OKLAHOMA -- Offenders at Cimarron Correctional Facility are training dogs to help veterans with disabilities.
‘Freedom Dogs’ pairs dogs rescued from shelters with offenders in local correctional facilities.
The dogs live with offenders, who take 10 weeks to train the dogs in basic canine etiquette.
‘Freedom Dogs’ pairs dogs rescued from shelters with offenders in local correctional facilities.
The dogs live with offenders, who take 10 weeks to train the dogs in basic canine etiquette.
Jerry Pelley is in prison for armed robbery. He’s spent the past two and a half years at Cimarron.
Seven weeks ago he was introduced to his newest trainee, Big Jake.
“It’s a labor of love,” Pelley said of the program. “We spend 10 weeks with these dogs and we love them, you know. We try not to form a bond with them but there’s no way you can come to this program without forming a bond.”
Darryl Davis, serving time for murder, said being a part of the Freedom Dogs program has changed him.
“I used to be quick-tempered,” Davis said. “Now I take the time to sit down and talk out problems.”
Seven weeks ago he was introduced to his newest trainee, Big Jake.
“It’s a labor of love,” Pelley said of the program. “We spend 10 weeks with these dogs and we love them, you know. We try not to form a bond with them but there’s no way you can come to this program without forming a bond.”
Darryl Davis, serving time for murder, said being a part of the Freedom Dogs program has changed him.
“I used to be quick-tempered,” Davis said. “Now I take the time to sit down and talk out problems.”
Davis said his canine trainee, Lexus, taught him patience.
Lexus is one of many Freedom Dogs whom program founder Colleen Crummy said would have probably been put to sleep in a shelter.
Lexus is one of many Freedom Dogs whom program founder Colleen Crummy said would have probably been put to sleep in a shelter.
Crummy has been helping inmates train dogs for years. Now she wants to make sure those dogs go to heroes who need them.
“There is a huge need for service dogs,” Crummy said. “Specifically psychiatric service dogs for PTSD with our veterans coming back.”
If dogs pass a basic canine etiquette test after 10 weeks, inmates will keep them for another 10 weeks to work on advanced training to help veterans with various tasks like opening doors and remembering medication.
Learn more about Freedom Dogs here.
(Freedom43tv - Sept 13, 2012)
