by T. Durst
WOW!! Where do I begin? The AHCC Pawsitive Dog Program gives me so many things. It doesn't seem possible to list them all. In a nutshell, I believe strongly that the program, dogs, and the volunteer trainers have given me back a little humanity from serving 21 years of prison existence so far.
I have been incarcerated since 1994. Since then I have served my sentence as best as I can while learning all I can to prevent the thinking it takes to commit crime. An important part of this process has been to join the Pawsitive Dog Program at AHCC.How can a program be explained that teaches so much more than just dog training? To me, the dogs are the reason I give my time to the program, but how can I train these dogs without learning how to train? The answer is in all the classes, all the book reports, all the homework, and contact with all the dogs that I have been privileged to work with.
The responsibility for another life - the dog - has helped in the decision to stay an Alternate Dog Handler. (At least long enough to truly learn how to train the dogs.) I have found a very important aspect of staying an Alternate - being able to help to train three or four dogs at a time each session that we have the dogs here. To help the dogs by taking one or two weak talents the dogs may have and making them a little better. As an Alternate, I haven't had the responsibility to shape the behaviors of just one dog. I believe this is the main reason that I have enjoyed training the dogs so much.
I truly believe there are parallels between learning and training these dogs, and the interactions we as humans use daily to co-exist. The lessons I learn are used daily to work on co-existence in the setting here. The benefit has been to both myself and the dogs. We both learn to be a better being.
We take dogs with little to no training, and help them become very adoptable animals. The processes in doing this is very interesting to observe. So much so, I see the parallels of an incorrigible dog to myself, and see the process used to correct the unwanted behaviors to make us both much more sociable.
So there can be no mistake, we are asked to agree to having a dog in our cell 24-7. A dog with unacceptable behaviors that need correcting; and we work hard to correct these behaviors with style. As for the duties of an Alternate Dog Handler, we assist the Handlers in every way we can to help the dogs practice at their training skills. We can help by watching the dogs as they train and give feed back. We can work with the Handlers during training sessions. And we do all the duties required of a Dog Handler (including being certified as a dog handler and taking all the classes that they do) with the exception of actually having a dog in our cell 24-7.
The dogs are a very big responsibility. For a person that has been in prison for over 21 years, I feel very privileged to be part of such a positive program. A program that teaches me the things needed to be a responsible part of society. A program that saves the dogs' lives and fills their futures with all sorts of good by giving them basic instruction that helps them be wonderful to be around.
In sum: I am very grateful for a chance to prove that I can accept responsibility, learn the proper techniques of training a dog, and learn to be a much better person.
