Training rescue dogs ‘gives us a purpose’

By Mia Maldonado
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The Idaho Statesman

BOISE, Idaho — A single of the most well-known applications at the Idaho State Correctional Center is back.

Like lots of items, it was shut down in 2020, a sufferer of the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now inmates at the least- and medium-protection prison south of Boise are once all over again training canine to get them all set for a superior lifetime — a little something lots of incarcerated folks are striving for as properly.

For yrs, ISCC has partnered with local animal shelters to train canines right until they are all set for adoption. This yr it partnered with Meridian Canine Rescue to get the plan, called EPIC (Instructional Project for Inmates and Canines), up and working.

The method spots homeless or surrendered canines who have to have behavior education at the jail for around three months, according to Meridian Canine Rescue’s government director, Jessica Ewing. She informed the Idaho Statesman that puppies are matched with inmate handlers who use constructive reinforcement teaching and conduct modification.

“The EPIC software gives so lots of added benefits to puppies, humans, families and shelters, and efficiently satisfies the requirements of a community that often struggles to manage canine behaviors,” Ewing stated. “This program is a acquire-earn all the way about.”

There are four pet dogs dwelling at the prison, and just one more is on the way, Ewing said. When the canine have done all required teaching, they will be readily available for adoption.

Ewing said the handlers go to weekly lessons with shelter workers — concentrating on topics such as understanding concept, actions investigation, husbandry, enrichment, marketing and even info evaluation.

‘It offers us a purpose’: Inmates converse training canines in prison

ISCC Warden Randy Valley told the Statesman that quite a few inmates had been keen to sign up for a new dog-teaching software immediately after a very similar setup with the Idaho Humane Modern society ended all through the pandemic.

“In December of last 12 months, I couldn’t wander in this facility devoid of becoming asked, ‘When are the canine coming back?’” he claimed. “It’s what all people wished. … It just brightens their day.”

Matthew Stevens, imprisoned in 2018, earlier worked as a handler with the Idaho Humane Society’s method. He now is operating with Bear, a 9-thirty day period-aged husky who was surrendered by previous owners due to the fact of his substantial power and separation stress and anxiety.

“I’ve constantly experienced some sort of doggy ever considering the fact that I was a kid,” he informed the Statesman in an interview. “It offers us a goal in a area that can be somewhat meaningless sometimes.”

Stevens stated Bear’s separation anxiety has lessened because moving to the jail in November, and he does nicely when participating in with the other EPIC pet dogs.

The canine stay with their handlers in their mobile blocks but are taken out many moments a day to socialize with the other dogs and inmates.

Longtime inmate Ken Arrasmith said he has skilled canine in custody around the earlier 10 several years. As an EPIC handler, he stated it feels great giving back again and helping pet dogs get a second probability at life.

Arrasmith claimed he after skilled a deaf canine who veterinarians proposed be set down because of to aggressive behavior. After the dog’s time at the prison, it was adopted by a rescue heart in North Idaho — and the center utilised it as its demonstration pet dog, naming it “Demo.”

“We want the canine to realize success,” Arrasmith stated in an interview. “We live in an surroundings which is definitely depressing, and there is a whole lot of strain. We’re separated from our family members, and the dogs are my relatives.”

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