March 24, 2023 |
Photo – Shelter Dogs – Bigfoot99 file photo
Inmates at the Wyoming State Prison will soon be able to give back to society while serving time. The Rochelle Animal Shelter is teaming up with the Department of Corrections so inmates can train shelter dogs.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, Police Chief Mike Ward and DOC Unit Manager Christi Kelly asked for a Memorandum of Understanding between the animal shelter and the prison. Chief Ward explained the program to the council members.
Chief Ward said the city won’t incur any additional cost from the program. The dogs would be taken from the shelter and housed in the prison. He said both the guards and inmates want the project to succeed.
Unit Manager Kelly said only trusted inmates will participate in the program. Prisoners without disciplinary actions for six months and no gang affiliations will be allowed to handle the animals. Kelly said eight inmates will train an equal number of dogs.
The inmates must complete a six-month instructional course and train three dogs before they become certified handlers. Unit Manager Kelly said the program motivates the prisoners to behave.
Vice-Mayor Steve Sanger asked what happens to the dogs after their training is complete. Unit Manager Kelly said only animals with good temperaments will be chosen for the course. When the dogs are finished with their training, they will receive a diploma.
The goal of the program is to make the animals more likely to be adopted. Unit Manager Kelly said the Rochelle Animal Shelter will receive regular updates on the dog’s progress. A few weeks before graduation, the shelter can begin promoting the dog on social media. Kelly said the prisoner will create a list of tricks and commands the dog has learned.
The DOC Unit Manager said another goal of the program is to have the animals find homes before the training is complete. Once the dog has graduated, it will go directly to its adopted family.
Kelly said prison staff are usually the first to adopt the dogs out of the program.
Mayor Terry Weickum and Councilman Chris Weisenburg expressed their support for the program. The mayor said he has experience in animal training programs and finds the experience beneficial. The city council unanimously voted to allow the Rochelle Animal Shelter and the Wyoming Department of Corrections to sign the MOU.
