A NEW LEASH ON LIFE
The Forsyth Humane Society, the Forsyth Correctional Center, and the Winston-Salem Dog Training Club have partnered to bring A New Leash on Life to the minimum-security correctional facility in Winston-Salem. Homeless dogs are paired with qualifying prisoners, and receive socialization, crate-training, basic obedience skills, and agility training.
Inmates must go through an extensive application process before being approved into the program. Qualifying inmates work with professional dog trainers from the Winston-Salem Dog Training Club and learn positive-reinforcement training methods. For ten weeks, the dogs live and work with the inmate-trainers, sleeping in a special Doggie Dorm at night. After “graduating” from the program, the dogs are ready to become the newest member of an adoptive family; and then another dog is teamed with an inmate trainer.
A New Leash on Life offers both humans and canines a new chance, helping inmates become productive members of society, and offering dogs the necessary training to be welcome members of a family. Inmates get a sense of pride and self-esteem and a marketable skill. Perhaps best of all, inmates learn patience and compassion, and both men and dogs learn how to give and receive unconditional love.
This
program receives no state funding, and it is dependent upon community
donations. For more information, go to their website at:
http://www.newleashonlifefcc.org/
