San Quentin going to the dogs
Partnership with Marin Humane Society teaches inmates to train man’s best friend — saving lives and learning skills in the process
(San Quentin & Novato, Calif., May 13, 2005) — One has nothing but time and the other needs time. For both, it’s a match made in — prison. Monday, May 16, 2005, 1–5pm, marks the launch of Pen Pals of San Quentin, an innovative program aimed at saving homeless dogs’ lives while helping inmates find more meaning in their own lives. In this groundbreaking partnership between the Marin Humane Society and San Quentin State Prison, the humane society will provide dogs with special rehabilitation needs to selected inmates and teach them to care for and train them so that the dogs can go on to find permanent homes — and the inmates can have the satisfaction of making a valuable social contribution.
For the Pen Pal dogs, it’s their chance to get a headstart. They’re either unruly adolescents without any good manners to speak of, shy dogs requiring extra socialization or dogs who simply need time to heal from a temporary medical condition. Either way, these dogs require a place where they can live for several weeks with a trusted companion who will help them get better.
For the Pen Pal inmates, it’s a headstart for them, too. Initially, the program will be limited to model prisoners with less than two years of their sentence to go. Participating in this program will give them the chance to do something meaningful that will help them feel good about themselves before they head back into the world.
The work they do together will help both the men and the dogs be better accepted by society.
Along with saving dogs’ lives, similar programs across the country have shown other encouraging results, including:
- Increased self-esteem for the inmates participating in the project
- Decreased recidivism among participating prisoners
- Decreased tension and violence in the facility overall
Since participation is a privilege that must be earned, Pen Pals will provide prison administration with an effective management tool to encourage good behavior among inmates. Costs of the program (food, toys, crates, vaccines, veterinary care, beds, grooming supplies, transportation and training staff) will be born by the humane society, a non-profit organization.
“The Pen Pals of San Quentin is going to be good for the community and good for the dogs,” says Larry Carson, Marin Humane Society dog behavior evaluator and trainer.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer such a positive program to inmates at no additional cost to taxpayers,” says Vernell Crittendon, public information officer for San Quentin State Prison. “The inmates can’t wait for the dogs to arrive.”
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