Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi Everyone! 

My shelter has had a partnership with a local prison for 24 years! I am now taking over this program and I am looking for resources/suggestions on a couple changes. One being carrying over the training from the prison to the shelter and then ideally moving forward with the adopter. 

The other change is the training itself. The program uses essentially the same training methods it did at its conception and its way past due for an update. I would love to work with the guys in the program to build the new program and they are also interested in learning new approaches.  That being said the inmates do not have access to the internet and so it limits my ability to provide resources on different training approaches at a reasonable price. 

I would love to hear how others go about updating programs outside of the shelter, prison specifically if applicable, and also what are some ways we can provide the inmates with continuing education and professional development as it relates to animal welfare and training. 

Thank you! 

Hey Joseph,

There's a great article out that synthesizes all the best practices in prison-based dog training programs here: Prison-Based-Dog-Training-Programs_-Standard-Protocol.pdf (sustainabilityinprisons.org). 

Also, while not totally relevant to your specific question, this article just came out with a really interesting discussion about how these programs can contribute to dismantling racialized constructs/promoting empathy: How Prison Dog Programs Challenge the Racial Code in Correctional Settings and Beyond: Corrections: Vol 0, No 0 - Get Access (tandfonline.com). I share this one in case there is an opportunity to re-visit not just what the program consists of but WHO is administering the program. Consider if the individuals managing the program/training have any shared identities  or lived experiences with the incarcerated individuals, which can be of critical importance to building trust, rapport, and relationships, which leads to greater sustainability of the program.

For input on the specific changes you are looking to make, Jennifer Wesley out of Univerity of North Florida is a great and trusted resource. You might also consider asking the incarcerated individuals who are currently engaging in the program for suggestions they have and/or giving them an opportunity to provide meaningful input on your plans for adapting the program.

Hi Everyone! 

My shelter has had a partnership with a local prison for 24 years! I am now taking over this program and I am looking for resources/suggestions on a couple changes. One being carrying over the training from the prison to the shelter and then ideally moving forward with the adopter. 

The other change is the training itself. The program uses essentially the same training methods it did at its conception and its way past due for an update. I would love to work with the guys in the program to build the new program and they are also interested in learning new approaches.  That being said the inmates do not have access to the internet and so it limits my ability to provide resources on different training approaches at a reasonable price. 

I would love to hear how others go about updating programs outside of the shelter, prison specifically if applicable, and also what are some ways we can provide the inmates with continuing education and professional development as it relates to animal welfare and training. 

Thank you!