Department of
Corrections,
Dane County Humane Society
Partner to Give
Rescued Dogs ‘Second Chances’
Thompson
Correctional Center is site of 12-week program
DEERFIELD – The
Department of Corrections (DOC) and Dane County Humane Society (DCHS)
today commemorated the start of the new “Second Chances” dog
socialization program at the Thompson Correctional Center (TCC).
Dane County Humane
Society (DCHS) dogs enrolled in “Second Chances” typically have a more
difficult time finding a new home due to poor training and social
skills. This 12-week program, which began June 28th, offers
these dogs a second chance through additional training and development
of important social skills. Selected
TCC inmates provide
handling, caretaking and personalized training of the dogs, under TCC
staff supervision and with the instruction of a DCHS canine
behaviorist. Second Chances is modeled after a highly successful
program currently in place at Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in
Oneida, WI.
“At the Thompson
Correctional Center, we continue to pursue new ways to partner with the
community to promote a positive and successful re-entry of inmates back
into society, and ‘Second Chances’ is another way for us to fulfill this
goal,” TCC Superintendent Troy Hermans said. “We are honored to be
collaborating with other professionals from Dane County Humane Society
on this new program. It brings it beyond just people helping animals;
it’s about people and animals helping each other.”
“Second Chances is
designed to take adoptable dogs in need of training and socialization,
and help them become wonderful forever pets,” DCHS Executive Director
Pam McCloud Smith said. “We are confident that the inmates will do a
great job with the dogs. Graduation Day will be a great moment for the
dogs and for the inmates who have made a positive difference in the
lives of these animals and in our community.”
At the conclusion of
the 12-week program, the dogs will be prepared for adoption as pets.
Staff at DCHS will facilitate the adoptions.
A 24 x 48 foot indoor
dog training area has been constructed in TCC’s pole shed, and plans
call for an outdoor fenced exercise area to be installed pending
additional donations. The 12-week program will run 3-4 times a year, and
each cycle will include as many as 6-12 dogs, all of which will be
selected by DCHS canine behaviorists.
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