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Follow on Google News | Dog Trainer Pairs Prison Inmates with Rescue DogsEverything Dog working with rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters in the South and pairing them with minimum-security prison inmates in Massachusetts in ongoing eight-week training programs to help prison inmates prepare the rescue dogs for adoption.
By: Everything Dog Mazzola along with her assistant trainer, Amy Willey, are working with rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters in the South and pairing them with minimum-security prison inmates in Massachusetts in ongoing eight-week training programs to help prison inmates prepare the rescue dogs for adoption. “Rooting for the underdog has always been my passion,” says Mazzola, who adds that this passion has led her to not only devoting her career to animal welfare, but also to fostering at-risk adolescent girls. “I can’t think of a better of way of bringing out the best in people and dogs — both who need second chances — than this program,” she says. The dogs live with their inmate handlers who are responsible for every part of their dogs’ care, including exercising, feeding, house training and basic manners. The dog trainers will teach the inmates, how to handle the dogs, how to look for signs of stress in the dog, and basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, and come when called. At the end of the eight-week training program, the dogs and inmates are tested on the dogs’ skills; all dogsare available for adoption by individuals and/or families. Dogs that are not immediately adopted remain in the program until they are adopted. The pairing of rescue dogs and prison inmates is the brainchild of Don’t Throw Us Away founder, Michelle Riccio, who created the nonprofit in 2008 when she was a senior in college. There is no other program like this. “The program saves lives that are viewed as ‘disposable’ “At the end of the training, both dogs and inmates have new lives,” says Riccio. Her nonprofit’s successful work with inmates and rescue dogs is the subject of an upcoming film called “Underdogs.” Everything Dog was selected as the trainers for the program, says Riccio, because of Mazzola’s solid experience with shelter dogs, and Willey’s work with prison inmates. “Denise and Amy are extremely professional, experienced and a seamless fit to the program,” says Riccio. For more information about Everything Dog visit: www.everythingdognh.com. To learn more about Don’t Throw Us Away visit: www.dtua.org. End
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