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<blockquote data-quote="witzend" data-source="post: 57490" data-attributes="member: 99"><p>I have been looking at puppies and dogs for years, wanting to get a second dog to keep Bubba company and to ease us into the idea that he won't be with us forever. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to bring home a dog from the pound, not knowing much of a history on it. Bubba is very spoiled and can be playful, but also a bit jealous. I couldn't control a dog that would fight with him.</p><p></p><p>Eventually, we found a program called "Project Pooch" at the Boy's Correctional Facility in our state. When minors go to prison, they go there. This isn't the detention center, this is the jail for those who have been convicted of serious felony crimes. They have to go to high school and get treatment. When they graduate high school, they have to have a job. Sometimes they move back into society, but sometimes they move on to adult prison if they were tried and sentenced as adults.</p><p></p><p>Project Pooch allows boys who have graduated high school to work with dogs to train them to become what the AKC calls "Canine Good Citizens" or CGCs. The dogs need to learn to sit, stay, come, socialize with people and other dogs, etc.</p><p></p><p>Two weekends ago, we went to the facility to meet some dogs, after having filled out an application about us and why we wanted a dog and the amount of time that we would spend with her, etc. We met 8 boys and their dogs, and it was really quite touching. You could tell that some of the boys had never had the opportunity to make any sort of presentation to an adult before. There was one young man whose dog wanted to chase after squirrels, and I knew he was very disappointed that his dog didn't make a perfect impression on us. I told him not to worry, that my dog would do the same thing, and I know that he can work on it with his dog. That situation sticks out in my mind still. I wrote the boys a note telling them thank you for introducing us to their dogs, and that they could be proud of themselves for working with the dogs and the progress that they are making in their own lives. I don't care what you say, boys are boys, no matter what awful thing they have done in their lives, they want the opportunity to better themselves when they can get away from the bad influences. </p><p></p><p>Mandy was the dog that we chose. She is here for a "foster" visit right now. </p><p></p><p>She is <em>so</em> full of energy! And she is such a sweetheart! Bubba is a little jealous, and we are working on getting the two of them to play together. Bubba likes to growl at her, and she gets down on her front haunches and teases him until he chases her around he yard. It's not really 'play' yet, but it's not fighting, either!</p><p></p><p>So, we have her until at least Wednesday. I think she will work out. She's such a little optimistic doll! But <em>so</em> much energy!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="witzend, post: 57490, member: 99"] I have been looking at puppies and dogs for years, wanting to get a second dog to keep Bubba company and to ease us into the idea that he won't be with us forever. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to bring home a dog from the pound, not knowing much of a history on it. Bubba is very spoiled and can be playful, but also a bit jealous. I couldn't control a dog that would fight with him. Eventually, we found a program called "Project Pooch" at the Boy's Correctional Facility in our state. When minors go to prison, they go there. This isn't the detention center, this is the jail for those who have been convicted of serious felony crimes. They have to go to high school and get treatment. When they graduate high school, they have to have a job. Sometimes they move back into society, but sometimes they move on to adult prison if they were tried and sentenced as adults. Project Pooch allows boys who have graduated high school to work with dogs to train them to become what the AKC calls "Canine Good Citizens" or CGCs. The dogs need to learn to sit, stay, come, socialize with people and other dogs, etc. Two weekends ago, we went to the facility to meet some dogs, after having filled out an application about us and why we wanted a dog and the amount of time that we would spend with her, etc. We met 8 boys and their dogs, and it was really quite touching. You could tell that some of the boys had never had the opportunity to make any sort of presentation to an adult before. There was one young man whose dog wanted to chase after squirrels, and I knew he was very disappointed that his dog didn't make a perfect impression on us. I told him not to worry, that my dog would do the same thing, and I know that he can work on it with his dog. That situation sticks out in my mind still. I wrote the boys a note telling them thank you for introducing us to their dogs, and that they could be proud of themselves for working with the dogs and the progress that they are making in their own lives. I don't care what you say, boys are boys, no matter what awful thing they have done in their lives, they want the opportunity to better themselves when they can get away from the bad influences. Mandy was the dog that we chose. She is here for a "foster" visit right now. She is [I]so[/I] full of energy! And she is such a sweetheart! Bubba is a little jealous, and we are working on getting the two of them to play together. Bubba likes to growl at her, and she gets down on her front haunches and teases him until he chases her around he yard. It's not really 'play' yet, but it's not fighting, either! So, we have her until at least Wednesday. I think she will work out. She's such a little optimistic doll! But [I]so[/I] much energy! [/QUOTE]
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