SCI Chester, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, has a very exceptional dog-training program, and the outcomes are genuinely life-changing for the convicts, the dogs, and the prospective pet owners.
Acceptance into the Wags Rescue dog-training program is a privilege for these offenders. If they are accepted into the program, these men will be living in their prison cells with the dog and another convict around the clock.
That’s correct, the puppies sleep in the cells of the convicts, making them their full responsibility. There is a major emphasis on one-on-one training, with convicts charged with teaching the dogs fundamental rules and skills.
The scheme frees up space in Wags’ network of foster dogs, providing more room for rescues.
Many of these shelter puppies faced euthanasia but are now alive and healthy thanks to the convicts who volunteered to assist.
The dog is a reflection of what they educate them, Larry, one of the inmates, stated. So the incentive is right there if they can educate them to be nice dogs as they would be.
Larry and his colleagues dog trainers prepare to say goodbye to the pups they’ve spent so much time with in the video below. It’s now time for them to find their everlasting homes.
