Sebastian the dog goes to prison school

When people saw Sebastian at the Camano Animal Shelter Association (CASA) on Camano Island, they were attracted by his cute face, but put off by his hyperactive energy.

The 9-month-old border collie/spaniel mix was in need of training that CASA employees couldn't offer with kitten season in full swing and a host of other animals, said Tegan Locker, CASA shelter manager.

So CASA enrolled Sebastian in a new dog training program, the PAWfect Connection Prison Dog Program at Stafford Creek Correction Center in Aberdeen. He left on July 17 to join the nonprofit's second session.

About 28 years ago, Sister Pauline Quinn, a nun, started the Prison Pet Partnership Program, a service dog training program at the Washington State Correction for Women, said Loren Taylor, classification counselor at Stafford Creek Correction Center, who runs the program.

When Taylor was looking at programs that changed offenders' behavior, dog training was one that studies had shown had a positive impact on the inmates involved.

It's a program that benefits both the community and inmates, Taylor said. For the inmates, working with dogs teaches them compassion. It is also a way they can contribute to the community while still in prison.

In the last month, Taylor said there hasn't been a single day when someone hasn't told her how much change they have noticed since the program started in February.

Inmates have learned to work as a team, and men who normally would have solved disputes physically, instead have done so verbally, she said.

For example, two men who were partnered with a dog decided they could no longer live together. Normally that would result in punching each other out, she said. However, since there was a dog involved, the two discussed it and worked out a parenting plan so both could continue working with the dog.

Locker said she heard about the new nonprofit program through a dog rescue group.

"We had so many dogs that could use a program like that," she said.

With the program, Sebastian gets 24-hour one-on-one attention, Locker said.

If Sebastian can learn that when he is calm, he gets more attention, that would help him, she said.

"I hope they can teach him how to help himself in directing his energy," Locker said.

Sebastian is doing well so far, Taylor said. The men working with him spend many hours a day getting him to run and entertaining him.

He started training last Monday, and has already

stopped mouthing, or biting, she said.

For the first two weeks, the dogs get a chance to adjust. Then, the eight-week training session starts.

The dogs get a chance to interact with the men, and with each other.

There are two cocker spaniels in the program that Sebastian likes to herd, Taylor said. They will play along with him for a little bit before getting bored.

Professional trainers have volunteered to work with the inmates one to two times a week, providing them with advice and lessons, she said.

Prisons and shelters are places where society stores damaged members of society, Taylor said. By working together, the men gain compassion and responsibility, and the dogs receive training that makes them adoptable.

By the end of the first session at Stafford Creek, all of the dogs that participated were adopted, Locker said.

Already, the plan is to expand the program to the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla mid- August.

Taylor also hopes to develop grooming and boarding aspects to the skills the inmates are taught. At some point, the program could expand to include service, therapy or search and rescue dogs.

Through the nonprofit, the prison dog program should be self-sufficient, Taylor said. The nonprofit can accept donations, and will raise funds using donated dog items made by inmates, such as collars, dog bowls and leashes. That money will pay for feeding the dogs.

Locker said CASA hopes to continue having dogs participate in the program.

"It gives the underdogs in the shelter a leg up," she said.

Because PAWfect Connections is a nonprofit, there is no charge to CASA for having dogs participate in the program.

Sebastian will graduate on Sept. 29, and he is still looking for a home.

Potential adopters can't meet him immediately, since he is still in the program, Locker said. When the program is done, Sebastian should be a well-trained dog.

If interested in volunteering or donating to the PAWfect Connections Prison Dog Program, call 360-591-1353 and leave a message.

Interested in adopting Sebastian? Contact CASA at 387-1902 or visit camanoanimalshelter. org.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.