Dogs graduate from SCI-Greene inmate service dog training program
SCI-Greene inmate Nelson pets Kona, a dog he trained and raised for 15 months behind bars as part of Canine Partners for Life (CPL) Prison Puppy Raising Program. She graduated from the program recently. Kona will leave the prison in November to enter her second round of service-dog training. (Photo by Alyssa Choiniere)
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
Cassidy, a Labrador retriever, poses in her graduation cap after graduating. She left the prison for her second round of service-dog training after spending 15 months at the prison with inmate handler Carlos.
Inmates are making meaningful contributions to society from behind bars by training puppies for work as service dogs through a program at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
“A lot of people are in bad shape in the world, and we can help,” said London, an inmate who has participated in the Canine Partners for Life (CPL) Prison Puppy Raising Program since its inception at the Waynesburg prison in 2014.
Two Labrador retrievers, Cassidy and Kona, graduated from the program Oct. 3. Inmates apply to train the puppies for 12 to 15 months before sending them to more intensive training and placement.
Inmates were identified only by first names and could not discuss crimes, per the prison’s policy.
“A lot of these guys are never going to be able to go out and make amends,” said SCI-Greene program administrator Kayla Shaner.
London said inmates have a desire to contribute to society and, when given the opportunity, many will take it. As a rectangle of sunlight radiated through glass and shined brightly across his face, he discussed the program animatedly from a seat he picked intentionally — a perk uncommon in prison. “For me, this was an opportunity to show people that we do care,” he said.
He said hearing the stories of people who need the service dogs was “heart-wrenching.”
A former SCI-Greene canine graduate, Amber, became a cardiac-alert dog. She was assigned to a woman who was able to leave her home across the country to attend Pennsylvania State University thanks to the independence the service dog afforded, said prison activities Manager Mike Smith. Another graduate became a service dog to assist a person in a wheelchair with limited mobility, said Shaner. A third dog, Lucy, became a diabetic alert dog. A fourth became a home companion, which can be a calming presence for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
“Without CPL and what you guys do here, those things wouldn’t be possible,” Smith said to the inmates.
Ten dogs graduated from the program since 2014. After specialized training, the dogs may become service dogs, companion dogs, breeders, or seizure-, cardiac- or diabetes-alert dogs. Smith said training the puppies with the inmates and volunteers reduces the cost of the dogs, which runs into thousands of dollars. SCI-Greene is one of five Pennsylvania prisons to partner with Canine Partners for Life in Cochranville for the Prison Puppy Raising Program, which started in 2001. Two other participating prisons are in Maryland.
Giving back also renews the inmates’ self-esteem, Smith said.
“They’re dedicated to a cause, and most importantly it’s giving back to the community. They take pride in what they do,” he said.
Inmates receive the puppies when they are 8 weeks old. They give the puppies basic obedience training using only verbal commands — and treats. The inmates teach the puppies their names and basic commands and potty train them. Outside volunteers take the puppies to area schools and other environments so they are exposed to atmospheres outside the prison.
Shaner said the puppies are so well behaved that prison visitors ask if the inmates can train their dogs.
Carlos, an inmate who trained Cassidy, said the puppy’s demeanor was so calm and gentle that she might make a good couch potato. The inmates learned a technique called “praise voice” — which they like to call “girly voice” — to excite the dogs about their training. That tactic plus treats helped motivate Cassidy through her training.
Cassidy was sent to her next stage of training earlier this month. Letting the dog go is not easy, he said.
“It’s bittersweet, as proud as I am,” Carlos said. “I know what she’s for, so I always keep that out front.”
Cassidy stayed at attention for several minutes while Carlos laid her leash on the ground and stepped away to retrieve her graduation hat, despite a flurry of activity in the general population visiting room.
His mother and daughter attended the ceremony, as they have every year for the past two graduations, he said.
Nelson, Kona’s handler, said he will be sad to see the dog leave in November, but he is happy she will help another person. He said he has been incarcerated for 22 years and did not think he would ever pet a dog again.
“Being able to touch a dog again was really crazy,” he said.
London said another inmate who hadn’t seen a dog for 10 years volunteered to clean up dog poop because he missed having a pet.
The graduates stood attentively at their handlers’ sides during the ceremony. A younger pup, earlier in his training, blissfully licked the floor.
“The work is done. Our goals have been achieved,” said SCI-Greene Superintendent Robert Gilmore to the handlers of the graduates. “Just know that your efforts will greatly improve another person’s life.”
CPL Prison Puppy Program Liason Erica Seaver-Engel acknowledged that training a puppy is not all about cuddles and kisses.
“There is a lack of sleep involved. There is a lot of poop involved. There are endless nights of screaming,” she said.
London said other inmates were initially jealous when the program participants were chosen. But when the first group of puppies arrived at the prison in 2014, London said the five 8-week-old puppies cried all night.
“A lot of the vitriol we got was — they’re giving these guys puppies?” he said. “We knew it wasn’t just going to be dogs in the cell playing. We knew it would be work.”
He described the training as teaching the dogs how to think and understand commands, as opposed to standard dog training which might involve teaching a dog to sit by pushing it gently while giving the command. In the second phase, he said trainers find the dogs’ innate abilities which can be used to help a person.
“It will teach you patience, being a trainer. Training a service dog is a whole different line of work,” he said. “The toil, the hard work, the sweat — we saw it paying off.”
When the dogs begin to understand, he said the excitement shows on their faces. He and the other inmates are grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society, he said.
“Everyone has a preconceived notion of what we do in prison, who we are and how we live our lives. It’s easy for people to write us off as the downtrodden and the outcast,” he said. “We do care about those who are less fortunate. If we have the opportunity to help them out, we can and we will.”