the love and respect that it deserves. In return, I will give them respect.

I laugh with the handlers and joke. I can also be very serious and yell. But the one thing that makes how I treat them to the way they get treated by prison staff, I try and be a friend.

Some of the inmates do not get any visitors. So when I come in, I sometimes get nervous if several of them "swarm" me. But I have learned that it is not an attack on me. It is because they want attention that is positive. They want to be reassured that they are making a difference by being in this program.

Several of the handlers really want to learn anything and everything about canines. They will request books to read or different training material. Some what to work in shelters, kennels, vet offices helping to clean kennels and care for the animals. Some want to go on and train dogs. Some want to get into vet tech school and learn more.

I have helped several of the handlers once they got out. I helped one get a job as a trainer at a Petco in New York, then he moved on to a better paying job training dogs for security/guard work. (yea, kind of funny when you think about it). I help one start his own rescue. He wanted to pull one or two dogs, train them and then adopt them out. No shelter was willing to work with him in the area where he lived. I placed several calls and now he has helped in saving several dogs a year. Yea, he is one person doing what he can for the animals.

I personally like knowing that I might be able to turn even one of these guys around to help better the world of animals once they get out. And also make the handler a better person.

Yes, I know they did something bad to get in to start with. A few of them I have learned did stupid things like "steal the mayor's car, went for a joy ride, then a car chase, to a wreck", "needed extra funds to pay bills, repaid replaced it as quickly as possible, but one time got caught". I am sure some are in for other reasons, but again, I don't want to know.

There have been several who on the day they got out of prison would meet me at the shelter. And on that day I give them a hug. There is no physical contact at the prison. I am not even suppose to shake hands. Sometimes, I forget and do. But on the day they get out, I usually cry as they are the ones who really put forth the work to better themselves along with helping the animals. I cry because I have lost a good dog handler. But yet, I know I have a friend if I need one. Just as I am a friend to them if they need me.

As a matter of fact, I have four cell numbers programmed into my cell phone that are former dog handlers at the prison. I let them know if they get upset, happy, whatever, I want them to call me. I want them to know that "just because the fence and barb wire is not there, that I still am".

I want to help the animals at our shelter. And without the prison program where about 40 or more dogs live on a daily bases, our humane society would not be able to save as many as we do. And without the inmates deciding they want to help in saving lives of the animals, there would be no Fresh Start Canine Program.

So yes, I am going to prison on tuesday just after breakfast, but I will be out in time for lunch. And who knows, maybe I will make one more friend while I am there.