How Can We Help You?

We've often received inquiries about how to start a prison canine program. Some of the most frequently asked questions are answered below. Because we strongly believe in the value of this type of program and its benefits for the community, we want to help pave the way for similar programs to get started.

FAQ'S - Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to start up?
In the case of Second Chance Prison Canine Program, it took a full year to plan and develop the program. We're glad we did, and recommend the same for any group starting from scratch.

How did you begin, what did you do first?
One of the very important first steps is to start by developing an effective steering committee consisting of representatives from key groups: rescue organizations, dog trainers, veterinarians, and the Department of Corrections.

Networking with some of the many prison/dog programs nationwide is another very important first step. From this, you will learn that there are different types of programs out there, and no two are exactly alike.

Develop and set realistic goals. It is easier to rescue shelter dogs and do a basic training course that would last approximately 6 to 8 weeks at the most. Many shelter dogs come with "baggage" (problem traits or behaviors), which landed them in a shelter in the first place. Chances are, they have undergone a lot of stress and to take them into a prison environment for a prolonged period of time, can add additional stress onto them.

If your steering committee chooses to go the route of training for service dogs, then it is extremely important to take those prison dogs out into the real world early, and on a regular basis. This is a crucial step in developing their socialization skills to sights, sounds, and smells that they would not be exposed to in the correctional setting. In this way, the dogs will be better able to adjust to new environments and people, and ultimately be better able to perform the "jobs" they are training for!

Most of the programs training service dogs use purebred puppies donated by breeders. The program directors already know the history of the dogs. The inmates train for basic commands, along with some of the service dog commands. They keep the dogs approximately 12-16 months, then turn them over to a partnering service dog organization to further the dogs' training and facilitate placement.

What method of dog training do you use?
We strongly believe that only positive reinforcement training techniques should be used, particularly in the prison training environment. We don't use shock collars or choke chains. We highly recommend clicker training.

Can you describe the inmate training guidelines?
It is important to provide basic education to the inmates prior to giving them their dogs. We provided our inmates with 8 weeks of intensive training that included book work and hands on experience with our volunteers' own dogs. Required reading for the course: Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor and Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson.

We meet with the inmates weekly, sometimes twice a week for training sessions. All training sessions require mandatory attendance, failure to comply can result in suspension.

We have the inmates sign a contract with SCPCP. We are very strict - if they fail to comply with the rules and regulations, they are suspended from the program.

It is critical to provide educational training to the correctional officers and various staff members! They can hinder a program, unintentionally, because they don't understand what you are trying to accomplish. It is a sensitive issue in a correctional environment to think that the inmate can have control over something. It requires that you deal with this in a tactful manner. How enthusiastically the staff and correctional officers support and implement the guidelines that you set forth, will determine how successful the program is.

Set clear-cut guidelines so that there is no room for confusion.

Evaluate periodically to determine the effectiveness of the program. Look at the impact on the inmates, dogs, and correctional environment. Look at what is working well, and what needs improvement.

It is very important to keep the warden in the loop of communication!! Establish regular meetings.

What about funding?
We suggest trying to get most things donated, as most Correctional Centers do not have the funding for this type of program.

There are a lot of health issues that can arise with the shelter dog � make sure you have some veterinarians that are willing to help by donating their services or at least offering a big discount � this can otherwise be a big cost.

You're not dealing with just a dog.

Please speak first to the person.
It's correct human and canine manners.

Petting the service dog.
Do not touch either the service dog or its person without first asking permission. Touching the service dog might distract it from its work. Touching the person might be interpreted as assault.

Feeding.
Resist the temptation to offer treats to the service dog. Always ask permission first and respect the person's wishes.

Barking, meowing, whistling, and making other rude noises at the dog.
Don't. You'll look silly. This behavior is disruptive and can cause the service dog to become distracted, resulting in possible injury to the dog, its person or someone else.

Conversing with the person about the service dog, disabilities, other animals you have known.
Questions of a personal nature should be avoided. If the person volunteers information, you may decide if you wish to continue the conversation. Don't feel offended if the person declines to talk about himself/herself or the dog with you.

What if you don't like dogs or are afraid of dogs?
Place yourself away from the service dog. If you are a business person, discreetly arrange for someone else to wait on the person. You may ask the person to have the service dog lie down if it does not interfere with its work.

What if the service dog barks, growls, or otherwise forgets its manners?
Find out what happened before taking action. Was the service dog stepped on, poked, asleep and dreaming, performing its job (some alert their owners to oncoming seizures by barking once or twice)? If the dog's behavior is disruptive or destructive, you may ask the person to remove it from the premises.

What if other people complain about the dog being present?
Explain that the service dog is medically necessary and that federal law protects the right of the person to be accompanied by the service dog in public place.

FAQ's About Service Dogs.

What is a service dog?
Any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. This can include guiding a person with impaired vision, alerting a person with impaired hearing to the presence of people or sounds, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, sense their owners' oncoming seizures and warn them. A service dog can be any breed or size. It might wear specialized equipment such as a backpack, harness, or special collar or leash, but this is not a legal requirement.

What is a disability?
Any physical or mental condition that substantially limits a major life activity, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

Are all disabilities visible?
No. Many disabilities are hidden, such as epilepsy, heart disease, vision and hearing impairments, lung disease, and those that are of psychological or emotional origin.

Can I demand that a person tell me details about their disability?
No.

Can a person be required to show proof that their dog is a service dog?
No. While some dogs receive "certification papers," others do not. There is currently no national standard with which to evaluate the training or performance of any type of service dog, including guide dogs.

Where is a disabled person allowed to go with their service dog?
In the State of Arizona, disabled persons with their service dogs are permitted by law to go anywhere the general public goes, except zoos and wild animal parks, which may exclude dog guides under certain specified conditions. See the Arizona Revised Statutes Sec, 11-1024 Relating to Public Access by Handicapped Persons.