Williams: Second chances all around

There’s something very strange about hearing a gate lock behind you. Even though you know all you have to do is ask and someone will unlock it, there’s still a part of you that wants to run back and grab onto the bars. That’s how I felt the first minute after walking through the entrance to James River Correctional Center last week. When both my body and bags were searched, the seriousness of the situation definitely started to sink in. I was in prison.

I’m proud to say it was my first time ever in a correctional facility. I was both nervous and apprehensive and didn’t know what to expect. I’d been invited there to give a workshop for the inmates participating in the SOS (Save Our Shelters)-Pen Pals program, a groundbreaking program that pairs homeless dogs with inmates who train them and make them more adoptable. It is a visit I’ll never forget.

Back in September I’d received a letter from one of the inmate pen pals who said he and other members of the group had diligently watched “Greatest American Dog” and were big fans of my dog Andrew and me. He asked if it would be possible for me to come and visit and share some of my training techniques and advice. I was honored. Out of all the fan mail we’ve received, that letter was one of the ones that touched me the most. I immediately contacted Pixie Williams, the president of the board of directors to get the ball rolling. Several months later and after the usual governmental red tape, Andrew and I were on our way.

Save Our Shelters was formed in 1996 out of the need for more humane treatment and adequate housing for homeless animals in the Richmond, Virginia area. The Pen Pals program was implemented in partnership with the Virginia Department of Corrections in 2001 to serve as a dual rehabilitation program for both the inmates and animals. Dogs from area rescue organizations and shelters are placed with inmate pen pals who have been carefully selected to participate in the program. The inmates are taught effective dog training skills and techniques by professional dog trainers, and act as primary caregivers for the dogs that actually live with them in the prison. Since its inception, the SOS Pen Pals have been instrumental in raising the adoptability of thousands of homeless animals.

However it’s not only the animals that receive a second chance. I happen to believe that taking care of and bonding with a dog brings out the humanity in a person. In a sense, dogs have the power to make us more human and definitely more humane. The inmates in the program have lost their freedom for any number of reasons. Indisputably they’ve made poor choices in life and are now faced with paying their debt to society. But they are not just doing time, they’re giving something back. They’re saving lives. And that brings a unique sense of purpose and fulfillment that would make even the most hardened person feel good inside. I know how good I feel when I help a family establish a relationship with their troubled dog. I am certain the SOS pen pals must feel a similar sense of pride and satisfaction when they are able to deliver a healthy, well socialized and trained dog to his new family. As a proponent of exclusively positive, dog-friendly techniques, I’m especially happy that those are the only techniques the inmates are allowed to use. They use clicker training, not choke chains, prong or shock collars to show the dogs what is expected of them. And that makes perfect sense. How can we effectively teach humanity by encouraging the infliction of fear, domination and pain?

During the workshop I wanted to share my insights on establishing positive, mutually respectful relationships and communicating with dogs, but I also wanted to share insights abut working and communicating with humans as well. As dog trainers, we primarily work with the humans and are tasked to help them work better with their own dogs. Believe me when I say, the dogs are the easy ones in that equation! My goal was to help the inmates strive to have better tolerance, understanding and communication with their fellow man — for the betterment of dogs.

I was most impressed with the inmates’ intelligent and thoughtful questions about dog training and behavior problems. Those men are certainly learning their craft well, which is to the credit of excellent positive trainers like Virginia Broitman. Of course I also shared some insider information about my and Andrew’s experience on “Greatest American Dog.” I loved how even they were able to see right through the editing. I wish some of them had been the judges! After signing autographed photos, Andrew and I left with a feeling of gratitude and humility. I was able to walk back through the locked gates, get in my car, and drive home listening to my satellite radio with my little dog sitting next to me. The pen pals were left behind the bars to carry on with our shared mission.

I know for certain, this will not be my last trip to prison.

Laurie Williams is a Stafford businesswoman and certified pet dog trainer. She and her dog Andrew appeared on the reality television show, “Greatest American Dog.”