The thought of an inmate being able to have a dog while in prison might appear to be be highly unlikely. Yet a successful dog training program has taken place at the Bolduc Correctional Facility for over six years. The Bolduc Correctional Facility has worked closely with the Humane Society of Knox County to see that this program successfully materializes.
When dogs at the Humane Society have special needs or little likelihood to find a home because of their background or behavior they are often matched with inmates at the Bolduc Correctional Facility who have agreed to sign on as a dog trainer.
Marie Finnegan is a local dog trainer who
has volunteered to work with the prisoners on the skills necessary to train dogs.
Susan Dumond, the Classification Officer at Bolduc Correctional Facility and an animal lover, has agreed to serve as the liaison between the prison and the Humane Society of Knox County.
Inmates who agree to participate in the dog training program have to approach their responsibilities very seriously. Each dog is assigned a handler and an assistant handler. Training takes place through positive reinforcements. The dog lives with his handler on a 24/7 basis. The handler or assistant handler
is responsible for walking the dog, feeding the dog, grooming, and other needs. Everywhere the handler goes, so goes the dog!
With this responsibility the inmates learn
a great deal about themselves, the responsibilities that go along with a job, and the qualities of being patient and understanding.
After the successful training is complete, the
dog is returned to the Humane Society of Knox
County, where they are placed for adoption.
The K-9 Connections program has proven to
be a wonderful testament to the phenomenal relationships that can be formed between man
and animal.
