Prisoners And Dogs Working Together

Prisons house people convicted of crimes, and they can also offer opportunities for rehabilitation.  The News On 6's Rick Wells reports there's a relatively new rehab program in a prison in Payne County.  Program graduates are trained to be good companions.

The Cimarron Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in Cushing.  Inside the barbed wire and concrete, there is an interesting and, so far, effective rehab program going on.

Wednesday was graduation day.

Marge Satterfield is a dog trainer.  She has been helping the prison inmates teach the dogs the basics.

"It takes a lot of responsibility to care for a dog properly," said prisoner Thomas Green.

So, it's not just the dogs that are learning something.  There are 18 inmates in the program.  Two to a cell and each cell gets a dog.

One inmate's the primary trainer the other is the back up.

"Every eight weeks, we have nine dogs.  Hopefully we'll get that up to 10 or 12 that are available for adoption," said Marge Satterfield with the Cimarron Valley Humane Society.

Dogs that know basic obedience commands are more adoptable.  And, some of the dogs have already been spoken for.

The dogs come to the program from nearby shelters.  They are strays picked up by animal control, and the inmates turn them into model citizens.

"I stay out of trouble with the dogs," said prisoner John Smith.

John Smith is serving time for armed robbery.  His good behavior got him into the program.

"Finally something positive, you know.  I can show my family I'm doing something right and not messing up all the time," said prisoner John Smith.

Smith trained the first dog adopted out of the program earlier this year.  He'll get a new one when these dogs graduate.

The Cimarron Valley Humane Society pays all the expenses for the program.  If you'd like to help or would like information about adopting a dog that's been through the program, you can call 918-225-3785.