[nagdu] Puppies behind bars

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Jenine,

I didn't know the pups spend weekends with families.  Great to get them
exposed to more outside stimulus.

Thanks for the more detailed info abou the program!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:30 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Puppies behind bars

Tracy, 

Bedford Hills refers to the Bedford Hills Women's Correctional Facility in
Bedford Hills NY. I think that's in Westchester County. 

I visited that facility around 10 years ago now, along with the men's
facility used by Puppies Behind Bars, in Fishkill, NY. Hope I spelled that
right. <grin> 

Several of the schools, including Pilot, Southeastern, GDF and I want to say
GDD but don't quote me on that last one, work with individual prisons with
puppy raising programs. Puppies Behind Bars is a very good organization and
I think the only independent organization set up to raise puppies. At one
time they raised for both Guiding eyes and GDF but now are exclusively GEB I
believe. 

All of the programs have some things in common. They all have some structure
in terms of classes and such the inmates who are qualified to participate
must follow. Several of them offer the inmates the ability to earn college
credits and come out with the vet tech degree. 

Having talked with the men in particular who are part of the Puppies Behind
Bars program, it's incredible how proud they are of their puppies and when
those dogs go out for their weekends in homes, their inmate handlers are
every bit as fussy as we are about how their pups are being cared for. 

Many of these inmates said it was the first time they'd been in a
relationship of unconditional trust and love with the pup. It's a great
concept, no matter who does it imho.

Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com


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