PCF Prison Greyhound program grows to eight

Sunday, February 8, 2015

PUTNAMVILLE -- The number of greyhounds being rehabilitated for adoption at Putnamville Correctional Facility has been four during each 12-week period for some time now.

However, the program is expanding and there are soon to be eight dogs in the program, PCF officials have announced.

The greyhounds were delivered to PCF recently in the hopes of giving the canines a second chance at life with a loving family.

With an ultimate goal of adoption into loving families, these retired race winners are taught important socialization skills that will help them adapt to a normal family dog's life and expectations.

For temporary fostering and integration, the facility has specially chosen a team of 16 offender handlers who are with the dogs on a 24/7 basis.

The offenders teach them normal commands that the average family pet should know such as sit, shake and lie down.

The greyhounds often have spent much of their time in kennels when racing as well as traveling so their normal daily activities have to be adjusted for life in a family home setting.

"The greyhounds and their potential families are not the only recipients of this program," PCF Superintendent Stanley Knight said. "The offenders who participate in the Prison Greyhound Program are subjected to unconditional love, team building and learning responsibility."

The offender handlers work hard to make sure their dogs become successful graduates of the program. Upon release, the offenders who are involved in the Prison Greyhound Program are presented certificates with a picture of each dog they successfully helped and a thank you from the staff involved in the opportunity.

An unusual calmness tends to be prevalent in the housing units where the dogs remain for their time with the program, prison officials note, adding that a soothing atmosphere is often created among the prison population.

The program also aids in the offenders learning job skills that can help them regain employment upon re-entry into their communities.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: