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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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,   

When you become a parent, it’s as if you are thrust into a boot camp training working toward earning a medical merit badge, secondary degree parental pediatrics or develop a near psychic level intuition when it comes to health symptoms. At first everything under the sun might concern you, eventually you develop a greater tolerance to symptoms, but do you really know what symptoms actually warrants a call to the doctor or a trip to the emergency room? Is it serious? Here are 12 kids’ symptoms you should never ignore. (Read Full Article)

The “gap year” is that time right after high school graduation when a teenager decides it is a good idea to wait to go to college in favor of racking up some life experience. However, for parents, the gap year is more like a torturous time when all hopes of seeing their children pursuing an education (and moving out of the family home) sink down the drain. So, how do practical parents talk some schooling sense into their seize-the-day children? Here are some tips for how to encourage your child to skip the gap year:

Provide incentives. This one could also be referred to as bribing. Offer an incentive (based on your personal means, of course) for staying in school. For example, you may offer free room and board (like, what else is new?), an automobile, or a vacation if your child sticks it out.

Get backup. If you are having a hard time convincing your child of the value of staying in school, find reliable sources who can illustrate the pitfalls of taking that time off. For example, you might have a sister who got sidetracked during the gap year and never made it back to school, or an uncle who spent his gap year getting into debt. Basically, anyone who took time off after school and had negative results would be a great support for your argument to skip the gap year.

Put things into perspective. If you can give your child a feeling of the bigger picture, then you may be successful at persuading against the gap year. First, explain how easy it is for one gap year to turn into two, or five, or a lifetime . . . then explain that it’s a much better idea to just get the hard work over with in order to reap the benefits later.

Good, old-fashioned threats. Sure, you don’t want to do the hard thing, but that just might be what it takes. If you really want to get tough on the matter, you can threaten your child to withdraw all support. That might be enough to force a reconsideration of the whole gap year idea.

It’s only natural for teenagers to want to take a gap year after high school. After all, school can be tough . . . and we’re subjected to over twelve years of it before we’re asked to return for at least four more. Keep the sensitive nature of the subject in mind, remember that you are talking to a teenager when you approach the gap year issue, and arm yourself with these tips. Good luck.

About the Author: Flora Beamon is a mother of three – one in college, one who plans on taking a gap year, and who isn’t even in high school yet. She loves writing about education, finding grants for college, and travel.

Nearly two million singles joined ChristianMingle this year in hopes of finding God’s match for them. Now, with over 5 million registered members, ChristianMingle is the largest and fastest growing online community for Christian singles. (Read Full Article)