How They Bring Hope to Those Whose Future May Have Otherwise Been Lost
Originally published in Interactions, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2001

by Joan Dalton

Reestablishing Trust

Ginger, a skinny and frightened English Pointer, had been labeled "abandoned" at the boarding kennel in Oregon.

Ginger's next stop was the humane society. She showed signs of past abuse and wouldn't let a human come near her. She was labeled "unadoptable." Her only hope for survival was Project POOCH (Positive Opportunities–Obviously Change with Hounds), a juvenile corrections dog program in Woodburn, OR.

Chris, a 19-year-old with time to serve until age 25, wanted to take on the responsibility of caring for Ginger and helping her learn to trust again.

Ginger's head hung low and her tail seemed stuck between her stiff legs as Chris gently nudged her into a dog house with a thick blanket. Chris sat next to her as he spoke quietly and gently stroked her back.

After several weeks, Ginger slowly began to respond to Chris and started gaining weight. When Chris was asked how he was able to get such positive results with her, he replied, "I was abused by my stepfather from the time I was 8 years old. Trust is easy to lose and hard to get back."

Many young people in corrections have experienced abuse by their trusted human caregivers; a dog can provide the needed adjunct therapy in their treatment process. Dogs help the youths learn confidence, trust, responsibility, patience, and skills that can help them in the future.

Jean Vollum, Project POOCH Board Member and Delta Society Honorary Board Member, has been instrumental in providing guidance and support for building strong, credible programs that use animals to assist young people as they learn to believe in themselves and gain hope for a bright future.

"To see a sad child smile and laugh in the presence of a dog brings joy to everyone," says Jean. "For many, it is the beginning of the healing process."

Providing Emotional Security

On the other side of the Columbia River, in the state of Washington, is the Clark County Juvenile Center where Delta Pet Partners^® Pat Dowell and her 165-pound Newfoundland, Ben, visit selected youth in the detention center at least once a week.

Ben is always neatly groomed and wears his blue and white bib along with proper identification when he passes through the metal detector at the center. He is a star attraction and clearly enjoys the attention from the people in the waiting room.

On this particular day, Ben and Pat have been assigned to work with Toni – an articulate 15-year-old girl with a history as a runaway.

When asked what caused her to leave home, she answered, "I couldn't get along with my mom. She gets stressed from work and my dad beat me and my dog."

Toni coped with her home situation by running away.

When she ended up in the detention center, she met Ben and formed a bond. Toni was depressed when she first met Ben, but he just came and sat by her waiting patiently for a response. Now Toni says of their relationship, "I can talk to Ben and he won't tell anyone. I like big dogs because they make me feel protected."

Today, Toni is getting good grades and wants a career working with animals and computers.

Turning Lives Around

Programs for incarcerated adults train inmates to socialize dogs for work as service dogs – teaching them vocational skills, and helping them give something back to the world.

Programs that train prisoners to tame wild horses using nonviolent techniques also teach them to practice patience and effectively deal with their own behavior when they feel angry.

Do such programs hold promise for long-lasting change?

Dr. Sandra Merriam, Pepperdine University, CA, recently completed an evaluation of the effect of dogs on incarcerated male juveniles in Oregon. She found a zero recidivism rate among youths who had participated in Project POOCH.

When these youths were asked, "How do you feel about yourself after completing Project POOCH?" one responded "I feel better about treating animals as if they are your own children. My self confidence is higher and my emotions are outlet in positive ways. It redirected me in my desire to succeed and care for others."

More information about animals in correctional facilities can be found in Delta's book Animals in Institutions. For more information on Project POOCH, call 503-981-9531.