13*40/
1614
13*40/1614
%FBUISPXEPHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GET
TING A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE FROM SOME UNUSUAL SAVIORS
PRISONERS LOOKING TO LOCATE THEIR OWN SECOND CHANCES
AT A MEANINGFUL LIFE 3OME INCARCERATED FOR A FEW YEARS
OTHERS FOR THE BETTER PART OF A LIFETIME THESE INMATES
LEARN LIFE TRAITS COMPASSION COMMUNICATION SKILLS
WORK ETHIC JOB SKILLS AND LOVE AS THEY TAKE UNWANTED
DOGS OUT OF SHELTERS AND TRAIN THEM TO BECOME IDEAL
COMPANIONS OR EVEN SERVICE DOGS
7HILE THE INMATES GIVE DOGS TRAINING TO BECOME THE
BEST THEY CAN BE THE DOGS ALSO GIVE THE PRISONERS THE
CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND RESPON
SIBILITY SOME FOR THE lRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES !LSO THE
)N PLACES NOT KNOWN FOR KIND
ATMOSPHERES AND LIFEAFlRMING
WAYS LOVE AND COMPASSION BLOOM
3+272&2857(6<2)9,5*,1,$%52,70$1)256263(13$/6
"Y +YRA +IRKWOOD
EPHTMJGF]SUMMER ATMOSPHERE AT THE PRISONS ALMOST ALWAYS CONFRONTA
TIONAL BECOMES MORE MELLOW AND LESS VIOLENT WITH THE
INCLUSION OF THE DOGS AND THE TRAINING PROGRAMS
4HE PROGRAMS BE THEY FOR YOUTH OFFENDERS OR ADULT
CONVICTS ARE ALL GEARED TOWARD A WINWINWIN SITUA
TION 4HE DOGS ARE SAVED THE INMATES HAVE A PURPOSE
AND THE ADOPTED OWNERS GET A WELLTRAINED DOG )TS A
CHANCE FOR THE INMATES TO RETURN SOMETHING POSITIVE TO
THE COMMUNITY DESPITE WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DONE IN
THE PAST 4HIS PRISONERPUP PARTNERSHIP MAY SEEM LIKE
AN UNLIKELY SITUATION BUT IN THE END IT COULDNT BE A
MORE PERFECT PAIRING ˆ FORGOTTEN ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY
HELPING EACH OTHER TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD
#OLE "UT THE DOGS REACH EXTENDS THROUGHOUT
$)".1505)&3&4$6&
(OUSING 5NIT 4WO "WING AT THE 7OMENS %ASTERN THE PRISON "EFORE CANINES ARRIVED ON SCENE THE
2ECEPTION $IAGNOSTIC AND #ORRECTIONAL #ENTER PRISON STAFF LOGGED APPROXIMATELY CONDUCT VIO
IN 6ANDALIA -O IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS h4HE LATIONS ˆ FROM OVERSLEEPING TO POSSESSING CON
$OG (OUSEv )TS HERE THAT FEMALE INMATES TRAIN TRABAND ˆ A MONTH
DOGS RESCUED FROM THE STREETS LOCAL RESCUES
@edXk\$kiX`e\i#DXib
OR THE SHELTER SYSTEM TURNING THEM INTO IDE
<c[\iAi%#^\kk`e^b`jj\j
AL PETS THANKS TO THE #ANINE (ELPERS !LLOW
]ifd_`jJFJG\eGXcj
-ORE 0OSSIBILITIES #(!-0 !SSISTANCE
[f^#IXm\e%
$OGS )NC ORGANIZATION AND ITS FOURYEAROLD
#HAMP TO THE 2ESCUE PRISONPUP PROGRAM
h0EOPLE ARE MORE CONlDENTv SAID *ANET
#OLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF
#(!-0 h4HEY HAVE A DEEPER BELIEF SYSTEM
IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITY TO INTEGRATE IS
VASTLY IMPROVEDv
4HROUGHOUT THE YEARS MORE THAN DOGS
HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY THE INMATES IN EIGHT TO
WEEK TRAINING SPANS AND PLACED INTO FOR
EVER HOMES EITHER THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH
OR DIRECT ADOPTION BY PRISON STAFF
4HESE SECONDCHANCE DOGS LIVE WITH THE
WOMEN GO WITH THEM EVERYWHERE AND LEARN
A SLEW OF BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS FROM hSITv
TO hNO JUMPv )N ADDITION SAID #OLE TRAINERS
TEACH hRETRIEVEv AND SOME TRICKS LIKE PLAYING
BASKETBALL WITH A TODDLERSIZED HOOP
4HE DOGS VARY IN SIZE SHAPE BREED AND
COLOR "UT ONE THING IS CONSTANT THE NEED FOR THE
h!FTER THE DOGS CAME THE lRST MONTH IT WAS
DOGS TO BE IDEAL PETS IN THE ROUGH #(!-0 STAFF DOWN TO lVE OR SIXv SAID #OLE h!ND ITS BEEN LESS
HAS SOME TOLERANCE FOR DOGS FEELING THE STING OF THAN ;A MONTH= EVER SINCE 4HE DOGS DIFFUSE
LIFE ON THE STREETS BUT AGGRESSIVE DOGS AND THOSE ;A LOT=v
WHO LIKE TO BATTLE OTHER CANINES ARE NOT RIGHT FOR
#(!-0 STAFF GUIDE WOMEN IN NOT JUST TRAIN
THE PROGRAM SAID #OLE
ING THE DOGS BUT IN ACQUIRING LIFE PARENTING AND
4HAT ZEROTOLERANCE POLICY FOR lGHTING APPLIES COMMUNICATION SKILLS
TO THE INMATETRAINERS TOO 4HESE WOMEN GO
h$OG TRAINING IS LIKE PARENTING ˆ ITS POSITIVE RE
THROUGH A RIGOROUS LENGTHY PROCESS BEFORE BEING INFORCEMENT AND CONSISTENCYv SAID #OLE
HIRED BY #(!-0 #OLE LOOKS FOR WOMEN WHO
)N AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE hSOFTv EMOTIONS ARE
ARE EAGER TO LEARN AND ARE ASSERTIVE YET NOT CON HIDDEN THE DOGS ALLOW THESE WOMEN TO FEEL UN
FRONTATIONAL )DEAL CANDIDATES MUST WORK WELL WITH CONDITIONAL LOVE ONCE MORE 7HEN IT COMES TIME
OTHERS BE OF STABLE MENTAL STATUS HAVE NO ANGER TO GIVE UP THEIR CHARGES THE WOMEN DO FEEL SAD
MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND NO PRIOR CRIMES AGAINST SAID #OLE "UT ALMOST EVERY TIME THEY CHOOSE TO
CHILDREN OR ANIMALS )NTERVIEWS WITH #(!-0 DIG BACK IN AND ACCEPT ANOTHER TRAINEE 5PON
EMPLOYEES TRAINING CLASS ATTENDANCE VOLUNTEER RELEASE MANY INMATETRAINERS VOLUNTEER WITH
ING AND MOVING TO h4HE $OG (OUSEv FOLLOW
#(!-0 hON THE OUTSIDEv AND SOME CHOOSE
/NCE EARNED THE JOB OF TRAINER IS COVETED 4HE VARIOUS POSITIONS IN THE ANIMAL CARE INDUSTRY
HOUSING WING WHERE EACH TRAINER KENNELS THE DOG #OLES GOAL IS TO HELP MAKE THESE WOMEN STRON
IN HER COLLEGE DORMITORYTYPE ROOM IS THE NICEST GER BETTER MORE LOVING WOMEN AND MOTHERS
h4HOSE THAT KEPT IN TOUCH DID BETTER ON THE OUT
CALMEST PLACE TO STAY AT THE DETENTION FACILITY SAID
XXXEPHTMJGFMAGAZINECOM
SIDEv SAID #OLE h4HE GIRLS BELIEVE THAT !ND THATS
THE POINTv
4041&/1"-4
)N 6IRGINIA THE FORGOTTEN DOGS OF SOCIETY ARE
MATCHED WITH THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE IN A LIFE
AFlRMING PARTNERSHIP OF HOPE AND PURPOSE
4HE 3AVE /UR 3HELTERS 3/3 0EN 0ALS DOG
TRAINING PROGRAM PLACES DEATHROW CANINES
FROM AREA SHELTERS WITH INMATES AT LOWER
SECURITY MENS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR AP
PROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS 4HESE LASTCHANCE
DOGS ARE TAUGHT VARIOUS ASPECT OF OBEDIENCE
EVEN #ANINE 'OOD #ITIZEN CERTIlCATION FROM
THE INMATES WHO ASSUME LOVING RESPONSIBIL
ITY FOR THEM HOURS A DAY 5PON GRADUATION
THE DOGS ARE ADOPTED TO QUALIlED HOMES AND
THE INMATES BID A TEARFUL GOODBYE TO THEIR STAR
PUPILS AND BEST FRIENDS
h4HEY FEEL LIKE A LITTLE MORE THAN AN INMATEv
SAID 0IXIE 7ILLIAMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 3/3
0EN 0ALS WHICH BEGAN IN AS A WAY TO CURB
THE STATES OUTOFCONTROL EUTHANASIA RATE
4O DATE MORE THAN DOGS AND CATS HAVE
BEEN ADOPTED OUT THROUGH THE 3/3 0EN 0ALS
PROGRAM WHICH WAS FEATURED IN !NIMAL 0LAN
ETS #ELL $OGS TELEVISION PROGRAM )T BOASTS A
PERCENT ADOPTION SUCCESS RATE 3/3 0EN
0ALS lRST BEGAN AT THE *AMES 2IVER #ORRECTIONAL
#ENTER AT 3TATE &ARM 6A AND HAS GROWN TO IN
CLUDE lVE MORE LOCAL FACILITIES
!S WITH THE OTHER PRISON PUP PROGRAMS THE 3/3
0EN 0ALS DOG TRAINER POSITION IS A COVETED HARD
TOWIN JOB !PPLICATIONS INTERVIEWS A SQUEAKY
CLEAN RECORD AND NO HISTORY OF ANIMAL ABUSE ARE
MANDATORY
h4HEY HAVE TO BE PRETTY TOPNOTCH INMATESv
SAID 7ILLIAMS
3OME OF THESE MEN SERVE AS TEAM LEADERS SU
PERVISING THE OTHER TRAINERS IN THE PROGRAM AND
MENTORING THE NEWER ONES 0ROFESSIONAL TRAINERS
FROM 3/3 VISIT THE FACILITIES ONCE A WEEK TO HELP
THE MEN WITH THE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT STYLE
OF TRAINING 4EACHING TRICKS ˆ LIKE PRAYING ROLL
ING OVER AND WAVING ˆ IS ALSO PART OF THE PROTO
COL AS IS CRATE LEASH AND POTTY TRAINING 6ARIOUS
CLASSES AND PROGRAMS ARE HELD FOR THE TRAINERS TO
CONSTANTLY HONE THEIR SKILLS h4HE SELFESTEEM ;OF
THE INMATES= HAS INCREASED PERCENTv SAID 7IL
13*40/1614
13*40/1614
C\]kkfi`^_k1:%?%8%D%G%
`edXk\$kiX`e\ij#^iflg
j_fkXk?Xccfn\\eXe[
GXdn`k_9fjZf%
SPONSIBILITY FOR THE INDEPTH TRAINING OF THE PUPS
WHICH OFTEN TAKES NEARLY TWO YEARS 4O DATE MORE
THAN DOGS HAVE BEEN RAISED AND PLACED IN SER
VICE THROUGH THE 0RISON 050 0ARTNERSHIP
h9OU WILL RARELY SEE PEOPLE SOBBING AS YOU
DO WHEN INMATES HAVE TO LET GO OF A DOGv SAID
-OON h)T IS HEARTWRENCHING 4HIS RELATIONSHIP
IS WELL A DEEP ONEv
4HE DOGS COME FROM A VARIETY OF ORIGINS #A
NINES USED AS HEARING COMPANIONS ARE OFTEN OLDER
MIXEDBREED SHELTER RESCUES
WITH HIGH ENERGY LEVELS 4HIS
MAKES THEM IDEAL CANDIDATES
TO RESPOND TO VARIOUS AUDITORY
STIMULI IN EVERYDAY LIFE SAID
-OON -ANY PUPPIES ˆ USU
ALLY 'OLDEN 2ETRIEVERS AND
,ABRADOR 2ETRIEVERS ˆ ARE DO
NATED BY THE 'UIDING %YES FOR
THE "LIND ORGANIZATION WHEN
THEY DONT lT THEIR GROUPS CRI
TERIA AND ARE BEST SUITED FOR
OTHER AREAS OF SERVICE
!T THE AGE OF APPROXIMATELY
WEEKS AT THE EARLIEST THE
DOGS ARE MOVED TO THE PRIS
ONS TO BEGIN THEIR TRAIN
ING 4HESE DOGS GO EVERYWHERE
WITH THEIR INMATETRAINERS AND THEIR TRAINERS DO EV
ERYTHING FOR THEM FROM FEEDING TO GROOMING 4HE
PAIRS EVEN LIVE TOGETHER BUT LITTLE TIME EXCEPT FOR
SLEEP IS ACTUALLY SPENT IN THE CELLS
%ACH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY HAS ITS OWN RIGOROUS
WAY OF SELECTING THE INMATETRAINERS FOR THE PRO
GRAM BUT ALL ARE QUITE STRICT SAID -OON 7HEN
NEW TRAINERS ARE HIRED VETERAN ONES SHOW THESE
hINTERNSv THE ROPES FOR A YEAR IF NOT LONGER )N
ANY TRAINING SITUATION THERES ALWAYS A PRIMARY
HANDLERTRAINER AND A BACKUP
h"OTH ARE LEARNING FROM THE .%!$3 TRAINERv SAID
-OON ADDING THAT EMPLOYEES VISIT THE PRISONS
WEEKLY TO HOST TRAINING CLASSES AND HELP DEAL WITH
ISSUES h4HE TRAINING IS MULTILAYEREDx4HERES A
CONSTANT CHECKIN THAT TAKES PLACEv
/N WEEKENDS DOGS ARE RELEASED TO THE hWEEK
END PUPPY RAISERSv 4HE DOGS ARE PICKED UP ON &RI
DAY NIGHT AND SPEND THE WEEKEND EXPERIENCING
SIGHTS SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD
FROM (OME $EPOT TO THE MOVIE THEATER /N 3UN
DAY AFTERNOON THE DOGS COME BACK READY FOR THEIR
NEXT WEEK OF TRAINING
5PON GRADUATION DOGS ARE MATCHED WITH THEIR
NEW FAMILIES AND BEGIN A LIFE OF LOVE AND SERVICE
3OMETIMES THE NEW OWNERS VISIT THE PRISON TO
LET THE DOG AND TRAINER REUNITE ONE LAST TIME
AND SAY THANKS FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE
BEHIND BARS h)TS A DEEPLY TOUCHING TIMEv SAID
-OON h)T HELPS CLOSE THE LOOPv
130+&$5100$)
&OR THE PAST YEARS MORE THAN UNWANTED
DOGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN NEW LIVES THANKS TO THE
INCARCERATED YOUNG MEN AT THE -AC,AREN 9OUTH
#ORRECTIONAL &ACILITY IN 7OODBURN /RE
0ROJECT 0//#( 0OSITIVE /PPORTUNITIES /BVI
OUS #HANGE WITH (OUNDS IS THE BRAINCHILD OF ITS
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR *OAN $ALTON 4HIS
!NIMAL 0LANET (ERO OF THE 9EAR lNALIST lRST BE
GAN THINKING OF THIS PROGRAM WHEN SHE SERVED AS
PRINCIPAL FOR THE CORRECTION FACILITYS HIGH SCHOOL
h) WAS TRYING TO HOOK THEM ON A WAY TO GET BACK
TO LEARNINGv SHE SAID
)T WAS THEN SHE RECALLED HER DAYS LIVING IN .EW
9ORK STUDYING THE HUMANANIMAL BOND )N HER
EPHTMJGF]SUMMER 7233+272%<67$1%/$1')25352-(&7322&+%277203+272&2857(6<2)9,//$/2%265(6&8(&(17(5
LIAMS NOTING HOW THE DOGS GIVE THE MEN A SENSE
OF PURPOSE
4HE DOGS ALSO OPEN UP COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
INMATES AND OFlCERS 4ENSIONS DROP THROUGHOUT
THE GENERAL POPULATION AND THE SENSE OF ACCOM
PLISHMENT HELPS INMATES lND CAREER PATHS AFTER
THEYRE PAROLED /NE FORMER INMATE NOW OWNS
HIS OWN TRAINING FACILITY WHILE ANOTHER IS A SUPER
VISOR WITH THE 30#! SAID 7ILLIAMS
h4HE MORALE IN PRISON HAS TURNED AROUNDv SAID
7ILLIAMS h;4HE DOGS ARE= MAK
Kpc\iN`cjfeXe[
ING A DIFFERENCEv
_`jXjj`jkXeZ\[f^#
8ekf`e\#^i\\k
13*40/1611"35/&34)*1 `edXk\$kiX`e\i#
7HO WOULD EVER THINK A BUN <[nXi[:_XgdXe%
DLE OF TAILWAGGING JOY COULD
BRING A BURLY TATTOOED POUND MAN TO TEARS 4HAT SIGHT
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AROUND
THE PRISONERS TRAINING SERVICE
DOGS THROUGH .%!$3
h4HERES A LEVEL OF HUMAN
ITY PRESENT IN THAT FACILITY THAT
WASNT PRESENT BEFORE THE DOGS
CAMEv SAID *OHN -OON PUBLIC
RELATIONS SPOKESPERSON WITH
.%!$3
"ASEDOUTOF0RINCETON-ASS
.%!$3 IS AN ACCREDITED SERVICEDOG TRAINING ORGA
NIZATION PRODUCING CANINES THAT AID THE LIVES OF
PEOPLE AFmICTED WITH MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISORDERS
FROM AUTISM TO AMPUTATION %VEN SOLDIERS SUFFERING
FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 043$ BENElT
FROM THE AID OF A SERVICE DOG 7ITH ITS 0RISON 050
0ARTNERSHIP DOGS ARE DELIVERED TO CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL THROUGHOUT .EW
%NGLAND .%!$3TRAINED INMATES THEN ASSUME RE
723/()7725,*+73+2726%<12/$(:(56$1'7+(5(6$'$77,/2)25&+$03$66,67$1&('2*6,1&&(17(53+272&2857(6<2)1($'635,6213833$571(56+,3
*OBOFOWJSPONFOU
XIFSFiTPGUwFNPUJPOT
BSFIJEEFOUIFEPHT
BMMPXUIFTFXPNFO
UPGFFMVODPOEJUJPOBM
MPWFPODFNPSF
RESEARCH SHE DISCOVERED THAT NEARLY EVERY SINGLE
PERSON SHE INTERVIEWED RESPONDED THAT DOGS
TAUGHT THEIR OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY AND PATIENCE
!ND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HER INCARCERATED STU
DENTS NEEDED $ESPERATELY
4HUS 0ROJECT 0//#( WAS BORN (ERE UP TO DEATHROW DOGS ARE HOUSED IN THE MODERN ON
CAMPUS KENNELS WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING TRAINED
LOVED CARED FOR AND GROOMED BY THEIR INMATEHAN
DLERS !CCREDITED TRAINERS VISIT THE FACILITY WEEKLY
TO HELP THE INMATES WITH ANY ISSUES THAT POP UP
%VEN IF THE INMATES ˆ RANGING IN AGE TO AND
CONVICTED OF A VARIETY OF CRIMES LIKE ROBBERY AND
DRUG CHARGES ˆ ARRIVED AT THE DETENTION FACILITY
AS SURLY ANGRY AND CONFRONTATIONAL YOUTHS THEY
TRANSFORMED DRAMATICALLY ONCE 0ROJECT 0//#(
TOOK HOLD OF THEM
/NE INMATE NAMED !NDREW TOLD $ALTON THAT
0ROJECT 0//#( hWASNT REALLY WHAT ) WANTED BUT
IT WAS WHAT ) NEEDEDv 4HE YOUTH LEARN TO SHOW RE
SPECT AND COMPASSION FOR OTHER LIVING CREATURES
h"EING A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOUR
SELF HAS CHANGED ME A LOTv SAID )AN A YEAROLD
INMATETRAINER IN A INTERVIEW h"EFORE ) CAME
HERE ) WAS SELlSH .OW )M SELmESSv
"EING HIRED AT 0ROJECT 0//#( IS A COVETED
PRIVILEGE AND THE STAFF HAS NO TOLERANCE FOR RULE
BREAKING )NTERVIEWS BY $ALTON AND SENIOR INMATE
TRAINERS AND DAYS SPENT AT THE KENNEL AND SERVING
AS A hPROBIEv FOR AN INITIAL TRIAL PERIOD ALL LEAD UP
TO EARNING THE COVETED TRAINER POSITION -ANY STAY
FOR YEARS AND SOME BEGIN MENTORING NEW TRAIN
ERS UTILIZING THEIR NEWFOUND COMMUNICATION AND
MANAGEMENT SKILLS ,EARNING JOB SKILLS THAT WILL
EMPOWER THE YOUTH IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS A BIG
PERK OF THIS PROGRAM /UT OF 0ROJECT 0OOCH
TRAINERS NONE RETURNED TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
ONCE RELEASED SAID $ALTON DURING A TELEVISED RE
PORT FOR +!45S!- .ORTHWEST IN THE FALL OF 4HE PROGRAMS DOGS ARE MOSTLY MIXED BREEDS
AND ALL COME FROM SHELTERS NO PRIVATEPARTY DOGS
ARE ACCEPTED
h7ERE TRYING TO TEACH THE YOUTH THAT ONCE YOU
GET A DOG ITS A COMMITMENT FOR LIFEv $ALTON SAID
h7E DONT TAKE THE EASY DOGS FOR THE SHELTERS TO
ADOPT EITHERv
$ALTON OR ANOTHER VOLUNTEER VISIT THE AREA SHEL
TERS TAKING VIDEO AND THEN LETTING THE INMATES
HELP PICK WHICH DOGS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE
PROGRAM 4HIS SERVES TWO PURPOSES GETTING THE IN
MATES TO HONE DECISIONMAKING SKILLS AND SHOWING
THEM THAT PICKING ANYTHING BASED ON LOOKS ALONE
IS A BAD IDEA %VEN DOGS SUCH AS ,OUGAR A THREE
YEAROLD !KITA MIX FOUND TIED TO A TREE STARVING
AND WITH A BADLY INJURED LEG THAT REQUIRED AMPU
TATION DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE BECAUSE OF WHO
THEY ARE ON THE INSIDE
4HIS GIVES THE YOUNG MEN MOST OF WHICH ALSO
GOT AN UNFAIR LOT IN LIFE A SENSE OF CAMARADERIE
WITH THE DOGS 4HEY USE SKILLS SUCH AS PATIENCE
AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT THEY LEARNED TO OVER
COME THEIR OWN DEMONS WITH AS TOOLS TO HELP
TRAIN THE DOGS IN CONQUERING THEIRS
h4HEYRE TEACHING THE DOG TO TRUST AGAINv SAID
$ALTON !ND AS A RESULT THE INMATES END UP HEAL
ING THEMSELVES
0OTENTIAL ADOPTERS CAN VIEW THE DOGS ON THE
0ROJECT 0//#( WEBSITE AND THEN COME TO THE
FACILITY TO VIEW THE DOGS IN PERSON !N APPLICATION
HOME VISIT AND OVERNIGHT TRIAL RUN FOLLOW IF A FAMILY
XXXEPHTMJGFMAGAZINECOM
WISHES TO PROVIDE A FOREVER HOME %VEN THE TRAIN
ERS HAVE A SAY IN WHERE THEIR DOGS WILL END UP
)N SPITE OF THIS CONTROL PARTING WITH THEIR COM
PANIONS ISNT EASY FOR THESE TOUGH GUYS 4HEY
WONT COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT BUT ALL ARE DEEPLY
AFFECTED WHEN THEIR DOGS LEAVE SAID $ALTON
h.ONE ARE GOING TO ADMIT @) WENT BACK TO MY
;HOUSING= UNIT AND ) CRIED ) WAS SO UPSETv SHE
SAID h!LL SAY @) REALLY HELPED THAT DOG AND NOW )
HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP ANOTHERv
Kfg1Gifa\ZkGFF:?pflk_`edXk\$kiX`e\ij%
9fkkfd18gXifc\\Xe[knff]k_\[f^j]ifdk_\
M`ccXcfYfjI\jZl\:\ek\iLe[\i[Xn^qgif^iXd%
1*5#6--4"/%1"30-&&4
)N ,OS !NGELES #OUNTY MORE THAN PERCENT OF
THE SHELTERSPOPULATIONS ARE COMPRISED OF 0IT "ULLS
AND OTHER hBULLY BREEDSv "EHIND BARS )N CAGES )F
THEY ARE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AND hSPRUNG FROM
THE JOINTv THE PUBLIC HAS A HARD TIME SEEING PAST
THEIR EXTERIOR TO WHO THEY ARE INSIDE
4HIS IS SOMETHING ALL EXCONVICTS KNOW ABOUT
FROM THE BARS TO THE DISCRIMINATION 4HOSE RELEASED
FROM PRISON ON PAROLE HAVE A SIMILARLY ROUGH TIME
TRYING TO INCORPORATE INTO SOCIETY 0ERHAPS ITS THIS
SHARED EXPERIENCE THAT BONDS PAROLEES AND 0IT
"ULLS SO CLOSELY TOGETHER AT THE 6ILLALOBOS 2ESCUE
#ENTER A SPRAWLING ACRE 0IT "ULL RESCUE FACILITY
IN !GUA $ULCE #ALIF
#URRENTLY IT HOUSES DOGS MANY OF WHOM WILL
LIVE OUT THEIR DAYS IN SAFETY HERE WHILE OTHERS lND
WORK ON MOVIE SETS OR LOVE IN HOMES OF ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES &OUNDED IN BY RENOWNED 0IT "ULL EX
PERT RESCUER AND TRAINER 4IA -ARIA 4ORRES 6ILLALO
BOS IS ALSO THE HOME TO THE 5NDERDAWGZ PROGRAM
5NDER THIS PROGRAM ,! #OUNTY PAROLEES AND THE
0IT "ULLS WORK TOGETHER FOR A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
(ERE THEY CLEAN KENNELS TRAIN DOGS BUILD STRUC
TURES HELP WITH RESCUES WORK WITH 4ORRES AND HER
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND DO RANCHHAND
STYLE WORK ALL WHILE LEARNING SOCIAL SKILLS AND COM
MUNICATION TECHNIQUES 3IX MEN ARE EMPLOYED
BY 4ORRES CURRENTLY AND HAVE WORKED WITH HER
SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN lVE YEARS AGO
h4HE GUYS TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY RELATE TO THE
DOGSv SHE SAID h;4HEY SAY= @0EOPLE LOOK AT US THE
SAME WAY THEY LOOK AT THE 0IT "ULLS 4HEY ASSUME
WERE BAD GUYS )T REALLY HITS HOME WITH THESE GUYS
4HEY MADE MISTAKES BUT THEYRE TRYING TO DO THE
GOOD THING 'IVE THEM A CHANCEv
4HIS PROJECT BEGAN WHEN 4ORRES HUSBAND OUT
ON PAROLE EXPERIENCED A NEARIMPOSSIBLE RETURN
TO SOCIETY 3O MANY DOORS SLAMMED SHUT ON HIM
AND PREJUDICE BLOCKED HIS PATH
h4HAT JUST HIT MEv 4ORRES SAID h4HESE GUYS HAVE
A HARD TIME TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING NOWv
3HE WANTED TO HELP THESE hUNDERDOGSv JUST AS
SHE DID YEARS AGO WHEN SHE RESCUED HER lRST
0IT "ULL FROM A ,ANCASTER #ALIF SHELTER 4ORRES
HIRED A FEW PAROLEES TO WORK AT 6ILLALOBOS AND
THE RESPONSE GREW LIKE WILDlRE 4ODAY THE MEN
RANGE IN AGE FROM MIDS TO MIDS AND SOME
STAY EMPLOYED THERE FOR YEARS WHILE OTHERS LATER
OBTAIN JOBS IN MAINSTREAM !MERICA 0ART OF THE
DRAW IS THE DOGS BUT SO IS 4ORRES ATTITUDE THAT
THE PAST IS THE PAST
h%VERYBODY HAS A SHOTv SHE SAID h.O MATTER
WHAT 7E TRULY STAND BY ;THE IDEA THAT= EVERY
BODY DESERVES A CHANCE ;4HIS WORK= GIVES THEM
SOMETHING TO CARE ABOUT OTHER THAN THEMSELVES
FOR THE lRST TIME )T SOFTENS UP THE GUYS .OW
THEY GET TO BREAK INTO SOCIETY SLOWLY 4HE DOGS
EASE THE TENSIONv
4HE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM ATTRACTED PRODUCERS
AT !NIMAL 0LANET AND THIS FALL 0IT "ULLS AND 0AROL
EES A REALITY SHOW ABOUT 4ORRES THE PAROLEES AND
6ILLALOBOS 2ESCUE #ENTER DEBUTS 4ORRES IS THRILLED
THE SHOW WILL HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THESE
TWO FORGOTTEN ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY
h4HEY SEE THE GUYS AND THEY SEE THE DOGSxITLL
HUMANIZE THEMv SAID 4ORRES
4"7*/(&"$)05)&3
! LIFE LOCKED UP IS DIFlCULT ON BOTH HUMANS AND CA
NINES "UT WORKING TOGETHER THIS UNLIKELY PAIRING
OF UNWANTED SHELTER DOGS AND FORGOTTEN CRIMINALS
CREATES SOMETHING MAGICAL 4HE INMATETRAINERS
GIVE THESE SECONDCHANCE CANINES SKILLS AND LES
SONS NEEDED TO BECOME CHERISHED PETS AND IN
TURN THE DOGS GIVE THE MEN YOUTH AND WOMEN
A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE WITH THEIR
LIVES 0EOPLE MAY SAY THE INMATES ARE SAVING THE
DOGS BUT MANY OF THE INMATES SAY IN FACT THAT
THEYRE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING SAVED
+YRA +IRKWOOD IS AN /RANGE
#OUNTY #ALIFORNIABASED
FREELANCE WRITER SPECIALIZING IN
DOG REPORTING 6ISIT HER WEBSITE
AT WWWKYRAKIRKWOODCOM
=FIDFI<@E=FID8K@FEM@J@K1
x :%?%8%D%G%8jj`jkXeZ\;f^j@eZ%#
nnn%Z_Xdg[f^j%fi^&gi`jfe$gif^iXd
x JFJG\eGXcj#nnn%jfj$g\egXcj%Zfd
x E<8;JGi`jfeGlgjGXike\ij_`g#
nnn%e\X[j%fi^&glggpgif^iXd&gi`jfe
x Gifa\ZkGFF:?#nnn%gffZ_%fi^
x Le[\i[Xn^q#nnn%miZg`kYlcc%Zfd