Missouri Puppies for Parole Dog Training Program

We've barked quite a bit about the Missouri Puppies for Parole program and are pleased that it is now operating in 13 of Missouri's prisons.  It's definitely a winning proposition for everyone involved.  Dogs from animal shelters get another chance for a good home by receiving training which can include house breaking, basic obedience, and some even learn sign language.  Offenders get a chance to contribute to society, engage in something positive and learn a new skill.  And the program doesn't cost taxpayers a dime.  All the pet food and supplies are donated.

To date over 250 dogs have been trained and adopted.  Notable success stories include Sparky, a dachshund that was scheduled for euthanasia because he is deaf.  Missouri prison offenders took the dog and taught him sign language.  They then raised the money to pay for the dog's adoption fee and donated Sparky to the Missouri School for the Deaf.  Students there continue Sparky's lessons.

Another is the case of Knuckles who was returned to animal shelters twice due to behavior problems.  After his Puppies for Parole training, he was placed in a home as a companion for a little girl with Autism.  The little girl bonded with Knuckles immediately and is now able to sleep through the night.

 

Deaf Dogs Trained and Taught Sign Language: MO Puppies for Parole

Zeus, a deaf Dachshund dog  

If you read my post earlier this morning, you read about Bailey, the deaf Dalmation dog being trained and taught sign language through the Missouri Puppies for Parole program.  Bailey is not the first deaf dog trained by MO offenders and, I suspect, she won't be the last.

In January of this year, offenders at the South Central Correctional Center (SCCC) in Licking, MO raised funds to pay for the adoption fees to donate a deaf dog to the Missouri School for the Deaf.

Offenders at SCCC not only gave Zeus a second chance at life, they also made sure he was going to a good home where he will help others. Zeus, a male,
deaf Dachshund, was donated to the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton. The adoption fees were paid for by the offenders.

Zeus was born deaf. The birth defect rendered him useless to the breeder and his future was uncertain,at best. The Dachshund ended up at an animal rescue shelter where his handicap plagued any chance foradoption. The shelter reached out to SCCC, which participates in the Department of Corrections’
(DOC) Puppies for Parole program. The program pairs rescueddogs with offenders at prisons throughout the statefor training in order to make them more adoptable.

When the shelter approached SCCC about taking Zeus in for the eight-week training session, the offender handling team was more than willing to accept the challenge of helping the dogovercome his disability. In preparation, the handlers met with deaf offenders at SCCC to learn sign language. The
offenders devised a plan that would teach the Dachshund how to respond to commands with the use of sign language.

“Surprisingly, within the first week Zeus had the command ‘sit’ picked up,” said Tina Holland, SCCC institutional activitycoordinator. “We couldn’t use a dog whistle as a training tool because he couldn’t hear it. The offenders figured out how to train Zeus by stomping the ground with their feet. He could feel the vibrations from the floor. Once he recognized what the vibrationsmeant, he picked up one command after another.”


Holland said the offenders used treats as positive reinforcement because Zeus also suffered from severe anxiety. After the dog’s training was complete, the offenders got together and decided they wanted Zeus sent to a school for the deaf so he could help others. They made that possible by raising and donating
the adoption fees. “It was really rough on them (the offender handlers) when he left,” Holland said. “This was a huge accomplishment for them. It’s truly an inspirational story.”


Puppies for Parole is funded by donations only and does not receive state funding. The dogs’ training consists of a two-month period in which they learn verbal commands and general obedience. The offenders and the dogs go through the rehabilitative process together. The culmination of the training is the graduation ceremony at theend of the eight weeks, during which time the dogs are administered a K-9 Good Citizenship Test they must pass. Offender trainers gain vocational skills and learn responsibility through the program. It
alsooffers offenders the opportunity to repay the community. 

On February 1, 2010, Jefferson City Correctional Center received the first dog through Puppies for Parole. There are currently 75 dogs in training at 10 of the DOC’s institutions. For many of the dogs that are selected for the program, it allows them asecond chance, if not their only chance, to find a home. Since its inception, approximately 150 dogs have been saved from euthanization and have been adopted out.

Adopt Delaney: Shepherd Mix Dog Trained by MO Puppies for Parole

Delaney - Adoptable Dog from
Missouri Puppies for Parole Training Program

Do you have room in your heart for another canine companion?  Consider Delaney, a hound / shepherd mixed breed dog.  She's being trained in basic obedience skills by the Missouri Puppies for Parole program at the Crossroads Correctional Center.  Delaney's parole office is TAILS Rescue and she can be adopted through them.  Her trainer reports that Delaney is very happy go lucky. 

Puppies for Parole is a unique Department of Corrections program made possible through partnerships with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide. Selected offenders have the opportunity to become trainers to rescue dogs in the program. Offenders work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable. Once the dogs have successfully completed the program they will be sent back to their original shelter to be placed up for adoption. Last year in Missouri, more than 46,000 homeless canines were euthanized. Puppies for Parole hopes to reduce that number by producing loving, obedient, adoptable dogs.

The benefits of this program are three-fold. Puppies for Parole gives offenders the skills necessary to support successful rehabilitation, reentry, ultimately improving public safety. At the same time, this is an opportunity for the offenders to re-pay Missouri communities and repair some of the debts caused by their crimes.

Adopt Bella the Dog - Trained at MO Puppies for Parole Program

Bella, an Adoptable Dog from MO Puppies for Parole

Bella is a young, female, mixed breed dog available for adoption.  Currently enrolled in the Puppies for Parole training program at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, Bella's parole office is the Jefferson City Animal Shelter.

According to her trainer, Bella hates cats.  In fact, chaising cats, especially those easy to catch kittens, is why Bella found herself homeless and at the animal shelter.  Though they have not been able to work on that nasty habit specifically, her trainer assures us that will be consideration for future placement.  Sounds like Bella needs a no-cats home.

Bella is learning basic obedience and housebreaking with positive reinforcement.  She loves to run and play.  If you're looking for a young, energetic canine companion who already is housebroken and knows basic obedience commands, Bella just might be the perfect dog for you.  For more information about Bella and other dogs in the Puppies for Parole program, contact them today.

Puppies for Parole is a unique program made possible through partnerships with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide. Selected offenders have the opportunity to become trainers to rescue dogs in the program. Offenders work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable. Once the dogs have successfully completed the program they will be sent back to their original shelter to be placed up for adoption. Last year in Missouri, more than 46,000 homeless canines were euthanized. Puppies for Parole hopes to reduce that number by producing loving, obedient, adoptable dogs

Adopt Tink: An Adoptable Husky Dog at MO Puppies for Parole Training Program

Tink, Husky mixed breed dog at MO Puppies for Parole

Look at the sweet face on this dog!  Tink, a Husky mixed breed dog, is currently in the Missouri Puppies for Parole training program at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.  Tink's parole office is the Jefferson City Animal Shelter.

Tink is young and nowhere near full grown.  He is a bundle of enthusiasm.  Turned over to the animal shelter because his family could no longer afford to feed him, he'd also never had any veterinary care. 

If you have room in your life for Tink or a dog like him, surf on over to Puppies for Parole.

Puppies for Parole is a unique program made possible through partnerships with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide. Selected offenders have the opportunity to become trainers to rescue dogs in the program. Offenders work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable. Once the dogs have successfully completed the program they will be sent back to their original shelter to be placed up for adoption. Last year in Missouri, more than 46,000 homeless canines were euthanized. Puppies for Parole hopes to reduce that number by producing loving, obedient, adoptable dogs

Adopt Jake: Black Dog from Missouri Puppies for Parole Training Program

Jack, black Lab mixed breed dog at Puppies for Parole

Its past time we featured a black dog!  Jack is a male black Lab mix dog.  He's currently at the Jefferson city Correctional Center for his training.  His trainer describes Jack as you, energetic and very intelligent.

Right now Puppies for Parole is working with Jack on basic obedience training.  Jack is still a puppy right now.  He does have a potential home waiting for him with a man who has Parkinsons Desease.  Puppies for Parole will be working with Jack on companion training.

If you're interested in Jack or a dog like him, contact the Missouri Puppies for Parole Program.

Puppies for Parole is a unique program made possible through their partnerships with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide. Selected offenders have the opportunity to become trainers to rescue dogs in the program. Offenders work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable. Once the dogs have successfully completed the program they will be sent back to their original shelter to be placed up for adoption. Last year in Missouri, more than 46,000 homeless canines were euthanized. Puppies for Parole hopes to reduce that number by producing loving, obedient, adoptable dogs.

Adopt Charlie an Adoptable Great Dane Mix Trained by Puppies for Parole

Charlie, a Great Dane mix dog at Missouri
Puppies for Parole training program

For Love of a Dog would like to introduce you to Charlie, a Great Dane mixed breed dog available for adoption.

Charlie is a male Great Dane mix who is receiving his training at the Jefferson City Correctional Center through the Puppies for Parole program. His parole office is the Jefferson City Animal Shelter (which means that is the Puppies for Parole shelter / rescue partner for Charlie.)

Charlie is 70+ pounds of pure muscle and a tri-color mass of canine puppy.  Although 2 years old, he has the attention span and enthusiasm of a 6 month old puppy.  He's also more than 30 pounds underweight.  He will be a huge dog and will require lots of room to run and play. 

Puppies for Parole is a program of the Missouri Department of Corrections made possible through partnerships with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide. Selected offenders have the opportunity to become trainers to rescue dogs in the program. Offenders work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and properly socializing the animals, making them more adoptable. Once the dogs have successfully completed the program they are sent back to their original shelter to be placed up for adoption. Last year in Missouri, more than 46,000 homeless canines were euthanized. Puppies for Parole hopes to reduce that number by producing loving, obedient, adoptable dogs.

Black Labrador Retriever Therapy Dog for Conway MO Schools

This news just in from KY# television news in Springfield, MO.
There's a new student in the Conway School district. She's about 13 months old and carries quite a bark. School is going to be a little different this year at Conway. It will be a common sight to see a black lab roaming down the hallways and invading the classrooms.


Braxton is a therapy dog. She's been through weeks of training to prepare for Conway. The last of it spent with Guidance Counselors Jamie Stokes and Stacie Vestal.  "Basically we learned all the commands that the dog already learned," said Vestal.  "I've already had 5 emails and 4 teachers come in my classroom saying, 'hey I think this would be a great way we can use Braxton,'" said Stokes.


Braxton isn't just around to play fetch, although she likes doing it quite a bit. She is there to help kids.  "There's 3 different types of students that Braxton's really going to be able to help," Stokes said, "and one of them are students that have autism."  Autistic children often get overstimulated. Braxton will be there to help calm the child down and give them unconditional love.


Braxton also helps children with emotional issues.  "We've got a couple of kids that deal with anger a little bit and its hard to relate to their peers and even sometimes to teachers," Stokes said.  "My 5 year old started crying," Vestal said, "Braxton literally came over from across the room and just licked her tears away. It was just precious."


The black lab will also help students who have trouble reading.  "A lot of times when kids who struggle with reading, go slow or sometimes mess up," Stokes said, "they feel a lot of judgment. Braxton is going to be able to give them that unconditional...there's no judgment."


They were lucky to get Braxton so quickly. They applied for her in January and normally the waiting period is 12 to 18 months.  "We were very fortunate that Braxton came along and she fit our application perfect," Vestal said.  Now Braxton has a place to call home. He has a place with loving kids, loving parents, and plenty of attention.


The dog is coming at no cost to the district. It is completely being funded by donorschoose.org which is a website completely dedicated to help fund school projects around the country. Facebook donated $2,000 to help get it going and individual donors donated in the other $500.