Using prisoners to train service dogs was the brain-child of Sister Pauline Quinn. In 1981 Sister Pauline saw a way to help the disabled while coupling a need with giving female prisoners an opportunity to serve as trainers for service dogs. The skills the prisoners learn often lead to career opportunities outside the prison system. Female inmates are also taught skills in grooming the dogs.

Providing Service & Rehabilitation

The Prison Pet Partnership Program has been recognized for its pioneering contributions in the field of service dogs training. In 1986, the Ford Foundation and John F Kennedy School of Business at Harvard University bestowed honors on the program.  Additionally, the Washington State Prison System has been recognized and honored for the rehabilitation of inmates responsible for the care and education of the service dogs.

Building Confidence

While training the service dogs, inmates find confidence within themselves. They realize they’re performing a service for the disabled, while developing skills that will lead to a choice profession after leaving the system. The combination of contribution and talent provide the inmates a sense of security and value.

With skills learned while training the dogs, inmates are able to work toward certification levels awarded by the American Boarding Kennels Association. Inmates may also obtain Companion Animal Hygienist Certification awarded by the World Wide Pet Supply Association.

Success Rates

The phenomenal success rate of which program inmates secure employment after being released is 100 percent. Even more surprising is the percentage rate of program inmates returning to prison is zero. These levels of success prove that when given the opportunity to learn new skills, inmates and the dogs have a new and valuable chance at life.

The estimated cost of a fully trained dog is $10,000 dollars. Disability training usually takes eight to twelve months to complete. On average, 2 of 10 dogs will have the knowledge level and attitude required to successfully complete and graduate service dog training.

Funding for these programs comes from the Department of Corrections, foundations, animal welfare organizations and individual donors.

Rescue & Save Lives

All the animals used in these programs are taken from a rescue organization, which provides an even deeper purpose for these amazing programs.

Service dogs spend considerable amounts of time with their trainers as well as other inmates throughout the prison community. Most who encounter the animals benefit from the warmth and fierce loyalty shared with them by the dogs.

The training for these dogs includes teaching them how to function in their masters’ home, in public places such as restaurants, doctor’s office and grocery stores.

Blessings Far & Wide

If you ever have the good fortune to encounter a disabled person and their dog, take a moment to pause and observe the relationship of the two. What you will observe is something that’s not easily described with words; it’s something one must see with their eyes, and feel with their heart.

Dr. Susan Wright, DVM, has been providing quality care for family pets as a veterinarian for more than 10 years. Dr. Wright is a dog bark collar expert and author. In her free time, Susan enjoys writing articles, giving helpful tips and proper care advice to dog owners.

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A fifteen-month-old Goldendoodle pup, that almost never barks found his voice and saved his family’s life during the Christmas season.

As a holiday treat, Evelyn Janes decided to campout on the floor with her six-year-old twins in front of the Christmas tree, while her oldest daughter Brainna was spending the night with a friend, and their father was working a late shift. Evelyn Janes of Haverhill stated she woke at 4 a.m. to the loud barking of their dog Bear, who was making enough racket to shake the heavens, which was highly unusual for him.

After sitting and looking around toward the area in which Bear was barking, Evelyn saw a bright light coming from the dining room, while looking out the door she could see flames shooting up the outside wall of her home.

As Evelyn gathered the twins up to race out the door, she was surprised to see two newspaper carriers about to pound on her door. Handing the twins over to them, she rushed back into the burning house to rescue Bear, who was still standing guard over his home.

The decision to campout with the twins and Bear in front of the Christmas tree probably saved their lives. The children’s bedroom was located in the portion of the house, which received the most fire damage.

As Evelyn exited her house with Bear, two of her neighbors that are also local firefighters came running barefoot into her yard wearing their pajamas to aid the family.

The two firefighters ran into the house without shoes, to check and make sure no one was still in any danger.  As they returned through the door it became obvious they were thinking of the children, their arms were loaded with gifts from under the tree.

Evelyn described Bear and the two neighbors as her hero’s. The neighbors fought alongside the other firefighters without any shoes or gear; dragging the hoses and helping out in every way they could.

The Janes family along with Bear plans to come back to the neighborhood where they have lived for 11 years, to rebuild. Evelyn stated the family could never leave all their wonderful friends and the most remarkable neighborhood in the world.

Needless to say, Bear is not only a family pet, but he’s their hero too.

This story is truly a Christmas miracle, for the Jane family.

Dr. Susan Wright DMV has been a practicing veterinarian more than 10 years. Susan is the staff dog bark collar expert for Dog Fence DIY. When she’s not caring for dogs in her professional life, Susan enjoys bringing them into her personal life through books and movies.

What women really want, and you’ll be glad to hear its not an oversized, overpriced piece of jewelry or a proposal.

It is a common male mistake to assume that women want lavish and ridiculously expensive gifts to even consider that you may in fact love them or even like them. I am here to put your minds and this myth to rest. Whether you are in a relationship or single, choosing a valentines present for the girl you like is easy if you stick to these simple rules of gift giving.

Keep it personal

Think of something you know she likes or has mentioned before, even if it’s the perfume she always wears is great, the fact you have noticed and taken initiative will be a gift in itself. If you’re not sure what perfume she wears or even if you do, gain extra brownie points for telling her how great she smells and then asking what fragrance it is. Avoid anything too mushy, photo frames or personalized key rings, mouse mats or mugs are a no go, I repeat NO GO.

Girls Love funny

Shared an in joke or laughed along to the same comedian? This is all gift ammunition. Ladies love a guy with a sense of humor, so show your funny side by picking out something that reminds you both of something that made you laugh or play it safe with a DVD of her favorite comedy show. If money is no object and you want to secure a meet up at a later date, or you’re in a relationship and the hope is you will be together come new year; book tickets to a comedy night. Its one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it works every time. Funny = Irresistible.

Can I help you?

It can be really annoying when you go in to a department store or shop and the sales assistant stalks you, asking if they can help; but this is the one time you do. Explain what it is you are looking to buy, how much you want to spend and more importantly who it is for. If they are any good at their job they will ask you other follow up questions to help you decide and give you options to choose from.  Remember though, there is no pressure to buy what they show you, if you don’t think she will like it, don’t buy it, and try another  store.  This goes for cosmetics at a department store for the girl you recently been seeing to sexy lingerie for your long term girlfriend. Simple as, don’t be afraid to ask.

Women are from Venus

You may think that by purchasing your girl anti wrinkle cream because she always talks about how old she looks, or a gym membership as she moans about wanting to get fit, that these ideas would be fantastic. They are not. Whilst we women want you to sympathize with our concerns about ageing and needing to shed a few pounds we definitely do not want you to agree with us. Yes women are complicated, but no this is not an acceptable excuse when we are mortified by your gift of choice. Likewise if she sincerely explains that she doesn’t really want anything this year, so not to worry, you are being tested. Be the best boyfriend ever by getting her something amazing anyway, and you can count on still being her no.1 man come New Year.

Author: Annabel, Event Manager for Chillisauce Ltd. Events Organization Company specializing in Hen Parties,   

A new study shows dogs not only respond to the words and ministrations of humans, dogs can understand and anticipate the intentions of their people.

With skills equivalent to that of a 6-month-old human, dogs who were spoken to or who had direct eye contact with a person were more likely to follow that human’s gaze as it moved across the room than if the person didn’t make direct eye contact with them.

Research is shedding light on human-like qualities of domestic dogs in fact, one study in the July 2011 issue of Learning & Behavior found that domesticated dogs were more likely to beg food from a person looking at them as opposed to someone who wasn’t paying attention.

One expert found that dogs have the developmental abilities of a human 2-year-old, with the average dog capable of learning the meanings of 165 words.

Given the intelligence of service dogs I’m inclined to believe the intelligence of dogs goes well beyond a toddler, but then again, my dogs are people too.

The image here is of my dog Jake. Jake passed away a year ago, but through his entire life, I often commented on just how very much he was like a toddler. I could tell him to retrieve his teddy bear, he’d go get it – whether it was somewhere outside or in, he would find it and bring it back. When he’d get a new chew bone, he’d take it outside to share with his doggie buddies from up the road. There were so many times I’d pause at Jakes action in amazement at his ability to really understand me. He really was a very special pooch.

My three girls, Maggie, Effie and Molly are all very humanlike in so many ways. Their toddler style antics have me smiling every single day.

Do you have a dog that is smart and almost humanlike? What’s something your dog has done that has stopped you in your tracks, amazed at just how smart they are?

Nearly one-fifth of U.S. women have been the victim of a sexual assault at some time in their lives, according to new federal data released Wednesday.

In addition, one in four has been the victim of severe physical violence by a boyfriend or husband, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  (Read Full Article)

The family from the TLC Reality series "19 Kids & Counting" chose a unique way to memorialize their 20th child that was lost last week to miscarriage. The Duggars took photos of the fetus/infant and distributed it a the memorial service.

Jubilee Shalom Duggar was due in April. Michelle Duggar miscarried on Sunday in her 2nd trimester.

The photo was captioned with a message that read "There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world." (Full Article and Photos)

What are your thoughts on the Duggars?

It’s a highly controversial situation – on one hand you have families with only one child who struggle to make ends meet and then there are the Duggars who keep popping out kids it seems; to keep ongoing content for their television show.

ABC, CBS and NBC have used religion in two ways, either painting the field of GOP primary challengers as a God Squad of religious zealots or playing up differences in their faith. Whether they’re letting viewers know that “Rick Perry’s gonna have to answer some questions about the people” he prays with, fretting that God “told Michele Bachmann,” to enter politics, or devoting no less than 40 segments to the question of whether Mormonism is “a cult” or if “Mitt Romney is a Christian,” the networks have repeatedly used faith against the GOP field.  (Read Full Article)

Over 140,000 messages urging the FBI to update their 82-year old definition of ‘forcible rape’ — via Ms. Magazine: “BREAKING: On the heels of the massive ‘Rape is Rape’ campaign, the FBI Advisory Policy Board has voted unanimously this afternoon to update the definition of rape and drop the word ‘forcible.’ This is another huge step toward victory! Stay tuned for more details. Thanks to all who signed on to the campaign!  (Read Full Article)

Image via Change.org

What started as an ill-thought tweet has turned into a brawl between Teen Mom and the Kardashian Klan!

On Friday (Dec. 2), Teen Mom Farrah Abraham wrote a ridiculous tweet saying, “Im Shocked Kourtney Kardashian is pregnant again, Did she not learn anything from TEEN MOM? Maybe its a fake pregnancy like kims wedding SAD.”

Seeing as how Kourtney is 32-years-old, her tweet made no sense at all. Baby daddy Scott Disick responded first followed by a joint effort virtual Kardashian bitch slap. (Read Full Article)

Shortly after 6:30 on Saturday morning, Charlotte CBS-affiliate WBTV reported that Billy Graham had died.  The news was especially significant considering that Graham was born in Charlotte and has been a social luminary in North Carolina for decades.  (Read Full Article)