Puppies for Parole - Missouri
I adopted Robbie from Dogwood Animal shelter in Osage Beach, MO. Prior to the adoption process, Robbie had been selected to join one of Missouri's branches of their Puppies for Parole program. Robbie was being housed at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, MO where he was learning basic commands such as Focus, Sit, Down, Heel, and Come. He was also being house and crate-trained. His trainers were two offenders. Robbie was their responsibility for 13 weeks. They did an AMAZING job with him.
I want to talk a little bit about Puppies for Parole and the various other versions of this program across the nation. The basic premise of the program is to have offenders train shelter dogs. These programs promote three wonderful outcomes -
In some cases, the dogs stay with the program for 9 - 13 weeks and then return to their home shelters to be adopted out. In Robbie's case, the correctional center kept him for a few extra weeks until we were ready to bring him home. We adopted him through his shelter, but picked him up in Jefferson City. Sometimes the programs, if there is room, prefer to keep the dogs in training for as long as it takes to find them a home because then they know that their training won't unravel. A dog could excel at the program, but then lose that training if returned to a kennel and not worked with for months at a time.
This program has different names depending on the area. In Missouri, it is called Puppies for Parole. Here are links to just a few across the nation:
I am attaching the Puppies for Parole Adopter's Guide. It discusses how the dogs are trained, what commands they are taught, and basic dog care for first time owners.
I want to talk a little bit about Puppies for Parole and the various other versions of this program across the nation. The basic premise of the program is to have offenders train shelter dogs. These programs promote three wonderful outcomes -
- Shelter dogs are given basic training & therefore have a better shot at finding a good home
- Offenders learn responsibility, patience, and teamwork
- Offenders can later leave prison with a new skill that they can transform into a career
In some cases, the dogs stay with the program for 9 - 13 weeks and then return to their home shelters to be adopted out. In Robbie's case, the correctional center kept him for a few extra weeks until we were ready to bring him home. We adopted him through his shelter, but picked him up in Jefferson City. Sometimes the programs, if there is room, prefer to keep the dogs in training for as long as it takes to find them a home because then they know that their training won't unravel. A dog could excel at the program, but then lose that training if returned to a kennel and not worked with for months at a time.
This program has different names depending on the area. In Missouri, it is called Puppies for Parole. Here are links to just a few across the nation:
- Puppies for Parole - Missouri's main branch. Dogs are in correctional centers statewide.
- Puppies for Parole COMTREA - Missouri branch that offers advanced training sessions for dogs that will become service dogs, search and rescue dogs, police dogs, and other working types
- DAWGS in Prison - Florida, but may be able to adopt to owners in other states. Check their website!
- Colorado Cell Dogs - Colorado
- Canine Support Teams - Prison Pups - California
- Pathways to Hope - California
- C.H.A.M.P. - St. Louis, MO
- 4 Paws for Ability - Ohio; works with clients needing service dogs worldwide
I am attaching the Puppies for Parole Adopter's Guide. It discusses how the dogs are trained, what commands they are taught, and basic dog care for first time owners.
p4p_adopterstrainingguide.pdf | |
File Size: | 6334 kb |
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