Inmates help homeless dogs

NORTON, Kan. -- At first glance, one would not know that behind the steel bars, chain link fence and razor wire of Norton Correctional Facility, more than 200 dogs have been saved from a life of cruelty, homelessness or even euthanasia.

The Second Chance Homeless Pet Society was started in 1997, and on average, 20 men per year teach dogs obedience and social skills so they can be adopted into someone's home. On average, 10 dogs at a time are in the program.

"I thought it was a good program," Tom Zimmerman said about the reason he became a dog handler at the prison. "It is good for the dogs and gives me something to do with my time."

Serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery, Zimmerman spends 24 hours a day, seven days a week training Tasha, a three-year-old black Labrador he received in January. Tasha lives in Zimmerman's cell and accompanies him to his job as a clerk in the admitting and dismissal area. The only time she is not with him is when he eats, attends chapel services or during visitation day. During these times, alternate handlers care for the dogs.

Teaches proper pet care

Zimmerman has four years left on his sentence, and Tasha is the ninth dog he has trained.

"It seems like each dog has a different past, and you have to learn what works for it," Zimmerman said.

Although located within the confines of a state prison, Second Chance receives no state funding. It is a non-profit organization that relies totally on donations and fund-raising events. The program's mission is to prevent cruelty to animals while at the same time help find homes for unwanted and neglected dogs. It also provides education to the public on proper pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering all pets.

"A group of ladies in town asked about a program for here, and we gave a presentation to the warden, brought puppies to the Norton Correctional Facility, and it has snowballed from there," said Linda Terrell, an NCF employee and Second Chance board member.

Kathy Thibedeau, also an NCF employee and Second Chance board member, said not only do the recipients of the dogs benefit from the program, but the inmates and dogs benefit as well.

"People who receive the dogs are getting a jump start on housebreaking, training and social skills, and as far as who benefits besides the recipients, well, that's six of one, a half-dozen of another. The inmates learn a lot with the dogs being with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learning to love

"So many of the inmates haven't had love in their lives, and they get a lot of love from the dogs. We've even seen dogs not want to leave their handlers when it's time to be adopted," Thibedeau said.

Dogs come from private individuals or shelters, and local veterinarians donate their services. Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. donates food.

The main source of income for Second Chance is a twice yearly fund-raiser known as Trivia Night. Proceeds from the events go toward veterinarian bills that are over and above those donated as well as all other supplies for the dogs and fuel for the trips to Wichita.

Another handler, James Thomas, is training his second dog -- a four-year-old border collie mix named Rowdy. Thomas received Rowdy April 5 and, like Zimmerman, Thomas lives and works with his dog. Within 10 days, Thomas had calmed Rowdy's behavior, taught him "sit" and "down" and to fetch his own leash.

Not all of the 700 inmates are eligible to be part of the Second Chance program. Inmates must apply and be accepted before becoming a dog handler.

"We look at the crime and its circumstances, and we look at the inmate's 'out' date, mental health and discipline history. It's a case by case application process," Thibedeau said.

Unlike Zimmerman, Thomas is relatively new to the program, and he said he became involved because of a conversation he overheard about a dog that was having problems and needed a new handler.

"I kind of got into the program by accident. They had a dog that had some problems, and I overheard the conversation that they needed a new handler, and I volunteered," said Thomas, who's serving a five-year sentence for aggravated battery and forgery and has half of his sentence remaining.

Thibedeau said some of the inmates do not realize how much time they must commit to caring for the dogs and eventually have left the program.

Both men agreed that the benefits of Second Chance make it worthwhile and that it is not unlike raising children.

"If there is a downside to the program, it would be when you get a dog and see it's been abused. It hurts, and you can't just see what happened. But, both of us are getting help, Tasha and me. It's like having a child. You can have a bad day, and a child will do something to make you laugh," Zimmerman said.