April / May / June 2000
"Pawsitive Approach Worthwhile Solutions"

Puppy training program offers offenders chance to serve community

Puppies are now in prison at the Dominguez State Jail — living as cell mates with selected confinees and being trained as guide dogs for the blind in Texas. Windham students are training the guide dogs in a unique program sponsored by WSD, TDCJ and the Guide Dogs of Texas (Southwest Guide Dog Foundation): Pawsitive Approach Worthwhile Solutions.

Sponsors hope Pawsitive Approach will shorten the waiting lists for guide dogs while also helping educate offenders. Approximately 2,000 sightless Texans are waiting for one of these valuable animals.

Eligible non-violent offenders may apply for participation in Pawsitive Approach, which involves learning to nurture, socialize and teach basic obedience to puppies who may later be trained as guide dogs. Offenders are responsible for round-the-clock feeding, grooming and training of the dogs. Two confinees and a prison staff person are assigned to each Labrador or golden retriever, with the Foundation teaching them proper care and training techniques. The puppies are "schooled" for 12-18 months with the Windham students before they leave for their final phase of preparation.

"Currently we are working with three puppies," Principal Owen Kelly said. "There are seven offenders involved in the program and several others on a waiting list. It is a privilege for WSD students to be selected for participation in Pawsitive Approach, and participants must avoid disciplinary cases.

"The act of caring for and being responsible for a puppy teaches offenders life skills and provides them with tools such as patience, teamwork and understanding," Kelly said. "This program can help them develop character and the skills needed to contribute to their families and communities. These confinees have sentences of two years or less, so they are looking forward to a successful return to the free world. Meanwhile they want to do something positive for society."

"This is one of my lifetime goals," said confinee Hamilton W., who cares for a guide puppy named Smithy. "I want to do something that would affect others permanently. We’ll give some good back to the community from this."

"This program has brought me back to the reality that there are others out there you can care about," said confinee Chris G., Smithy’s other trainer. "This little puppy has brought back to me what unconditional love is all about. It’s not about me; it’s about everybody but me."

Pawsitive Approach is the first program of its type in Texas, but similar programs exist in New York, Wisconsin and Washington. The Texas program is attracting media attention from throughout the state. If the program continues to be successful at the Dominguez State Jail, it could also be initiated at other Texas prisons.

Taking a Pawsitive Approach: Principal Owen Kelly, (center) Warden Harry Kinker and Major Tommy Johnson spend a moment with Smithy, one of the puppies being trained as a guide dog by confinees in a unique program at the Dominguez State Jail.