On a recent Wednesday morning, an inmate from the Lovelock Correctional Center was dressed in blue pants and denim shirt while he brushed away his tears during a prison graduation ceremony.
The inmate spent several weeks training a dog in the correctional facility and now he gets to give the dog to his new owners.
A Chihuahua, a beagle, and a husky were among the 14 rescued dogs from Las Vegas that were trained by 30 inmates in this prison.
They were given to 11 veterans and first responders during the ceremony.
The 3-P Program- Puppies, Prisoners & Patriots
This program is a collaboration of the Lovelock Center and a non-profit organization from Las Vegas, Those Left Behind.
The goal of this program is to help rehabilitate the rescued dogs from high-kill shelters and have inmates train them to become emotional support dog for first responders and veterans.
The effect of the program is profound not just on the rehabilitation of these dogs that were on the verge of euthanasia, but also on the inmates who trained them and the people who take them home, claim the officials of the facility and the inmates.
This amazing program has indeed changed the life inside the center, said one inmate. It’s a program that has already lifted everyone’s sprits, even that of the inmates who’re not participants.
Who Gets to Become a Part of the Dog Training Program?
The warden Renee Baker explains that she and her team have an extensive process of selection to choose the inmates who get to train the dogs and live in a distinct unit during this period.
The program is also covered with art from the inmates, such as dog paw prints with the names of every dog which has graduated from the program hanging on the wall to the second floor of the facility.
How Does an Inmate Train a Dog?
The inmate handler walks the dog daily and sleeps with them in their cells.
The non-profit has regular visits to help teach the inmates about training techniques and how to cope with the stress or emotional problems that the dog may have.
Since it first began in 2018, this program has helped train 47 dogs- two of which were given to children with autism.
During the handling ceremony, there were cakes and refreshments and one of the adopters was Sherri Canter who was there for a Chihuahua and a beagle for her parents.
Despite the main goal of the program being the training of the dogs, the inmates claim they feel that they also learn and grow through this process.
One of the inmates gave a speech and emphasized the amazing ability of dogs to teach us about patience, empathy, and responsibility for something else than ourselves.
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