Last year, a no-kill animal shelter charity initiated a heartwarming dog training program at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility. This unique initiative has fostered joy and fulfillment on both ends of the leash.
The program has played a pivotal role in helping inmates develop compassion and adhere to rules. Their mission is to socialize the dogs and teach basic obedience skills, making these pups more adoptable.
Currently, eight inmates at the Las Cruces prison are caring for four dogs as part of the program. Their dedication runs so deep that they even organized a fundraiser to help cover the program’s expenses.
Diana Bell, a volunteer with Deming Animal Guardians, shared with GNN that one of the initial requirements was to hire a dog trainer. She admitted, “This was a significant expense for our small charity, but we were committed to giving it a try, seeing it as a win-win opportunity.”
To their delight, the inmates themselves contributed to the cause. They asked a staff member to purchase supplies from Sam’s Club, which they then assembled and sold as “toiletry kits.” The program was advertised within the prison, raising $350—an impressive amount, especially since many inmates, even those not directly involved, enjoy seeing the dogs on the grounds.
The dogs are taught boundaries, like what they can and cannot do (such as staying off furniture), along with basic commands like ‘stay’ and ‘fetch.’ The inmates, in turn, learn essential skills like grooming, dog first aid, and potty training, guided by a professional trainer who conducts one to two sessions per week. The $350 raised will fund two weeks of these training sessions.
Throughout the week, inmates work closely with the dogs, teaching them these skills while living together 24/7. The dogs are taken outside four times daily to relieve themselves, play, and practice commands.
One inmate, Antoinetti, also known as ‘Coolie,’ expressed the profound impact of the program in a letter: “This experience has changed me. I believe these men will return home better prepared for the world, having learned to be responsible rather than careless with another life.”
“These dogs are all incredible in their own ways. None are beyond repair.”
Jaime Banegas, the program’s current trainer from WorkDogWork, reflected on the program’s impact: “We are creating something extraordinary. Dogs that were once abandoned are now being loved and cared for by individuals in a place where love and care are scarce. The dogs are emerging from cocoons of fear and loneliness, while inmates are breaking through mental and emotional barriers to become more positive influences.”
The charity’s efforts have indeed resulted in a win-win situation: every dog, except one, that has graduated from the program has been swiftly adopted.