March 11, 2008

CLINTON, N.J. - Since Sept. 11, the need for explosive detection canines, or “E-D-T’s,” has grown. And training these specialized dogs is a group not likely expected to be aiding law enforcement – prisoners.

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“This program is definitely changing my life,” said inmate Ivelesa Figueroa.

And it’s changing dogs’ lives too. At the Edna Mahan women’s prison in Clinton, New Jersey, a program called Puppies Behind Bars teaches inmates to train Labradors to become bomb sniffing dogs.

“I love this program because it gives us all different opportunities to show people that some of us do regret the things that we did and that we are trying to start giving something back to society, that, you know, we are willing to change,” said inmate Erika Riggins.

“It’s been a hard journey, but having him, having the program has helped me cope with it, has made me a more responsible person,” said Figueroa. “It definitely gives me something to do every day.”

“It’s a good feeling to know that she depends on me and that she needs me and she's there to give me love,” said inmate Kathryn Noll. “Some days are a little rough, but, for the most part, it's rewarding.

The dogs are with the women 24-7. Program Instructor Jan Brady said that the dogs learn the basics of their future jobs by working with inmates.

Tires, doors, seats and trunks all become work zones for both the canines and their temporary trainers.

Speaking to the success of the program, Dr. Gennifer Furst, a professor at William Paterson University, said that there's a dog that was trained by Puppies Behind Bars in every state.

“These programs are in over half of all states,” she said. “and the vast majority have been established since 2000, so it's a recent but growing trend.

According to Dr. Durst, programs like PBB exist in every state across the country, providing prisoners the opportunity to turn their time into positivity for themselves, the dogs and the people who benefit from the canines' training.

But for the women, the dogs are a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

“No matter what you do, no matter what you don't do, (the dogs) are always waiting for you,” said Figueroa. “They don't judge you and they're your best friend.”

Erika Riggins said she takes pride in knowing that she can turn his misdeeds into something that can help save lives – a fact that makes PBB worth the efforts of everyone involved. As another inmate put it, “ ... your life is no longer yours, it belongs to (the dogs).”

“It's always a great sense of accomplishment, I think, that we all feel,” said Brady.

“I can't see my life in here, without (the dogs), without this program,” said Figueroa.

Puppies Behind Bars also provides guide dogs for the blind and service dogs. For more information about the program, log onto PuppiesBehindBars.org.

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