When I first met Coco she was hard to read, her blank stare. But I can see now that she was just scared and depressed and really missing her former family. After a couple of weeks here, Coco is so much more happy and affectionate. I hope she finds a wonderful home…
—Pen Pals Handler Log, May 2008
On June 12, 2008, Coco was released from San Quentin, having spent six weeks in the medium security prison. She left behind an inmate handler who had been her teacher and constant companion.
The 8-year-old Chow mix had been very depressed and overweight when she arrived. She missed her people, who had moved and left Coco behind. Today, a very happy – and ten-pounds-lighter – Coco is living with her new family in Santa Rosa.
Coco is being celebrated as the 100th dog to graduate from the Marin Humane Society’s Pen Pals of San Quentin program. Through the program, specially selected inmates at San Quentin State Prison are trained to socialize and help dogs overcome special behavior or medical problems before they are returned to the Marin Humane Society to go up for adoption.
The Pen Pals program began in 2005, when Mill Valley resident Larry Carson saw an Animal Planet show called “Cell Dogs.” The award-winning program profiles inmates in prisons throughout the country who care for and train shelter dogs. Carson, a canine evaluator for the Marin Humane Society’s Behavior and Training Department, felt that this could be an ideal partnership between MHS and San Quentin prison.
Carson’s first step was to travel to Carson City to meet with the Nevada Humane Society and learn about their program. “They told me that Puppies Up for Parole was the greatest program they have ever had,” says Carson. “Introducing dogs to the prison has allowed inmates who otherwise wouldn’t socialize an excuse to talk to one another.” Since the program began, there has been a 30 percent decrease in prison violence.
Using the Nevada program as a prototype, Carson approached Marin Humane Society and San Quentin officials, and they all embraced his proposal. Three years later, Pen Pals of San Quentin is considered a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN – a great boon for the dogs, for the inmates, for the prison, for the community, and for the Humane Society.
Approximately 60 percent of the dogs who go to San Quentin are there for health reasons. They may be recuperating from heartworm treatment, surgery, or other conditions and need special ministrations that are difficult to provide in the hectic shelter environment. In such cases, the inmates are responsible for administering all needed medications during the dogs’ recuperation. Another 20 percent of the dogs sent to the prison are shy or undersocialized and need some quality time with caring individuals to learn that the world is a safe place. The remaining 20 percent are dogs requiring obedience training to make them better adoption candidates.
The prison benefits from an extra incentive for inmates to stay on good behavior. Incarcerated people often suffer from social isolation, so caring for dogs is a coveted job. So far, the program has been limited to inmates who serve as San Quentin firefighters. The prison firehouse is staffed by inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes. They are carefully screened for histories of animal abuse and must have a clean behavior record in order to participate in the Pen Pals program.
As program manager, Larry Carson arranges for Humane Society volunteers to provide ongoing training and behavior sessions at the prison twice a week. “We’re in constant contact with the inmates,” he says. “It’s a real team effort.” Carson has each inmate keep a daily log that is monitored by Humane Society trainers.
Programs similar to Pen Pals and Nevada’s Puppies Up for Parole are working well in other states, as well. Through the Puppies Behind Bars program, inmates from seven East Coast correctional facilities train puppies to become service dogs. “There is nothing like a dog’s love, devotion, and companionship to help you get through the day,” says President and Founder Gloria Gilbert Stoga.
Mansfield Prison in Ohio operates its Tender Loving Dog Care program in partnership with the Ashland County Humane Society. According to it’s website, the program has helped create a calmer environment.
The Marin Humane Society is delighted but not surprised by the success of its Pen Pals program. “Animal shelters and prisons are both in the rehabilitation business,” says Carson. “We put out good canine citizens and hopefully they put out good human citizens.”
Carrie Harrington is the communications manager at the Marin Humane Society. For more information about the MHS Pen Pals of San Quentin program, visit MarinHumaneSociety.org or email Larry Carson at lcarson@marinhumanesociety.org.
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