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Dog News, Rehabilitation

Pleasant Valley gets into National Dog Day

A photo of an incarcerated person at Pleasant Valley State Prison on National Dog Day with a dog he is training and the words: Rehabilitating dogs while rehabilitating themselves. “Incarcerated handlers provide rehabilitation, skills and love to dogs rescued from shelters. While helping save the dogs, the handlers are learning about responsibility, teamwork, teambuilding, communication and rebuilding family relationships," incarcerated trainer, Pleasant Valley State Prison.

Celebrating our four-legged friends and companions, the incarcerated individuals at Pleasant Valley State Prison shared their love of pets during National Dog Day on Aug. 26.

In a collaboration with the prison, Wiley’s Wish and the Veterans Transition Center of California work to rehabilitate and socialize shelter dogs for adoption.

A CDCR lieutenant, his adopted dog, and two incarcerated trainers pose for a photo in the hallway of Pleasant Valley State Prison.
Lt. E. Cantu with the dog he adopted through the program.

What had started on a single facility at Pleasant Valley State Prison has expanded to other yards and now includes some 17 dogs in the program. In addition, the program has placed 16 dogs in homes, including one as far away as Massachusetts.

“Incarcerated handlers provide rehabilitation, skills and love to dogs rescued from shelters. While helping save the dogs, the handlers are learning about responsibility, teamwork, team building, communication and rebuilding family relationships. This helps in their own rehabilitation,” said one of the program liaison trainers.

Submitted by Lt. J.L. Martin

Trainers on National Dog Day at Pleasant Valley

Four incarcerated men and some of the dogs they are training at Pleasant Valley State Prison.
Celebrating the dog training program at Pleasant Valley.
Tour incarcerated men with a dog, dog food, and a few toys.
The trainers are learning teamwork and responsibility.
Dogs going through a training program with their incarcerated handlers.
There have been 16 dogs adopted through the program at Pleasant Valley.

Learn more about CDCR’s K-9 programs.

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